New Brunswick is preparing to reopen its immigration streams after adjusting to a significant reduction in nomination spaces allocated by the federal government. The province has been granted 2,750 spots for immigrant nominations this year, divided between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) with 1,500 spaces and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) with 1,250.
Challenges and Sectoral Prioritization
On February 5, Jean-Claude D’Amours, Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, acknowledged that the lower allocation for 2025 has forced the province to make difficult choices. He expressed concern that this reduction will impact economic growth and business needs in New Brunswick.
To manage the limited spaces, the province will prioritize immigration in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and construction, while some other sectors will face restrictions.
Updates on New Brunswick’s Immigration Streams
The following are the latest updates on various immigration pathways in the province:
| Stream | Status | Details |
| New Brunswick Express Entry | Opening soon for new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) | Accepting applications under: Employment in New Brunswick pathway and New Brunswick Interests pathway. Some occupations are excluded. |
| New Brunswick Strategic Initiative | Not accepting new EOIs | Inventory is full; applications are paused for now. |
| Private Career College Graduate Program | Accepting EOIs | Program will end in autumn 2025. |
| New Brunswick Skilled Worker | Opening soon for EOIs | Now divided into three pathways: Work Experience, Graduates, and Priority Occupations. |
| New Brunswick Business Immigration | Accepting EOIs | Open to business owners with at least six months of operational experience. |
| New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot | Accepting applications | No changes announced. |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | Accepting applications | No changes announced. |
Changes in Immigration Streams
New Brunswick Express Entry
In the coming weeks, this stream will reopen under two pathways:
- Employment in New Brunswick pathway
- New Brunswick Interests pathway
However, certain occupations will not be eligible, including administrative assistants, bookkeepers, restaurant managers, and food service workers. Additionally, the New Brunswick Student Connection under this stream will not be available in 2025.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
This stream has been reorganized into three sub-pathways:
- New Brunswick Work Experience Pathway: Requires at least six months of full-time work and residence in the province.
- New Brunswick Graduates Pathway: Open to graduates from designated learning institutions with a full-time job offer.
- New Brunswick Priority Occupations Pathway: Requires a job offer obtained through a government-led recruitment mission and experience in a priority occupation.
Similar to Express Entry, some occupations including bartenders, food service workers, and laborers in food processing are ineligible under this stream.
Will New Brunswick Get More Immigration Spaces?
It is uncertain whether New Brunswick will be able to secure additional nomination spots. However, discussions with the federal government are ongoing. Recently, Newfoundland and Labrador successfully negotiated an increase in its allocation by agreeing to accept 290 humanitarian immigrants over three years.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller has indicated that similar commitments could help provinces regain some of their lost nomination spots. New Brunswick may need to explore similar agreements if it hopes to restore its immigration allocations in the future.
