The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has issued its first Invitations to Apply (ITAs) of 2026 following a series of draws held between January 13 and January 15.
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Invitations were issued across three immigration streams, all of which require candidates to demonstrate established ties to the province.
Draw Overview
In total, 379 ITAs were issued for provincial nomination in this round of selections under the following streams:
- New Brunswick Express Entry Stream
- New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
- New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream
The cut-off date for all Expressions of Interest (EOIs) was January 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
This stream accounted for the majority of invitations issued in the draw.
| Pathway | Invitations Issued | Occupational Categories |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick Experience | 244 | All sectors |
| New Brunswick Graduates | Included | All sectors |
Approximately 64% of all ITAs issued in this draw were allocated through the Skilled Worker Stream.
About the Stream
The New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream is intended for skilled foreign nationals who are currently employed in New Brunswick or have a valid job offer from a provincial employer. This draw focused specifically on the New Brunswick Experience and New Brunswick Graduates pathways.
Eligibility – New Brunswick Experience Pathway
Candidates must:
- Have lived in New Brunswick for at least six months prior to submitting an EOI;
- Be currently working full-time in a non-seasonal position for a New Brunswick employer willing to support the application; and
- Have accumulated a minimum of six months of work experience with the supporting employer.
Eligibility – New Brunswick Graduates Pathway
Candidates must:
- Have completed a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)-eligible program at a New Brunswick designated learning institution; and
- Be employed full-time in a non-seasonal position with a New Brunswick employer willing to support the application, or have a valid job offer.
New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream
| Pathway | Invitations Issued | Occupational Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Francophone Priorities | 115 | All sectors |
This draw is particularly significant, as the Strategic Initiative Stream was paused in January 2025 after reaching sufficient EOI inventory. No selections were conducted under this stream throughout 2025, making this the first draw in over a year.
About the Stream
The Strategic Initiative Stream targets French-speaking foreign nationals with strong connections to New Brunswick. Eligible connections may include prior work experience in the province, a qualifying job offer, graduation from a Francophone institution in New Brunswick, or residing in the province while working for a Canadian employer.
Francophone Priorities Pathway Requirements
Candidates selected under this pathway were required to meet one of the following criteria:
- Previous residence in New Brunswick and completion of a minimum one-year, in-person program at Université de Moncton or Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB); or
- Receipt of a Letter of Interest from Immigration New Brunswick.
New Brunswick Express Entry Stream
| Pathway | Invitations Issued | Occupational Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Employment in New Brunswick | 20 | All sectors |
About the Stream
The New Brunswick Express Entry Stream is designed for skilled workers who already have a profile in the federal Express Entry system.
Employment in New Brunswick Pathway Requirements
Candidates must:
- Have lived in New Brunswick for the past 12 months;
- Be currently employed full-time in a non-seasonal TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 position with a New Brunswick employer; and
- Have accumulated 12 months of full-time work experience in New Brunswick in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, with the same or a different employer.
Candidates who successfully obtain a provincial nomination under this stream receive 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry.
