New Brunswick Holds Intensive June PNP Draws, Inviting Over 600 Candidates in Four Rounds Across Two Days
New Brunswick Accelerates Immigration Pace with a Surge in June Invitations
Canada's eastern maritime province of New Brunswick once again became a focal point in the Canadian immigration landscape this week. On June 16 and 17, the province's immigration authorities conducted four rounds of Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) draws with unprecedented intensity, demonstrating a strong commitment to attracting new immigrants to meet local labour market demands.
This back-to-back draw series issued a total of 608 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), the largest single series of draws in 2025. To date, New Brunswick has invited a cumulative total of 2,015 potential immigrants this year.
Below is a detailed analysis of the four recent draws:
1. Skilled Worker Stream: Three Pathways Activated with Clear Targets
The Skilled Worker Stream was prominent in this selection, inviting a total of 311 candidates through its three different pathways.
- New Brunswick Experience: In the June 16 draw, this pathway issued 25 invitations. The target group was highly specific, focusing on candidates in three key sectors: Healthcare, Education and Social & Community Services, and Construction Trades. A crucial selection criterion was that invitees must hold a work permit expiring in 2025 or in January/February of 2026. Notably, candidates in the occupation of Material Handlers (NOC 75101) were excluded from this draw.
- New Brunswick Graduates: Across draws on June 16 and 17, this pathway was the most active, inviting 274 recent graduates from all sectors. Similar to the Experience stream, candidates were required to have a work permit set to expire in 2025 or in January/February of 2026. However, the provincial government explicitly stated that candidates in the occupations of Chefs (NOC 62022) and Material Handlers (NOC 75101) were not included in this invitation round.
- New Brunswick Priority Occupations: On June 17, this pathway held a small-scale draw, issuing 12 invitations to candidates in the Healthcare sector. The province did not publish specific selection criteria for this draw. It is critical for applicants to be aware that New Brunswick is currently not accepting new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for this pathway and is only processing previously submitted profiles.
2. Express Entry Stream: Focus on Local Work Experience
In parallel with the Skilled Worker draws, the province’s Express Entry Stream also conducted a large-scale draw.
- Employment in New Brunswick: In the June 16 draw, this pathway issued 297 invitations to candidates across all sectors. The core requirement for this round was that candidates must have been working full-time in New Brunswick for at least one year, a policy that heavily favors candidates already integrated into the local labour market. As with the graduates' pathway, the occupation of Chef was also excluded from this draw.
Important Notes and Analysis for Future Applicants
This series of draws highlights several key features of New Brunswick's current immigration policy:
- Prioritizing Local Ties: Whether by requiring local work experience or targeting local graduates, the NBPNP draws show a clear preference for candidates who already have a strong connection to the province.
- Targeting Labour Shortages: The repeated emphasis on healthcare, education, and construction indicates that these are the areas where New Brunswick most urgently needs to fill talent gaps.
- Exclusion of Certain Occupations: Specific occupations like Chefs and Material Handlers were explicitly excluded from multiple draws. Furthermore, the province has noted that Expressions of Interest (EOIs) with a job or job offer under select NOC codes are not currently being considered in either the Skilled Worker or Express Entry streams. Prospective applicants should closely monitor the official government website for the specific list of excluded occupations.
- Changes to Stream Status: The suspension of new applications for the "Priority Occupations" pathway is a critical piece of information for anyone planning their immigration journey through that route.
All Expressions of Interest (EOIs) submitted to the NBPNP pool remain valid for 365 days. Given the dynamic nature of these policies, prospective applicants are advised to stay informed of official announcements and develop an immigration strategy based on their personal qualifications and the latest invitation trends.
Alberta Holds Three Immigration Draws in Mid-September, Issuing Over 1,400 Invitations to Tech, Law Enforcement, and General Workers
Between September 12 and 17, 2025, Alberta conducted three rounds of immigration invitations across different categories through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), issuing over 1,400 invitation letters to technology professionals, law enforcement workers, and candidates under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. This series of invitations demonstrates the province's targeted immigration strategy addressing specific labor market demands.
09/28/2025
Canada's Population Growth Hits Post-War Low as Immigration Policy Adjustments Accelerate Workforce Aging
Latest data released by Statistics Canada on September 24, 2025, reveals that Canada is facing a major demographic turning point. Affected by federal government immigration policy adjustments, Canada's population growth rate in Q2 2025 was only 0.1%, marking the lowest post-war level (excluding pandemic period). Meanwhile, population aging trends are accelerating again, posing severe challenges to the national labor market and economic development.
09/26/2025
IRCC Releases August Data: Backlog Increases, Study Permit Processing Times Extended
According to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as of August 31, 2025, the department's application backlog reached 958,850 cases, continuing to rise from July's 901,700 cases, representing a 6.33% increase. This marks the fourth consecutive month of worsening backlog issues for IRCC, with study permit applications experiencing particularly severe delays, surging from 23% in July to 32% in August.
09/25/2025
Prince Edward Island Issues 129 Invitations with Focus on Local Employment and University Graduates
Prince Edward Island issued 129 invitations through its Labour Impact and Express Entry categories in its latest Provincial Nominee Program draw held on September 19, 2025. The province continues to focus on occupational sectors with significant economic impact, prioritizing applicants employed locally and international graduates from provincial institutions.
09/24/2025
Manitoba Issues Provincial Nomination Invitations to Over 900 Skilled Workers
Manitoba's immigration department issued application invitations to 911 skilled worker candidates this week through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw covered both the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream and the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, with candidates primarily qualifying through strategic recruitment initiatives and temporary work permit facilitation policies. Notably, over 90% of the invitations were issued to applicants who benefited from the federal temporary work permit policy.
09/23/2025
H1-B Visa Fees Surge Dramatically in the US, Canada Work Permits Emerge as Popular Alternative
With US H1-B visa application fees skyrocketing to $100,000, an increasing number of international tech professionals are turning their attention to Canada. This article provides a detailed analysis of Canada's main work permit and immigration pathways, offering comprehensive guidance for professionals seeking to develop their careers in North America.
09/22/2025
Alberta Issues Over 1,300 Provincial Nomination Invitations in Early September Draws
In early September 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted a series of seven immigration draws, issuing a total of 1,376 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. These draws primarily targeted applicants in the Alberta Express Entry stream and the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, focusing on inviting candidates with Alberta job offers who can help fill labor gaps in high-demand sectors. The number of invitations issued in the first half of September alone has already surpassed that of any other single month in 2025, indicating that the province is accelerating its efforts to meet its economic development needs.
09/20/2025
Canada Holds First Express Entry Draw of 2025 for Trade Occupations, CRS Score Rises Sharply
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of the year for trade occupations on September 18, 2025. A total of 1,250 candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score soared to 505, significantly higher than the previous draw for this category. The primary reason for the score increase is the long interval between draws, which led to an accumulation of high-scoring candidates. Additionally, internal documents suggest IRCC plans to issue more invitations to trade candidates in the second half of the year.
09/19/2025
Canada Conducts Express Entry Draw for Education Professionals, CRS Cut-off Score Drops to 462
On September 17, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the second-ever Express Entry draw targeting candidates in the "education" category. A total of 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 462. Compared to the inaugural draw for this category, this round featured a significantly lower cut-off score and a larger number of invitations, reflecting the flexibility and strategic focus of Canada's immigration policy on attracting professionals from specific fields.
09/18/2025
Alberta's Provincial Nomination Allocation for 2025 Raised to 6,403
The Canadian federal government has recently approved an increase to the 2025 allocation for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The province's nomination spots have been raised from the previously set 4,875 to 6,403, a net increase of 1,528. This adjustment comes after the federal government had drastically reduced overall PNP immigration targets in response to pressures such as housing shortages. The increased allocation is viewed as a positive response to lobbying by provinces to meet local labour demands, and it is anticipated that the new spots will be prioritized to support key industries and regional economic development. In addition to Alberta, several other Canadian provinces and territories have also received increased allocations.
09/17/2025
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