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.
New Brunswick Holds Intensive June PNP Draws, Inviting Over 600 Candidates in Four Rounds Across Two Days
On June 16 and 17, 2025, the province of New Brunswick held four rounds of draws through its Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). In this series of draws, a total of 608 candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across four distinct pathways under the Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams. This high frequency of activity makes June the most active month for the NBPNP so far in 2025, bringing the province's year-to-date invitation total to 2,015. The draw results clearly indicate the province's focus on specific labour market needs and its preference for candidates with existing ties to New Brunswick through work or study.
06/23/2025
PEI PNP Draw Focuses on Key Sectors, Issues First Entrepreneur Invitation of 2025
On June 19, 2025, Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its sixth Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of the year, issuing a total of 52 invitations to apply. A key highlight of this draw was the first invitation of 2025 issued under the entrepreneur stream. The draw also underscores the province's current immigration strategy, which prioritizes skilled workers in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, trades, and manufacturing to address urgent labour market needs.
06/22/2025
Canada Eases Path for Global Educators with Simplified Certification and New Immigration Stream
A new initiative, "Pathways to Teach Canada," has recently been launched to help internationally educated teachers obtain their professional certification in Canada more easily. Through a partnership with World Education Services (WES), the program provides a centralized portal for credential and language assessments, covering nine Canadian provinces and territories. This development, combined with the new education-specific category under Canada's federal Express Entry system, creates an unprecedented opportunity for education professionals worldwide to immigrate to Canada.
06/20/2025
Canada's New Immigration Policies Take Effect: Population Growth Nears Standstill as Q1 Increase Hits Recent Low
Recent data from Statistics Canada reveals that national population growth nearly stalled in the first quarter of 2025, with an increase of only about 20,000 people, or 0.0%. This significant slowdown is primarily attributed to a series of restrictive immigration policies implemented by the federal government to address domestic pressures on housing and social services, including sharp cuts to temporary resident numbers and lower targets for permanent resident admissions. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the key policy measures driving this change and their specific impacts on various visa applicants.
06/20/2025
Reversing the Trend: New Brunswick Secures Increased Immigration Allocation from Ottawa in Exchange for Welcoming Asylum Claimants
Facing a landscape of significant federal cuts to provincial immigration allocations for 2025, the province of New Brunswick has announced a unique agreement with the federal government. By committing to welcome up to 400 asylum claimants over the next two years, the province has successfully secured an additional 1,500 spots for its nominee program. This move increases its total annual immigration allocation to 4,250, effectively mitigating the pressure from an earlier 50% cut. The agreement not only breathes new life into New Brunswick's priority sectors but also serves as a potential model for other provinces grappling with similar challenges.
06/18/2025
Manitoba's Latest PNP Draw Targets Overseas Skilled Workers, Highlighting Importance of 'Strategic Recruitment'
Manitoba held its latest provincial nominee draw on June 12, inviting 36 skilled workers from overseas. The draw was highly targeted, with all invitations going to candidates selected directly through the province's Strategic Recruitment Initiative and requiring a minimum score of 613. Amid potential changes to provincial nomination allocations, this move underscores the critical role of employer-linked immigration pathways for applicants.
06/17/2025
Ontario PNP Draws Resume After Four-Month Pause, Employer Job Offer Streams to Undergo Major System Overhaul
After a four-month hiatus, the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) has recently resumed issuing invitations. Following a large-scale draw on June 3, the province held another targeted draw on June 6 for the Greater Sudbury region, inviting 72 candidates. More significantly, Ontario has announced a major reform to its Expression of Interest (EOI) system for Employer Job Offer streams, transitioning from an "applicant-led" to an "employer-led" model effective July 2. This change is expected to profoundly impact the future application process.
06/17/2025
Ontario's Immigration Policy Undergoes Major Overhaul: Employer Job Offer Streams to Become Fully Employer-Led
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has recently announced a fundamental overhaul to its highly sought-after Employer Job Offer streams. Starting July 2, 2024, the application process for these streams will shift from the current "applicant-led" model to an "employer-led" one. This change means employers must now initiate the process by submitting job details to the province through a new online portal before a foreign national can register an Expression of Interest (EOI). This reform will have significant implications for all current and prospective applicants.
06/15/2025
Planning a Summer Trip to Canada? Beware of 'Inadmissibility' Rules—Advance Planning is Crucial for Those with a Criminal Record
As the peak summer travel season approaches, many are planning to visit Canada to see family, friends, or attend events. However, Canada's stringent entry screening system may catch some visitors with criminal records off guard. Under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, non-citizens with a criminal record may be deemed "criminally inadmissible" and denied entry. This article will detail the conditions that lead to inadmissibility and introduce the three official pathways to overcome this barrier: the Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), Deemed Rehabilitation, and individual Criminal Rehabilitation, to help affected individuals prepare in advance.
06/14/2025
Canada's Express Entry Draws Return to Large-Scale Model, 3,000 In-Canada Applicants Invited
On June 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw, issuing 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 529. As the fourth draw of the month, its significant size marks a return to the large-scale CEC draws that were common in 2024 and earlier this year, sending a positive signal to individuals who already have Canadian study and work experience.
06/13/2025
# Can spouse of international students work in Canada?# How is the CRS Score Calculated?# What is Express Entry?# How to become a licensed immigration consultant in Canada?# Why Need a Professional, Licensed Immigration Consultant for Immigrating to Canada?# How to verify if my immigration consultant is licensed?# Difference between licensed and unlicensed immigration consultants?# Is it mandatory to be licensed to practice immigration consulting in Canada?