Faced with the challenge of the federal government's significant reduction in immigration quotas for 2025, the New Brunswick (New Brunswick) government announced that it will selectively reopen some Provincial Nominee Programs (NBPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). According to a press release issued on February 5, New Brunswick's Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Jean-Claude D’Amours, said that due to the federal government's drastic quota reduction, the province has had to make "difficult decisions," which are expected to limit the province and its businesses' ability to manage economic growth.
It is reported that New Brunswick will receive 2,750 provincial nomination spaces in 2025, of which 1,500 will be allocated to the Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and 1,250 to the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Under such circumstances, the province will prioritize key sectors such as healthcare, education, and construction, and implement "restricted participation" for workers in some economic sectors.
Immigration Program Update Details
The following table summarizes the latest developments in New Brunswick's various immigration programs:
| Program Category | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick Express Entry | Accepting Applications Soon | In the coming weeks, new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be accepted through two pathways: 1. New Brunswick Employment Pathway; 2. New Brunswick Interests Pathway. |
| New Brunswick Strategic Initiative | Accepting Applications Suspended | The program has received enough Expressions of Interest and is not currently seeking new applications. |
| Private Career College Graduate Program | Accepting Applications | Expected to end in the fall of 2025. |
| New Brunswick Skilled Worker | Accepting Applications Starting | Has been divided into three pathways. |
| New Brunswick Business Immigration | Accepting Applications | Applicants can apply for nomination if their business has been operating for six months or longer. |
| New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot Program | Accepting Applications | No additional explanation required. |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Accepting Applications | No additional explanation required. |
New Brunswick Express Entry
In the coming weeks, the New Brunswick Express Entry program will begin accepting new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) through the following two pathways:
- New Brunswick Employment Pathway
- New Brunswick Interests Pathway
It should be noted that candidates in the following occupations will not be considered at this time:
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
- Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
- Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
- Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Bakers (NOC 63202)
In addition, the "New Brunswick Student Connection" under this program will no longer be open in 2025.
New Brunswick Strategic Initiative
The New Brunswick Strategic Initiative program has received enough Expressions of Interest and will therefore suspend accepting new Expressions of Interest for the time being. The Provincial Nominee Program encourages interested applicants to check the program's page later for more information and updates.
The "New Brunswick In-Person Exploratory Visit" channel under this program was suspended in November 2024 and will no longer be open in 2025.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker
The New Brunswick Skilled Worker program will begin accepting new applications in the coming weeks and has been divided into three smaller pathways, which will be managed under the Skilled Worker program:
- New Brunswick Work Experience Pathway
- New Brunswick Graduates Pathway
- New Brunswick Priority Occupations Pathway
In addition to the basic qualifications for the Skilled Worker program, each pathway has different eligibility criteria:
| Pathway | Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|
| New Brunswick Work Experience Pathway | 1. Must have worked in a full-time, non-seasonal position for a qualified New Brunswick employer for the past 6 months; 2. Must have resided in the province for the past 6 months. |
| New Brunswick Graduates Pathway | 1. Must have completed a program of study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in New Brunswick that is eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP); 2. Must have a full-time, non-seasonal job or job offer from a qualified New Brunswick employer. |
| New Brunswick Priority Occupations Pathway | 1. Must hold a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a qualified New Brunswick employer obtained through a recruitment event led by the Government of New Brunswick; 2. Must hold a position listed in the specified priority National Occupational Classification (NOC) code list; 3. Must have at least one year of experience related to the position. |
Currently, the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program will not consider applicants for the Skilled Worker program in the following occupations:
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
- Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
- Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)
- Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
- Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Bakers (NOC 63202)
- Bartenders (NOC 64301)
- Other customer representatives (NOC 64409)
- Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200)
- Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related occupations (NOC 65201)
- Process control and machine operators - food and beverage processing (NOC 94140)
- Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
- Laborers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)
- Laborers in fish and seafood (NOC 95107)
Will New Brunswick's Quota Change in the Future?
Although it is not currently possible to determine whether New Brunswick will be able to resolve its provincial nomination quota issues, the press release noted that "the provincial government has raised concerns with the federal government and dialogue is ongoing."
At the end of last month, Newfoundland and Labrador (which, like New Brunswick and all other Canadian provinces, had its immigration quota significantly reduced in 2025) restored most of its provincial nomination quota, reducing the previous 50% reduction to a decrease of only 2.3% compared to 2024.
The province achieved this by reaching a new agreement with the federal government, under which Newfoundland and Labrador has agreed to receive 290 immigrants in need of humanitarian assistance over the next three years. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has made no secret that this commitment could lead to the restoration of "coveted provincial nomination spaces" for provinces and territories.
While much remains to be seen regarding New Brunswick's provincial nomination quota, based on the federal government's dealings with other provinces, if New Brunswick also hopes to restore its provincial nomination quota, they may need to reach an agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to determine the number of humanitarian immigrants they will receive in the future.
