New Brunswick has announced it will soon reopen its immigration streams despite a significant reduction in its immigrant nomination allocations for 2025. The province has been granted only 2,750 spaces by the federal government this year, forcing tough decisions about the prioritization of sectors and programs.

The available 2,750 spaces are divided between two key programs:

• • New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP): 1,500 spaces
  • Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 1,250 spaces

According to Jean-Claude D’Amours, the acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, the province will prioritize sectors like healthcare, education, and construction while restricting participation from some other sectors.

Updates Across New Brunswick’s Immigration Streams

1. 1. New Brunswick Express Entry: Reopening soon, accepting EOIs for the Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interests pathways.
   2. New Brunswick Strategic Initiative: Temporarily closed due to sufficient inventory; updates expected later this year.
   3. Private Career College Graduate Program: Open until autumn 2025 for eligible graduates.
   4. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream: Reopening soon with three new pathways.
   5. New Brunswick Business Immigration: Open to applicants with six months of business operation.
   6. New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot: Open and accepting applications.
   7. Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Open and accepting applications.

Key Changes in Immigration Streams

1. New Brunswick Express Entry Stream

The New Brunswick Express Entry stream will soon accept EOIs under two pathways:

• • Employment in New Brunswick Pathway
  • New Brunswick Interests Pathway

However, some occupations have been excluded from eligibility, including:

• • 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)
  • Labourers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)
  • Labourers in fish and seafood (NOC 95107)

Additionally, the New Brunswick Student Connection pathway has been permanently discontinued for 2025.

2. New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream

The Strategic Initiative stream is not accepting new EOIs due to a sufficient inventory of applications. Prospective applicants are advised to check back later in the year for updates. Additionally, the “In-Person Exploratory Visit to New Brunswick” connection, paused in November 2024, will not return in 2025.

3. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream

The Skilled Worker stream has been restructured into three distinct pathways:

• • New Brunswick Work Experience Pathway:
    • Must have six months of full-time work experience with an eligible New Brunswick employer and have lived in the province during that period.
  • New Brunswick Graduates Pathway:
    • Requires a PGWP-eligible program of study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in New Brunswick and a full-time job offer from an eligible employer.
  • New Brunswick Priority Occupations Pathway:
    • Requires a full-time job offer from an employer through a government-led recruitment mission and at least one year of related work experience.

Occupational Exclusions for Skilled Worker Stream: The province has also excluded several occupations from this stream, including:

• • Accounting technicians (NOC 12200)
  • Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
  • Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
  • Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
  • Cooks (NOC 63200)
  • Bakers (NOC 63202)
  • Bartenders (NOC 64301)
  • Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200)
  • Kitchen helpers (NOC 65201)

Potential for Future Changes

The provincial government has expressed concerns about the impact of the reduced allocations on its economic growth. Ongoing discussions with federal authorities may lead to adjustments, similar to Newfoundland and Labrador’s success in negotiating additional spaces.

Newfoundland and Labrador, facing a similar reduction, managed to restore most of its allocation by agreeing to accept 290 humanitarian immigrants over three years. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has suggested that other provinces might also regain lost spots through similar agreements. While the future remains uncertain, New Brunswick may explore similar avenues to secure additional allocations and support its labor market needs.

Prospective immigrants should monitor official updates to stay informed about potential changes in immigration streams and eligibility criteria.