Becoming A New Brunswick Resident

Becoming a resident of New Brunswick, Canada, requires applicants to meet certain criteria and conditions. The requirements vary depending on the immigration category, with options for permanent and temporary residence. Applicants must demonstrate proof of identity, means of financial support, and ties to the province. New Brunswick also has specific programs, like the Provincial Nominee Program, targeting skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international students, which facilitate the immigration process.

Immigration categories

The requirements for becoming a New Brunswick resident vary depending on the immigration category that you have been granted. Here is an overview of the different immigration categories available in New Brunswick:

• Express Entry Stream: This stream allows the province to use the federal Express Entry immigration selection system to meet specific labour market and demographic needs. Candidates must have an active Express Entry profile, a Job Seeker Validation Code, proof of enrolment in a PGWP-eligible program, and valid language test scores in either English or French (Canadian Language Benchmark Level 7).
• Skilled Workers Stream: This category is for individuals who have received a full-time, permanent job offer from a New Brunswick employer. Applicants must prove their intention to reside in New Brunswick, provide a letter of support from their employer, and meet minimum language and education requirements.
• Business Immigration Stream: This stream is for individuals who plan to own and actively manage a business in New Brunswick. Applicants are expected to make a monetary investment in the business and must have a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 CAD, with at least $300,000 CAD readily available. They must also demonstrate valid language proficiency in English or French (Canadian Language Benchmark Level 5).
• Strategic Initiative Stream: This stream is designed for Francophone workers who wish to contribute to the province's economy and live and work in New Brunswick permanently. Applicants must intend to reside in New Brunswick, have a qualifying connection to the province, meet minimum language and education requirements, and have the required amount of settlement funds.
• Critical Worker Pilot: Introduced in November 2022, this program allows designated employers in New Brunswick to recruit foreign talent to address workforce needs.
• Atlantic Immigration Program: New Brunswick is one of four Atlantic provinces working with the Government of Canada to recruit foreign workers to meet labour market shortages. Foreign nationals interested in this program may be residing abroad or on temporary status in Canada when applying, but they must have a job offer from a designated employer.

In addition to these streams, there is also the option of applying for permanent residence status through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), which has several categories, including:

• Express Entry Labour Market Stream: This stream uses the federal Express Entry system to meet labour market and demographic needs. Candidates complete an Expression of Interest form and are assessed based on training, experience, ability to become economically established, and potential contribution to the provincial labour market.
• Skilled Worker with Family Support: This category is for individuals who have worked in New Brunswick and have close family ties to the province. Applicants must be sponsored by a family member, meet language proficiency requirements, have the necessary education and qualifications, demonstrate intent to live and work in New Brunswick, and have sufficient funds for settlement.
• Skilled Worker with Employer Support: This category facilitates immigration for workers who have received a full-time, permanent job offer from a New Brunswick employer. Applicants must meet language proficiency requirements, have the necessary education and qualifications, demonstrate intent to live and work in New Brunswick, and score a minimum of 50 points on a selection grid.
• Business Applicant: This category targets qualified business people who will own and actively manage a business that contributes to the province's economy. Applicants must demonstrate relevant management experience, provide a business plan approved by a government official, have a personal net worth of at least $300,000 CAD, submit a refundable deposit of $75,000 CAD, make a business trip to New Brunswick, and score 50 points on a selection grid.

Permanent residence status

To become a permanent resident of New Brunswick, you must first meet the eligibility requirements and then complete a two-step process.

Eligibility

The requirements for becoming a New Brunswick resident vary depending on the immigration category that you have been granted. To apply for permanent resident status, you must complete a number of forms and provide documents that prove your identity and your ties to New Brunswick. These documents include:

• A valid passport or travel documents
• Two identity photographs
• A police certificate, if applicable
• A copy of your birth certificate
• Proof that you are leaving Canada at the end of your stay or, alternatively, proof that you have applied for another status as a permanent resident or temporary worker
• If applying on the basis of marriage, a copy of your marriage certificate

Two-Step Process

• Apply for permanent residence status: You will need to complete a number of forms and send them to the appropriate address so that they can be processed by the Canadian immigration authorities.
• Apply for your initial New Brunswick driver's licence: Once you have obtained your permanent residence status, you can apply for a New Brunswick driver's licence. You will be required to provide proof of your residency status, and you will also need to take various exams.

Proving identity and ties to New Brunswick

To prove your identity and ties to New Brunswick, you will need to provide the Canadian immigration authorities with a number of documents. These include:

• A valid passport or travel documents
• Two identity photographs
• A police certificate issued by the appropriate authority if you were a citizen of a country where you lived for six months or more in the last five years. This must be sent directly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by the national police force of that country
• A copy of your birth certificate
• Proof that you are leaving Canada at the end of your stay or, alternatively, proof that you have applied for another status as a permanent resident or temporary worker. You can obtain this proof from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
• If applying for permanent residence status on the basis of marriage, you will also need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate.

If you are applying to become a New Brunswick resident by marrying a New Brunswick resident, you must inform Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) if any children are born in Canada at the time of the application. If your spouse is not yet a citizen or permanent resident, you will not be permitted to immigrate until they become one.

Other ways to prove your ties to New Brunswick include:

• Current employment in New Brunswick
• Employment search details
• Length of any previous and/or current period of residence in New Brunswick
• Community involvement
• Ability to support yourself in New Brunswick
• Connections to New Brunswick through work, study, or family
• Professional networks and affiliations
• Residency, including household lease agreements and/or property ownership
• Family ties and other social relationships and connections
• Details of prior visits to Canada
• Connection to other jurisdictions in Canada

If you are immigrating to New Brunswick, you will be given a "landing card" when you arrive at the airport. This will indicate whether you need to apply for a resident status certificate within 30 days of your arrival.

Temporary worker, student, or refugee status

If you are a temporary worker, student, or refugee, you will need to apply for this status through the Canadian Visa Office in your country of permanent residence. Once you have arrived in New Brunswick and have satisfied the CBSA that you have a right to enter Canada, they will forward your information to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) so that they can process your application.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)Faced with labour shortages, businesses in New Brunswick's rural communities have been turning to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to hire workers to fill low-wage jobs. The federal government has been wary of the fact that migrant workers are being hired in areas where unemployment has been high. While the TFWP can be seen as a way to respond to recruitment and retention problems, it leaves migrant workers in a precarious legal state.

International Students

International students who have graduated from a Canadian university, their family members, and other temporary and permanent residents already in Canada have the talent and skills that New Brunswick employers need.

Every year, international students graduate from NB colleges and universities. These graduates have advanced Canadian education and credentials and are often easier to retain as they have already established connections to the community and the province. In addition, these graduates bring diversity and new perspectives to your workplace, proficiency in multiple languages, and the capacity to adapt to new environments.

Eligible students may work for any eligible Canadian employer for up to 20 hours a week while class is in session, and full-time during scheduled breaks. If you have hired international students, they may be eligible to work more than 20 hours per week off-campus under a temporary public policy.

International grads may be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). This permit lets them work for any eligible employer in Canada for up to three years, depending on the length of their study program.

Refugees

New Brunswick is committed to supporting refugees and helping them settle in the province. The province has a Refugee Assistance Program that provides financial and medical assistance to eligible claimants.

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) is a program that allows prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province to receive a provincial nomination certificate. This certificate enables foreign nationals to apply for Canadian permanent residence. The program is designed to meet New Brunswick's specific labour market and demographic needs.

Streams

The NBPNP has five immigration streams:

• Express Entry Stream
• Skilled Workers Stream
• Business Immigration Stream
• Strategic Initiative Stream
• Critical Worker Pilot

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria vary depending on the stream, but there are some general requirements that apply to all streams:

• Must be between 22 and 55 years old
• Must demonstrate proficiency in English or French
• Must have completed a secondary or post-secondary educational credential
• Must have valid language test scores
• Must demonstrate the ability to become economically established in the province

Application Process

The application process for the NBPNP typically involves two steps:

• Submit a complete application with all supporting documentation to the NBPNP.
• Apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a permanent resident visa within six months of receiving the nomination certificate.

Frequently asked questions