How to Immigrate to New Brunswick, Canada in 2026
Last updated: March 2026
New Brunswick has quietly become one of the most popular destinations for immigrants looking beyond Ontario and BC. Lower cost of living, genuine labour shortages, a bilingual environment, and a relatively accessible provincial nominee program make it a compelling option — especially for skilled workers and graduates who are already in Canada.
Why New Brunswick?
New Brunswick is one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces, home to approximately 760,000 people. It is the only constitutionally bilingual province in Canada — over 30% of the population speaks French as a first language, and this bilingual character shapes everything from the labour market to immigration priorities.
The province's economy is built on natural resources — forestry, fishing, and agriculture — alongside a growing information technology sector. What draws most immigrants, however, is affordability. Housing costs, food, heating, and general cost of living are among the lowest in Canada. For a family earning a modest income, New Brunswick offers a quality of life that is genuinely difficult to match in Vancouver or Toronto.
Labour shortages are real and persistent across multiple sectors, which is both a challenge for the province and an opportunity for immigrants with in-demand skills.
How the NBPNP Works
New Brunswick's provincial nominee program, the NBPNP, operates through an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. You submit an EOI through the Immigration New Brunswick portal, and your profile sits in the pool for up to 365 days. The province then runs draws periodically — at least twice per month in recent years — selecting candidates based on labour market needs, available nomination spaces, and provincial priorities.
Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an invitation, and receiving an invitation does not guarantee a nomination. But for candidates with the right profile — particularly those already working or studying in New Brunswick, or those with French-language ability — the program has been actively issuing invitations throughout 2025 and into 2026.
New Brunswick issued a total of 3,734 invitations in 2025, and had already issued 705 invitations in the first six weeks of 2026 alone.
The Main Streams
Skilled Worker Stream — New Brunswick Experience Pathway This is the primary pathway for workers already employed in New Brunswick. You need to be working full-time in an eligible occupation in the province for at least one year. Draws under this pathway have been frequent and have targeted a broad range of sectors, with healthcare, construction, education, and social services consistently prioritized. Note that certain occupations — including chefs and material handlers — have been excluded from recent draws due to high inventory.
Skilled Worker Stream — Graduates Pathway For recent graduates from New Brunswick post-secondary institutions. Draws under this pathway have focused on healthcare, education, social and community services, and construction trades. This is a strong pathway for international students who have studied in NB and want to transition to permanent residence.
Express Entry Stream — Employment in New Brunswick Pathway For candidates who have a valid federal Express Entry profile and are currently employed full-time in New Brunswick. This stream is linked to the federal Express Entry system — a nomination adds 600 CRS points, which effectively guarantees a federal ITA. Draws under this pathway have been held across all occupational sectors, making it one of the broader pathways available.
Express Entry Stream — New Brunswick Interests Pathway For candidates identified by the province as having skills aligned with New Brunswick's long-term economic priorities. This is a less predictable pathway as selection criteria are set by the province, but it allows New Brunswick to invite candidates from the federal Express Entry pool who have not yet secured local employment.
Strategic Initiative Stream — Francophone Priorities Pathway This stream is specifically for French-speaking candidates with eligible connections to New Brunswick — such as previous work experience in the province, a qualifying job offer, or graduation from a Francophone institution like Université de Moncton or the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB). This stream was paused throughout most of 2025 but resumed in January 2026 and has been actively issuing invitations. Given New Brunswick's deep commitment to growing its Francophone population, this pathway is expected to remain active and well-funded.
What Increases Your Chances
Certain factors consistently improve your odds of receiving an invitation under the NBPNP:
Having a valid job offer from a New Brunswick employer is the single biggest factor. Being currently employed full-time in the province is equally strong. Previous work experience or studies in New Brunswick are viewed favourably. Having family in NB — including parents, grandparents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews — adds weight to your EOI. French-language ability is increasingly valued across all streams. Your spouse's language skills, NB connections, or relevant work experience also contribute to your overall profile strength.
Occupations in Demand
New Brunswick's labour shortages are concentrated in several key sectors that have consistently appeared in draw targeting:
Healthcare is the top priority — registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical laboratory technologists, paramedics, personal support workers, and community service workers are all in high demand. Construction trades are a close second — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and roofers. Education occupations including teachers, early childhood educators, and educational counsellors have featured heavily in Graduate stream draws. Information and communications technology — software engineers, web developers, network technicians, and user support roles — continues to be a priority as the province grows its tech sector. Agriculture and food production roles round out the list.
Without a Job Offer: Is It Still Possible?
The original angle of this post — immigrating to New Brunswick without a job offer — deserves an honest update. The NBPNP has shifted significantly toward candidates who are already in the province and employed. Most draws in 2025 and early 2026 have focused on the Experience pathway and Graduates pathway, both of which require existing NB ties.
The New Brunswick Interests pathway under the Express Entry stream is the main remaining route for candidates outside Canada without a job offer. However, invitations through this pathway are less frequent and more selective. If you are outside Canada and your occupation is in demand, your strongest play is to actively pursue employment with a New Brunswick employer — this unlocks the most reliable pathways and makes your EOI significantly more competitive.
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Worth mentioning alongside the NBPNP is the Atlantic Immigration Program, a federal program available in all four Atlantic provinces including New Brunswick. The AIP allows designated employers to directly recruit and support permanent residence applications for workers without going through the provincial EOI system. If you have a job offer from an AIP-designated employer in New Brunswick, this can be a faster and more direct pathway than the NBPNP in some cases.
If you want to assess whether your profile is competitive for New Brunswick and determine the best pathway for your situation, book a consultation with Magellan Immigration.
About the author Sao Khadjieva (R515185) is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. With over 10 years of experience, she advises on Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, study permits, work permits, and business immigration. Sao is the principal consultant at Magellan Immigration in Vancouver, BC.