PNP pathways to permanent residence

Starting March 5, 2025, eligible newcomers can now submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) under two immigration pathways.

The NBPNP has opened application intake for the following Express Entry-aligned pathways:

• The Employment in New Brunswick pathway; and
• The New Brunswick Interests pathway.

Both pathways will exclude certain occupations from being eligible for invitations.

The NBPNP has further updated some eligibility conditions under these pathways, specifically:

• Lowering the minimum eligible age of candidates from 22 to 19; and
• Increasing residency requirements and adding a work experience requirement of at least 12 consecutive months, for candidates in the Employment in New Brunswick pathway.

March 5 will mark the first intake to these pathways in 2025 after the NBPNP made significant changes to its immigration streams in response to drastic cuts of its provincial nomination allocation.

The NBPNP advises that EOIs submitted through these two pathways will not be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

This year, New Brunswick received a reduced overall immigrant nomination allocation of 2,750, which it will use under both the NBPNP (1,500 allocations) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) (1,250 allocations).

This article will cover:

• Eligibility criteria under both streams; and
• Occupations that are excluded from selection for a provincial nomination.