NBPNP Strategic Initiative

The New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream is for French-speaking foreign nationals with the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the New Brunswick economy, and who are ready to live and work in New Brunswick permanently.

Candidates must meet the programme’s eligibility requirements in order to receive an invitation to apply.

NBPNP Strategic Initiative is a stream of theNew Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).

New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream process diagram

• Step 1: Be Permanent Residence (PR) ready.
• Step 2: Create an expression of interest (EOI).
• Step 3: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
• Step 4: Submit your application to the Government of New Brunswick.
• Step 5: Receive a decision from the Government of New Brunswick.
• Step 6: Submit the federal application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Step 7: Receive a decision from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Getting started

Before applying to the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream, you must:

1. Meet one of the three connections below:

• An in-person exploratory visit to New Brunswick made within the 12 months before the EOI is submitted.
  • This connection is only for candidates from outside Canada. If you are or have been a temporary resident in a Canadian province other than New Brunswick in the past 5 years, you are not eligible for this connection.
  • Please note that completing an exploratory visit does not guarantee receipt of an invitation to apply.
  • Selection priority is based on the New Brunswick labour market and family connections in the province.
  • For further information, please refer to the exploratory visit section of the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream Guide.
• Employment or a genuine job offer from a New Brunswick employer; or
• One of the New Brunswick priorities below:
  • You have completed a programme of study at the Université de Moncton or the Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) within the past 6 months.
  • You have been resident in New Brunswick for 12 months and have worked remotely for 12 months for the same Canadian company located outside Quebec.
  • You have received a letter of interest from a New Brunswick Immigration Officer.

If you are a New Brunswick graduate applying without employment or a job offer, you must contact your local WorkingNB Office to find out about the job opportunities available in the province.

For further information on the connections above, please refer to the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream Guide.

2. Be Permanent Residence (PR) ready when applying to any New Brunswick immigration stream. This means that you:

• Meet all the minimum eligibility requirements and selection factors.
• Have all the documents needed to prepare and submit a complete and accurate application to the Government of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada.
• Being PR ready makes for more efficient processing, fewer delays and a better experience navigating the New Brunswick and Canadian immigration programmes. To make sure you are PR ready, please visit our first steps page to find out what you need to know before applying to the Immigration Programme streams.

Submit your application

1. Read our Guide:The New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream Guide provides comprehensive information about the programme. Please read it carefully before applying. The topics covered include eligibility requirements, selection factors, the application process and other important information.
2. Submit an expression of interest (EOI):
   • If you are PR ready and meet the eligibility criteria, you may create a candidate profile and complete an expression of interest (EOI) to the province through the INB Portal.
   • Once the EOI is completed successfully, your profile is placed in the candidate pool. Candidates are selected from this pool and invited to apply based on immigration allocations, application volumes and New Brunswick labour market needs.
3. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA):If selected, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in your INB account. You will need to provide evidence of the information submitted in your profile. You must submit a complete electronic application within 45 days of the date the ITA is issued.
4. Complete your electronic application
   • The application and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically through your INB account. All documents must be provided as PDF files. You will have to scan paper documents into PDF files and convert them. Make sure your application is complete and includes all the required forms and documents.
   • Submitting an application and meeting the eligibility requirements for the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream does not guarantee a nomination. The Government of New Brunswick reserves the right to change the criteria and/or pause streams.
5. Pay the processing fee:Before submitting a complete application, you must pay the fee through your online account. A spouse or common-law partner and dependent children are included in the processing fee. The processing fee is non-refundable. The CAD 250 processing fee can be paid by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, INTERAC Online or Visa/Debit.
6. Wait for a decision:Your application is assessed against the eligibility requirements and selection factors. The Government of New Brunswick notifies the final decision in writing and uploads it to your online application dashboard. The decision to issue a nomination certificate is at the Government of New Brunswick’s sole discretion. If nominated, you may apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR). Remember that you must maintain the conditions of the nomination while awaiting a decision on your permanent residence (PR) application.

After being nominated

If issued a nomination by the Government of New Brunswick, you must apply directly toImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)for permanent residence (PR). Remember that you must maintain the conditions of the nomination while awaiting a decision on your PR application. The nomination certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue and is treated as valid if you submit a complete application for PR before the expiry date on the nomination certificate.

For further information on how to apply for permanent residence, visit immigrate as a provincial nominee (non-Express Entry process).

Find out more about NBPNP Strategic Initiative on the government website athere.