New Brunswick PNP invites candidates under three immigration streams in first draw of 2026

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) issued its first set of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) of 2026 in a series of draws conducted between January 13–15.

Invitations were extended to candidates through three streams, all of which require ties to the province to qualify.

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Draw results

New Brunswick issued a total of 379 ITAs for provincial nomination in its latest round of selections, with candidates drawn under the following streams:

• New Brunswick Express Entry Stream;
• New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream; and
• New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream.

The cut-off date and time for all EOI submissions for this draw was January 12 of this year, at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time.

New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream

Of the 379 invitations issued in New Brunswick PNP’s latest series of draws, about 64% were issued under this stream.

About this stream: The NB Skilled Worker Stream is for skilled foreign nationals with current employment with or a job offer from a New Brunswick Employer—but this draw focused on just two.

To qualify under the New Brunswick experience pathway, candidates must meet all requirements listed below:

• Have been living in the province for the past six months before submitting an Expression of Interest;
• Be currently working full-time in a non-seasonal position for a New Brunswick employer willing to support your application; and
• Have at least six months’ worth of work experience with the supporting employer.

To qualify under the New Brunswick graduates pathway, candidates must meet all requirements listed below:

• Have completed a Post-Graduation Work Permit-eligible study program at a New Brunswick-based designated learning institution; and
• Be currently employed full-time by a New Brunswick employer willing to support your position or have an offer for such a position (must be non-seasonal)

New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream

This is a pivotal draw, as the stream was initially paused in January 2025 due to having a sufficient inventory of EOIs and halting the acceptance of new EOIs under this stream for the remainder of the year.

There were no draws under this stream in 2025, marking this draw as the first time candidates have been selected through this stream in over a year.

About this stream: The NB Strategic Initiative Stream is for French-speaking foreign nationals with eligible connections to the province, such as previous work experience or a qualifying job offer, graduating from a qualifying in-province Francophone university, or living in the province while working for a Canadian employer.

To have been drawn under this stream through the NB Francophone priorities pathway, candidates needed to meet one of the following conditions:

Previous residence in New Brunswick and completion of a minimum one-year, in-person program at Université de Moncton or the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB); or

Receipt of a Letter of Interest from Immigration New Brunswick.

New Brunswick Express Entry stream

About this stream: The NB Express Entry Stream is designed for skilled foreign nationals with a profile in the federal Express Entry pool. To be drawn under the Employment in New Brunswick pathway, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Have lived in New Brunswick for the past 12 months;
• Be currently working full-time in a non-seasonal TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 position for a New Brunswick Employer; and
• Have been employed full-time by the same or a different New Brunswick employer for the past 12 months in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 position.

Candidates who are successful in obtaining a nomination from New Brunswick after being drawn and applying for nomination under this stream can get 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System points in their Express Entry profile.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams