On August 16, 2024, the province of New Brunswick announced that it has reached its full allocation of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Express Entry category of its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). As a result, no new ITAs will be issued for the remainder of the year.
While the exact allocation numbers for 2024 have not been made public, the province clarified that applications fully submitted before August 16 will continue to be processed. Additionally, candidates who received an ITA prior to that date are still eligible to submit their complete nomination applications.
New Brunswick Express Entry Overview
The New Brunswick Express Entry system consists of three key streams:
- NB Employment Connection: For individuals who have been living and working in New Brunswick for at least six months or have a full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
- NB Student Connection: Designed for international students enrolled in eligible Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) programs at designated institutions in New Brunswick.
- NB Priorities Connection: Targets candidates who can demonstrate the skills and experience to meet the province’s labor market needs.
Other Opportunities in New Brunswick’s PNP
New Brunswick has become an increasingly popular destination for newcomers. According to the 2021 Census, 44,125 permanent residents (5.8% of the population) were foreign-born, nearly doubling the immigrant population from a decade earlier.
In May 2024, the province temporarily paused issuing Expressions of Interest under the Skilled Worker stream to manage the high volume of applicants. Those seeking other immigration pathways to New Brunswick are encouraged to explore options like the Atlantic Immigration Program or other PNP streams, such as the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream for French-speaking skilled workers or the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot Program, an employer-driven initiative introduced in November 2022 to address urgent labor shortages.
Despite reaching the cap for Express Entry, New Brunswick remains committed to welcoming skilled immigrants and continues to offer several pathways for those interested in moving to the province.