New Brunswick has introduced major updates to its Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) to better manage its reduced nomination allocation. Key changes have been made across three immigration streams, summarized below:
1. New Brunswick Express Entry Stream
Updates:
Starting March 5, 2025, the stream now accepts Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under two new pathways:
Employment in New Brunswick pathway
New Brunswick Interests pathway
Discontinuations:
The New Brunswick Student Connection pathway will not return in 2025.
Occupations No Longer Considered:
NOC 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
NOC 13110 – Administrative assistants
NOC 60020 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
NOC 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers
NOC 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors
NOC 63200 – Cooks
NOC 63202 – Bakers
2. New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream
Status:
Paused for 2025 due to sufficient application inventory. No new EOIs will be accepted.
Discontinuation:
The "In-Person Exploratory Visit to New Brunswick" connection — paused since November 2024 — will not return in 2025.
Occupations No Longer Considered:
Not applicable (no occupation restrictions were listed).
3. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
Restructuring:
Now split into three pathways:
New Brunswick Experience pathway
New Brunswick Graduates pathway
New Brunswick Priority Occupations pathway (currently not accepting applications)
Occupations No Longer Considered:
NOC 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
NOC 13110 – Administrative assistants
NOC 14400 – Shippers and receivers
NOC 60020 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
NOC 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers
NOC 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors
NOC 63200 – Cooks
NOC 63202 – Bakers
NOC 64100 – Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers
NOC 64301 – Bartenders
NOC 64314 – Hotel front desk clerks
NOC 64409 – Other customer service representatives
NOC 65200 – Food and beverage servers
NOC 65201 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related occupations
NOC 94142 – Fish and seafood plant workers
NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
NOC 95107 – Labourers in fish and seafood processing