On August 16, New Brunswick halts ITAs for Express Entry PNP program. For those who were thinking of applying to New Brunswick under the PNP program’s Express Entry stream in order to get permanent residency in Canada, this decision represents a major shift in the province’s immigration strategy.
The province declared that all of the ITAs allotted to candidates in this stream have already been used. New Brunswick hasn’t yet revealed its 2024 allocation figures, though.
Completed applications received by Friday, August 16, 2024, will continue to be handled normally. Furthermore, candidates are advised to submit their complete nomination application if they got an ITA before this date.
New Brunswick’s Express Entry Stream
New Brunswick offers three streams under the Express Entry system. Applicants must be in the federal Express Entry pool through either the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The requirements for each stream differ.
- NB Employment Connection: This stream is aimed at individuals who have resided in New Brunswick for at least six months and either hold a full-time job or have a full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
- NB Student Connection: This stream targets international students who have completed eligible programs at approved institutions in New Brunswick and qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
- NB Priorities Connection: This stream is for applicants who can demonstrate they possess skills that are in demand in New Brunswick’s labor market, and may receive a letter of interest if they meet this criterion.
Various Ways to Apply for the NB PNP
New Brunswick has grown in popularity as an immigration destination in recent years. As to the 2021 Census, 44,125 individuals (5.8% of the population) were foreign-born immigrants who had obtained permanent status, while 10,855 persons (1.4% of the population) were non-permanent residents. Compared to 2011, when there were 28,465 immigrants, this is more than twice as many people as there were ten years before.
This year has seen a sharp increase in interest in New Brunswick’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). In order to give the immigration service time to handle the large number of applications that are now being received, the province announced on May 17 that the Expressions of Interest for the New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream will be temporarily suspended.
It is recommended that newcomers who are interested in this stream first determine whether they qualify for the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Under the PNP, there is still a chance for individuals to immigrate to New Brunswick under the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream. This stream is primarily intended for proficient French speakers who want to live and work in New Brunswick for an extended period of time.
Furthermore, another route is provided by the November 2022 introduction of the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot Program. The primary goal of this employer-driven stream is to solve severe labor shortages in important industries. The application must be submitted to the provincial government on behalf of the candidate by one of the six participating employers, who must first offer the candidate work in order for them to be eligible.
