Eligibility Requirements for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NB PNP)

Express Entry Labour Market Stream

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has developed and launched its Express Entry Labour Market Stream (EELMS). This stream allows the NBPNP to use the federal Express Entry immigration selection system to meet New Brunswick’s specific labour market and demographic needs.

This stream functions on an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. Candidates may complete an EOI form and send it to the NBPNP, which receives forms from the 1st to the 15th of each month. Candidates are assigned a score based on the information provided, after which they are assessed according to the following criteria:

• Highest score;
• Evidence of training and experience in a high priority sector as determined by the province;
• Demonstrated ability to become economically established in the province; and
• The likelihood of positively contributing to the provincial labour market.

The highest ranked candidates are invited to apply to the NBPNP by email. Applicants to the NBPNP will, if nominated, be processed through the federal government’s Express Entry electronic immigration management system, which aims to process complete applications within six months of submission.

Minimum Requirements

In order to be eligible for the NBPNP - EELMS, candidates must:

• Be between the ages of 22 and 55;
• Demonstrate proficiency in each of the four language abilities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening) equivalent to or greater than Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7. Language test results must be no more than two years old and must come from a designated agency: IELTS (General Training Test only) for English; CELPIP (General test only) for English; or TEF for French;
• Have a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary educational credential (at least one academic year in length) OR a completed foreign educational credential from a recognized institution or authority. In the case of a foreign educational credential, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, issued by an organization designated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC), is required;
  • If the applicant is being considered for provincial nomination under an occupation, he or she will require a valid job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
• Have at least 12 months full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) paid skilled work experience in New Brunswick in the three years before the application is made, which cannot have been gained through self-employment or while the candidate was a full-time student (volunteer work, unpaid internships, co-op terms, etc. do not count) and which is in NOC Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B;
• Sign and submit a Commitment to Live and Work in New Brunswick form; and
• Show sufficient funds to support the settlement of themselves as well as all dependent family members. The required amount of funds varies depending on family size according to the following table:

Factor 1: Education

Candidates must have a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential OR a completed foreign educational credential from a recognized institution or authority AND an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an organization designated by IRCC.

An ECA is used to verify that a candidate's foreign degree, diploma, certificate (or other proof of credential) is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada. The ECA report will also indicate the authenticity of foreign educational credential(s).

* Degree program must be in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, Optometry, Law, Chiropractic Medicine or Pharmacy. The occupation related to the degree must be NOC 2011 Skill Level A, and licensed by a provincial regulatory body.

Factor 2: Language Ability in English and/or French

Candidates may earn up to 28 points for their skills in English and French. Points are given based on the candidate's abilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Points may also be awarded for official second language capacity. If a candidate want to earn points for his or her skills in both English and French, her or she must provide language test results for each language at the same time.

Results must come from one of the following designated testing agencies:

• English:
  • CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (General test only)
  • IELTS: International English Language Testing System (General Training test only)
• French:
  • TEF: Test d’évaluation de français

Calculate language points: candidates must meet the minimum level of CLB 7 (for the first official language in all four language areas). To get points for the second official language, candidates must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 (in all four language areas).

Factor 3: Work Experience

Work experience in Canada or abroad must be:

• At least one year (1,560 hours), full-time or an equal amount in part-time;
• Paid work (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count);
• In the same occupation;
• Within the last 10 years before the application to NSOI and at application for permanent residence to IRCC; and
• In National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 skill level 0, A, or B..

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a system used to classify jobs in the Canadian economy. It describes duties, skills and work setting for different jobs.

Factor 4: Age

Candidates will earn points based on their age on the day that they are invited to apply for permanent residence by IRCC.

Factor 5: Arranged Employment in New Brunswick

A candidate will receive points if he or she has a valid offer of permanent employment from a New Brunswick employer. The job must be arranged before the candidate applies to come to New Brunswick as a federal skilled worker.

A valid offer of employment must be:

• for permanent full-time work in New Brunswick; and
• in an occupation in Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B of NOC.

The job must:

• have compensation in the form of salary and benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates;
• be a position which has a shortage of qualified permanent residents or Canadian citizens to fill the position; and
• not contravene any existing bargaining unit agreements or be in any employment disputes.

A person can get arranged employment points without a new LMIA. The requirements in this case are:

• The applicant is currently working in Canada on a work permit that was issued based on a positive Service Canada LMIA with respect to employment in an occupation listed in Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B of the NOC;
• the work permit is valid at the time the application for permanent residence is made;
• the applicant is currently working for an employer specified on the work permit; and
• the current employer has made an offer to employ the applicant on a full-time, non-seasonal, indeterminate basis in a NOC Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B occupation in New Brunswick once a permanent resident visa, if any, is issued.

Factor 6: Adaptability

An applicant must demonstrate his or her genuine intention to settle in the province. In addition, he or she must meet federal criteria listed in the following table to gain points. If the applicant has an accompanying spouse or common-law partner who will also immigrate to Canada, he or she can earn points for adaptability, too. An applicant cannot claim points for a spouse who is a permanent resident living in Canada or a Canadian citizen. Even if an applicant qualifies for points under several criteria, he or she may only receive a maximum of 10 points for adaptability.

Interview

If required, an applicant may have to attend an in-person interview in New Brunswick. The applicant will be notified if such an interview is required.

When Not to Apply

Candidates should not apply if they:

• have an application in process under another immigration program in Canada;
• intend to work in an occupation that is a National Occupational Classification (NOC) level C or D;
• are not lawfully residing in their country of residence at the time an application is received at the NBPNP office (proof of lawful residence is required);
• have an unresolved humanitarian and compassionate claim in Canada;
• are failed humanitarian and compassionate claimants living in Canada;
• have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada;
• are failed refugee claimants living in Canada;
• are under a removal order in Canada;
• are prohibited from entering Canada;
• are engaged in full-time post-secondary education;
• are on a valid federal post-graduation work permit whose occupation falls under NOC skill level C or D;
• are live-in caregivers;
• are a seasonal, part-time or casual worker;
• are an individual whose job is not based in New Brunswick;
• intend to start a business and/or be self-employed in New Brunswick; or
• are unable to provide proof of required amount of funds.