Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) > NBPNP - NB Business Immigration stream (NB BIS)
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of New Brunswick's Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), the NB Business Immigration stream (NB BIS). The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the NB Business Immigration stream
The New Brunswick Business Immigration stream (NB BIS) is one of the New Brunswick PNP streams that is dedicated to international entrepreneurs who wish to invest their money in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the NB BIS stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The NB BIS has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the NBPNP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria.
The NB BIS has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the NBPNP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the New Brunswick Business Immigration stream (NB BIS), your proposed business must be:
Economic benefits:
Priority processing may occur for applications with business plans that have the greatest potential to create the following economic benefits:
Active management:
You must (i) assume risk and influence the direction of the business, (ii) provide ongoing and active management to the business from within New Brunswick, and (iii) be present at the business premises on a day-to-day basis.
With respect to operating the business, you must:
Ownership percentage:
When investing in a business, you must control at least 33.3% equity in the business.
Job creation:
The business must create at least one full-time (min. 30h/week) job for a permanent resident or citizen of Canada living in New Brunswick.
The one full-time job cannot include you, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children and/or other family members.
Purchasing an existing business:
If buying an existing business, you must demonstrate that the business:
Seasonal businesses:
Some agricultural businesses may be eligible:
Some tourism businesses may be eligible:
Key economic sectors in New Brunswick:
Ineligible businesses:
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the NB BIS:
Selection factors 100-point assessment grid:
To be eligible to the NB BIS, you need to score a minimum of 65 points out of a 100 in the following point assessment grid.
There are 7 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
To be eligible to the New Brunswick Business Immigration stream (NB BIS), your proposed business must be:
- of economic benefit to the province,
- established as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation (in the case of a partnership, the other partner(s) must be a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen),
- the continued operation of an existing business or the establishment of a new business,
- a private-sector, for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services, and,
- considered a “permanent establishment” as defined under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985.
Economic benefits:
Priority processing may occur for applications with business plans that have the greatest potential to create the following economic benefits:
- Increased value-added manufacturing or processing for New Brunswick exports.
- Enhanced research and development.
- Development of new products and/or services
- Development of innovative approaches to traditional businesses.
- Development and/or enhancements of new technologies.
- The transfer of technology and specialized knowledge to New Brunswick
- Providing products and/or services to an under-served local or regional market.
- Immediate needs identified in specific regions or communities.
- Other economic benefits as determined by the NBPNP.
Active management:
You must (i) assume risk and influence the direction of the business, (ii) provide ongoing and active management to the business from within New Brunswick, and (iii) be present at the business premises on a day-to-day basis.
With respect to operating the business, you must:
- ensure the business pays income tax on taxable income earned in the province, regardless of income or other taxes that may also be payable in other jurisdictions because of income earned or other business activity,
- comply with all legislation in the province including, but not limited to, the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights act and Occupational Health and Safety Act,
- comply with all Canadian laws in establishing, purchasing and maintaining the business, and
- obtain necessary licenses/permits from all applicable municipal, provincial and/or federal authorities.
Ownership percentage:
When investing in a business, you must control at least 33.3% equity in the business.
Job creation:
The business must create at least one full-time (min. 30h/week) job for a permanent resident or citizen of Canada living in New Brunswick.
The one full-time job cannot include you, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children and/or other family members.
Purchasing an existing business:
If buying an existing business, you must demonstrate that the business:
- has been in continuous operation by the same owner for the three years prior to the purchase date; and that the owner is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada,
- will be purchased at a proven fair market value,
- has achieved a proven net profit for at least two of the previous three years as demonstrated by audited financial statements and corporate tax assessments issued by Canada Revenue Agency,
- will provide for the continued employment to existing staff on similar terms and conditions,
- is not in receivership and/or has not filed for bankruptcy for the three years prior to purchase date, and
- Goodwill may not exceed 10% of the net book value when purchasing a profitable business.
Seasonal businesses:
Some agricultural businesses may be eligible:
- Minimum operating time 9 out of 12 months in a calendar year, or
- Minimum farm size 100 hectares.
Some tourism businesses may be eligible:
- Minimum operating time 9 out of 12 months, or
- Minimum operating time 6 out of 12 months if eligible equity investment exceeds 1 million CAD.
Key economic sectors in New Brunswick:
- Manufacturing
- Information and communication technology (ICT)
- Cybersecurity
- Value added wood
- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Tourism
- Digital health
- Food and beverage
- Contact/call centers
- Energy innovation
- Aerospace and defense.
Ineligible businesses:
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the NB BIS:
- Adult services including but not limited to the production, distribution and/or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products and/or services, and/or the provision of sexually oriented services.
- Bed and breakfast accommodations.
- Coin operated businesses.
- Consultancy (business or agency that offers expert professional advice in a field).
- Online language and educational training centers.
- E-commerce or online businesses.
- Facilities that provide temporary residents and/or newcomer’s settlement services.
- Cooperative (business or organization owned and operated by its member).
- Domain names.
- Hobby farm for personal consumption or use that does not generate a primary source of income.
- Brokerage businesses.
- Financial services including, but not limited to cooperatives and/or credit unions, short-term borrowing (payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines, pawnbrokers, etc.).
- Home-based and/or businesses operating from a residential property.
- Landlord property and rental management.
- Inn or boutique hotel that has less than five rental units with revenues less than 100,000 CAD.
- Not-for-profit businesses and organizations.
- Property investment, however, construction and/or development may be eligible if multiple signed and verifiable contracts are provided. This does not include the purchase of existing properties and/or businesses.
- Professional practices and services where the applicant fails to provide proof of licensing and/or accreditation in New Brunswick.
- Is an immigration-linked passive investment scheme pursuant to Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations section 87(5)b and as defined by IRPR 87(9).
- Is conducted remotely from a jurisdiction outside New Brunswick.
- Offers products and/or services that are primarily used during a certain time of the year.
- Promotes and/or sells controlled substances and illegal drugs, prescription drugs and items used to manufacture controlled substances and/or drug paraphernalia.
- Promotes and/or sells illegal items and items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activities including, but not limited to counterfeit products, copies of movies, software and trademarks, etc.
- Any business, that by association could bring the NBPNP into disrepute.
Selection factors 100-point assessment grid:
To be eligible to the NB BIS, you need to score a minimum of 65 points out of a 100 in the following point assessment grid.
There are 7 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
100-point assessment grid | Maximum Points |
---|---|
Factor 1 - Age | 10 |
Factor 2 - Official Languages | 25 |
Factor 3 - Education | 20 |
Factor 4 - Personal Net Worth | 0 |
Factor 5 - Business Ownership / Work Experience | 15 |
Factor 6 - Business Plan | 25 |
Factor 7 - Adaptability | 5 |
Total | 100 |
Minimum required | 65 |