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NBPNP - New Brunswick PNP - NB Strategic Initiative stream
One of the PNP streams of New Brunswick that is not aligned with Express Entry and that does not require a job offer
Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) > NBPNP - NB Strategic Initiative stream
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative (NBSI) stream. 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 New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream
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The New Brunswick Strategic Initiative (NBSI) stream is one of New Brunswick's PNP streams that does not require the candidate to hold a job offer to be eligible, but will need to have good language proficiency in French.
When receiving a nomination under the NBSI stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, and if nominated, a candidate cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of applications under Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs when not using the Express Entry system are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The NBSI stream requires a good level of French language proficiency as its main eligibility requirements, and candidates may not need to provide proof of funds.
The NBSI stream requires a good level of French language proficiency as its main eligibility requirements, and candidates may not need to provide proof of funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Please note that effective May 20, 2022, the NBPNP has temporarily paused the intake of applications in all immigration streams for the following NOC occupations:
There are 7 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You may be eligible to the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative (NBSI) stream if you satisfy to all the requirements below:
1. Age:
You must be between 19 et 55 years old to be eligible when submitting a complete application.
2. Language proficiency:
You must demonstrate you meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements for each language skill, in French, which is CLB5.
3. Education:
You are considered eligible to the stream if you have at least a Canadian secondary (high school) diploma or foreign equivalent. If the educational credential is from a foreign (non-Canadian) institution or authority, you must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an approved provider.
4. Intent to reside in New Brunswick:
To establish intent, you may be asked to demonstrate your attachment to New Brunswick, that may include, but are not limited to:
5. Qualifying Connection to New Brunswick:
To be considered under the NBSI stream, you must have one of the following three eligible connections:
a. An Exploratory Visit,
b. A job or genuine job offer with a New Brunswick employer, or
c. A direct invitation from New Brunswick.
a. Exploratory Visit:
Exploratory Visits to New Brunswick must be conducted within 12 months prior to submitting an Expression of Interest for the NBSI stream, last for at least five full business days (statutory holidays and weekend are not counted), but longer trips are recommended.
The purpose of an exploratory visit is to conduct extensive research related to employment and living opportunities in New Brunswick. Suggestions for meetings may include, but are not limited to:
The Exploratory Visit Report is different from the required Settlement Plan.
It is mandatory to inform the NBPNP at least 30 days before your arrival to New Brunswick.
The NBPNP does not provide letters of support for visas or authorizations to enter Canada.
b. Job or genuine job offer with a New Brunswick employer:
A New Brunswick employer has offered, and you have accepted, permanent, full time (at least 30h/week), year-round (non-seasonal) employment in an occupation in any NOC TEER Category.
The wage offered must be competitive with New Brunswick wage rates for the occupation.
If the intended job offer is in a regulated occupation, you are required to be certified or licensed by the regulatory authority for that occupation.
The NBPNP reserves the right to consider only certain types of jobs and occupations for nomination, based on New Brunswick's labour market, current inventory, yearly nomination allocations distributed by IRCC, and any other factors determined by the NBPNP.
c. Direct invitation from New Brunswick:
Based on New Brunswick's economic priorities, on a very limited basis, the NBPNP may directly invite a candidate from the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool to submit an application.
6. Settlement funds:
You must show that you have sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in New Brunswick. The amount needed and types of funds accepted can be found in the settlement funds guide. You do not have to show that you have these funds (i) if you have a genuine job offer in New Brunswick, OR (ii) if you are currently working or authorized to work in New Brunswick.
7. Selection factors 100-point assessment grid:
To be eligible to the NBSI stream, you need to score a minimum of 65 points out of a 100 in the following point assessment grid.
Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy the criteria of the factor.
- NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors
- NOC 65201 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
- NOC 65200 – Food and beverage servers
There are 7 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You may be eligible to the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative (NBSI) stream if you satisfy to all the requirements below:
1. Age:
You must be between 19 et 55 years old to be eligible when submitting a complete application.
2. Language proficiency:
You must demonstrate you meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements for each language skill, in French, which is CLB5.
3. Education:
You are considered eligible to the stream if you have at least a Canadian secondary (high school) diploma or foreign equivalent. If the educational credential is from a foreign (non-Canadian) institution or authority, you must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an approved provider.
4. Intent to reside in New Brunswick:
To establish intent, you may be asked to demonstrate your attachment to New Brunswick, that may include, but are not limited to:
- description of any actions taken to permanently settle in New Brunswick;
- prior or current employment/studies in New Brunswick;
- employment search details;
- community involvement;
- ability to support yourself in New Brunswick;
- family ties and other social relationships and connections;
- details of prior visits to Canada; and
- your connection to other jurisdictions in Canada.
5. Qualifying Connection to New Brunswick:
To be considered under the NBSI stream, you must have one of the following three eligible connections:
a. An Exploratory Visit,
b. A job or genuine job offer with a New Brunswick employer, or
c. A direct invitation from New Brunswick.
a. Exploratory Visit:
Exploratory Visits to New Brunswick must be conducted within 12 months prior to submitting an Expression of Interest for the NBSI stream, last for at least five full business days (statutory holidays and weekend are not counted), but longer trips are recommended.
The purpose of an exploratory visit is to conduct extensive research related to employment and living opportunities in New Brunswick. Suggestions for meetings may include, but are not limited to:
- New Brunswick employers,
- Regulatory bodies, if you are in a regulated occupation,
- Regional economic development offices/chamber of commerce officials/municipal newcomer coordinators,
- Residential real estate agents,
- New Brunswick settlement agencies,
- Schools and childcare facilities.
The Exploratory Visit Report is different from the required Settlement Plan.
It is mandatory to inform the NBPNP at least 30 days before your arrival to New Brunswick.
The NBPNP does not provide letters of support for visas or authorizations to enter Canada.
b. Job or genuine job offer with a New Brunswick employer:
A New Brunswick employer has offered, and you have accepted, permanent, full time (at least 30h/week), year-round (non-seasonal) employment in an occupation in any NOC TEER Category.
The wage offered must be competitive with New Brunswick wage rates for the occupation.
If the intended job offer is in a regulated occupation, you are required to be certified or licensed by the regulatory authority for that occupation.
The NBPNP reserves the right to consider only certain types of jobs and occupations for nomination, based on New Brunswick's labour market, current inventory, yearly nomination allocations distributed by IRCC, and any other factors determined by the NBPNP.
c. Direct invitation from New Brunswick:
Based on New Brunswick's economic priorities, on a very limited basis, the NBPNP may directly invite a candidate from the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool to submit an application.
6. Settlement funds:
You must show that you have sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in New Brunswick. The amount needed and types of funds accepted can be found in the settlement funds guide. You do not have to show that you have these funds (i) if you have a genuine job offer in New Brunswick, OR (ii) if you are currently working or authorized to work in New Brunswick.
7. Selection factors 100-point assessment grid:
To be eligible to the NBSI stream, you need to score a minimum of 65 points out of a 100 in the following point assessment grid.
Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy the criteria of the factor.
| 100-point assessment grid | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Factor 1 - Age | 12 |
| Factor 2 - Official languages | 28 |
| Factor 3 - Education | 25 |
| Factor 4 - Work experience | 15 |
| Factor 5 - Adaptability | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
| Minimum required | 65 |
Factor 1 - Age (Max 12 points):
You can score up to 12 points in this factor. You must be between 19 et 55 years old to be eligible. Your age taken into consideration is the one as of the day that a complete application is submitted to the NBPNP (post receiving the invitation to apply).
| Factor 1 - Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 19 years old | Not eligible |
| 19 to 24 years old | 4 |
| 25 to 44 years old | 12 |
| 45 to 50 years old | 4 |
| 51 to 55 years old | 0 |
| 56 years old and older | Not eligible |
Factor 2 - Official languages (Max 28 points):
You must demonstrate you meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements for each language skill, in French, which is CLB5. You can get a maximum of 28 points.
| Factor 2 - Official languages | Writing | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Max points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB7 or higher in French | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| CLB6 in French | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| CLB5 in French | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| CLB4 or less in one of the four language abilities in French | Not eligible | ||||
Factor 3 - Education (Max 25 points):
You must submit a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential, or if the educational credential is from a foreign (non-Canadian) institution or authority, you must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an approved provider. You can score up to 25 points in this factor.
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you don't have at least a Canadian secondary (high school) diploma or foreign equivalent.
Factor 3 - Education (Max 25 points):
You must submit a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential, or if the educational credential is from a foreign (non-Canadian) institution or authority, you must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an approved provider. You can score up to 25 points in this factor.
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you don't have at least a Canadian secondary (high school) diploma or foreign equivalent.
| Factor 3 - Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral (PhD) degree | 25 |
| Master's degree OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy) | 25 |
| Two or more credentials, with a least one for a program of three years or more | 22 |
| Bachelor's degree OR Post-secondary credential of at least three years | 21 |
| Post-secondary credential of two years | 19 |
| Post-secondary credential of one year | 17 |
| Secondary diploma (high school graduation) | 15 |
| Less than a Secondary diploma (high school graduation) | Not eligible |
Factor 4 - Work Experience (Max 15 points):
There is no work experience requirement for this stream. The work experience must be in the same occupation (same NOC code) as the primary occupation chosen in your immigration application. You can score a maximum of 15 points.
| Factor 4 - Work Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 6 years or more | 15 |
| 4 to 5 years | 12 |
| 1 to 3 years | 10 |
Factor 5 - Adaptability (Max 20 points)
You can earn a maximum of 20 points in this factor.
| Factor 5 - Adaptability | Points |
|---|---|
| Conduct an eligible Exploratory Visit to New Brunswick | 15 |
| Have at least one year of full-time work in New Brunswick | 15 |
| Currently have full-time, paid employment or have a genuine offer of full-time, paid employment, from a New Brunswick company in the same occupation as your eligible work experience | 15 |
| Have received a letter of interest from the Province of New Brunswick inviting you to the NBSI stream | 15 |
| Have at least one academic year of full-time study at a post-secondary accredited institution in New Brunswick | 5 |
| You or your spouse/partner have a relative, permanent resident or Canadian citizen, residing in New Brunswick in the 12 months preceding submission of the application. The relative can be a (i) parent, (ii) grandparent, (iii) child of a parent (sibling), (iv) child of a grandparent (uncle or aunt), (v) grandchild of a parent (nephew or niece), or (vi) step-family members or in-laws of the same relationships. | 5 |
| Spouse/partner has a language level in either English or French at CLB5 or higher in all 4 language abilities | 5 |
| Spouse/partner has at least one year of full-time work in New Brunswick | 5 |
Application Process Summary
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative (NBSI) stream. Candidates must:
- Qualify for the NBPNP stream eligibility requirements and submit an Expression of Interest on the INB portal.
- Receive an Invitation to Apply through their INB portal.
- Apply to the NBSI stream, maximum 45 days after receiving the invitation, by submitting their application through INB portal (filling in forms and uploading required documents, including a Settlement Plan).
- Apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC) within 6 months of receiving the nomination (after NBPNP processes their application). Candidates will need to apply on paper to IRCC, and include the nomination documents received from the NBPNP. A work permit support letter may be issued if they do not have a valid work permit or their current work permit will expire within 180 days.
Required Supporting Documents
All required documents must be uploaded online, and you will need to do it directly on the INB portal, within 45 days of receiving the Invitation to Apply. Specific requirements for documents are explained in detail here.
Application Fees
The fee for this New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream is 250 CAD. It can only be paid by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex, INTERAC Online or Visa/Debit, and is non-refundable.
Processing Times
The NBPNP does not publish processing times information on the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream.
Stream Opening History
The New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream is usually always open. You can check out our awesome Live PNP Monitor to see if the stream is currently open and its latest news, as well as for all the other PNP streams.
Do I have to stay in the Province?
This is a tricky question and there are multiple situations that can happen. You can learn more about this subject on our dedicated article: Can I move to another province?
Does the Stream have In-Demand Jobs?
Some streams target specific NOC codes, meaning that if you have experience in those in-demand jobs, you either (i) have more chances to be invited or (ii) that you can be eligible to the stream.
In the case of the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream, there is no in-demand occupation list.
In the case of the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream, there is no in-demand occupation list.
You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
