New Brunswick Eases Occupation Restrictions for Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

Effective October 14, 2026, Immigration New Brunswick will accept endorsement applications for eligible occupations, with just four occupations remaining explicitly excluded.

The latest update follows an earlier relaxation of restrictions in September and reverses several limitations introduced in February 2026.

However, the province continues to prioritize applicants with strong ties to New Brunswick, as well as those working in health care, education and construction.

What Is the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The Atlantic Immigration Program is an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and eligible international graduates who want to settle in Atlantic Canada.

It operates in the four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

To participate, employers must first receive provincial designation. They can then offer eligible positions to foreign workers and seek provincial endorsement to support their permanent residence applications.

Generally, eligible occupations fall within Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0 to 4, with additional requirements depending on the position and candidate.

Which Occupations Are Now Eligible for New Brunswick’s AIP?

Under the October 14 changes, designated employers can submit AIP endorsement applications for eligible foreign workers in all occupations except the following four: Shippers and receivers, Restaurant and food service managers, Food service supervisors, and Fish and seafood plant workers.

This means several occupations previously excluded from consideration can now qualify. These include retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 60020), retail sales supervisors (NOC 62010), retail and wholesale buyers (NOC 62101), and retail salespersons (NOC 64100).

Occupations in the accommodation and food services sector (such as cooks, chefs and hotel staff) were previously excluded, but that restriction was lifted in September 2026.

As always, occupations classified under TEER category 5 are ineligible for AIP.

While this is welcome news for some candidates, it’s important to remember that becoming eligible to submit an endorsement application does not guarantee selection or approval.

Which Occupations Are Still Excluded Under New Brunswick’s AIP?

Following the October 14 update, only four occupations remain excluded under the Atlantic Immigration Program for New Brunswick. These are:

NOC 14400 – Shippers and receivers

NOC 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers

NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors

NOC 94142 – Fish and seafood plant workers

How Have New Brunswick’s AIP Restrictions Changed in 2026?

New Brunswick has gradually relaxed restrictions introduced earlier this year as it manages demand for limited immigration spaces.

February 3, 2026: Citing reduced nomination allocations, the province introduced significant restrictions, excluding all positions in the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72) from endorsement consideration.

The restriction included occupations such as:

• NOC 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers
• NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors
• NOC 62021 – Executive housekeepers
• NOC 62024 – Cleaning supervisors
• NOC 62200 – Chefs
• NOC 63200 – Cooks
• NOC 63202 – Bakers
• NOC 64300 – Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses
• NOC 64301 – Bartenders
• NOC 64314 – Hotel front desk clerks

Additionally, six occupations were excluded regardless of the employer’s sector. These included shippers and receivers, retail and wholesale trade managers, retail sales supervisors, retail and wholesale buyers, retail salespersons, and fish and seafood plant workers.

New Brunswick also introduced a candidate pool system, replacing first-come, first-served processing with selections based on provincial priorities. Applications that remain unselected expire after 365 days.

September 14, 2026: New Brunswick lifted the blanket restriction on accommodation and food services, allowing occupations such as chefs, cooks, bakers, bartenders and hotel front desk clerks to be considered again.

However, eight occupations remained excluded:

• 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 62101 – Retail and wholesale buyers
• NOC 64100 – Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers
• NOC 94142 – Fish and seafood plant workers

The October 14 update has now removed four more occupations from this restricted list.

Who Will New Brunswick Prioritize for AIP Endorsements?

Although more occupations are eligible, New Brunswick has warned that demand continues to exceed its available endorsement allocation.

The province will prioritize applicants based on three main factors:

• How long they have been employed in New Brunswick.
• Their economic establishment and attachment to the province.
• Whether they work or have a job offer in a priority sector, particularly health care, education, or construction.

This means foreign workers already living and working in New Brunswick may have an advantage over applicants with limited connections to the province.

Can You Apply for New Brunswick’s AIP from Outside Canada?

Yes, but significant restrictions remain.

New Brunswick limits endorsement applications for positions offered to applicants outside Canada to three sectors: health care, education and construction.

This means that the broader occupational eligibility announced on October 14 only benefits foreign workers already residing in Canada.

What Should You Do If You’re Interested in New Brunswick’s AIP?

If your occupation was previously excluded, check whether you now qualify and whether your employer is already designated under the program.

If you have an expiring work permit, do not assume that submitting an endorsement application will allow you to continue working legally.

New Brunswick encourages affected workers and employers to explore federal options, including work permits supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, where applicable.

The October changes provide more opportunities to seek endorsement, but limited allocations mean applicants should also consider other immigration pathways.