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If you studied in New Brunswick and have an active business in the province, you might be a prime candidate for immigration to Canada through the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream, part of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).
Here’s the eligibility criteria:
- Be between 22-40 years of age.
- Have a score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in speaking, listening, reading and writing competencies in English or French, proven with a language test (IELTS-General, CELPIP-General or TEF).
- Have completed a full-time New Brunswick post-secondary degree or diploma for at least two years (15 hours of class per week) from a recognized university or community college.
- Have resided in New Brunswick during the academic program (no distance-learning programs or compressed academic programs are eligible).
- Have owned and operated a business in New Brunswick for at least one full year (100% ownership of business equity).
- Have a valid post-graduation work permit.
- Demonstrate intent and ability to settle in New Brunswick.
- Have a minimum score of 65 out of 100 in the points assessment grid.
The New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) basis, whereby candidates must create a profile and receive an invitation to apply before they may apply to the NBPNP for provincial nomination.
New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream EOI points grid
The first step is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. An EOI is reviewed based on the following factors: age, language, education, work experience, the economic benefit of the business (to New Brunswick), and adaptability. Candidates are assigned a score based on the following:
Selection factor | Maximum Points |
---|---|
Age | 10 |
Language | 35 |
Education | 25 |
Work Experience | 10 |
Economic Benefit of Business | 10 |
Adaptability | 10 |
Total | 100 points (candidates must score at least 65) |
Factor 1: Age
Age | Points |
---|---|
21 years or younger | 0 |
22-34 | 10 |
35-40 | 5 |
41 or older | 0 |
Maximum points | 10 |
Factor 2: Language ability
Language | CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | Maximum points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First official language | CLB 9+ | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
CLB 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
CLB 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||
Second official language | CLB 7+ | 7 |
Factor 3: Level of education
Note: Candidates with educational credentials exclusively outside New Brunswick are ineligible under the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream. The term “equivalent” refers to the possibility for candidates to list any further educational credential obtained outside New Brunswick, for which an Educational Credential Assessment, or ECA, is required, in addition to the education completed in New Brunswick.
Points | ||
---|---|---|
Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) | Awarded by a New Brunswick university (a Master's degree must have been completed before the PhD). | 25 |
Masters or Professional Degree | Awarded by a New Brunswick graduate college or university, after completion of a Bachelor’s degree *(Applicant possesses a professional degree and is licensed by the NB regulatory body in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine or pharmacy.) | 23 |
Two or more Canadian degrees or diplomas | At least one degree or diploma shall be awarded by a New Brunswick college or university that required at least 3 years of full-time study. | 22 |
Post Secondary Academic degree | Awarded by a New Brunswick college or university for completion of an undergraduate curriculum that required at least 3 years of full-time study. | 21 |
Post-Secondary Diploma | Awarded by a New Brunswick college or university in a specific trade that required at least 2 years of full-time study after high school. | 19 |
Maximum points | 25 |
Factor 4: Work experience
Candidates are awarded points for work experience completed within the previous 10 years, excluding the one year or more of business operations in New Brunswick.
Work Experience (last 10 years) | Points |
---|---|
6 or more years in the last 10 years in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 | 10 |
1-5 years in the last 10 years in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 | 5 |
Maximum points | 10 |
Factor 5: Economic benefit of the business
Economic Benefit of the Business to New Brunswick | Points |
---|---|
Business is located outside of Fredricton, Moncton or Saint John | 5 |
Business is in the agricultural sector | 5 |
Business is in a priority sector, as defined by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour | 5 |
Maximum points | 10 |
Factor 6: adaptability
Adaptability factor | Points |
---|---|
Spouse/common-law partner has at least one year of continuous full-time employment in New Brunswick | 5 |
Spouse/common-law partner has completed at least two years of full-time study, in a minimum two-year program at a post-secondary institution in New Brunswick with a valid study permit (if applicable) | 5 |
Spouse/common-law partner meets the minimum level CLB 5 in English or French in all four language abilities | 5 |
Applicant or spouse/common-law partner has a close family relative (son, daughter, brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew) who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada (18+) living in New Brunswick for at least one year. | 10 |
Applicant has additional job skills demonstrated through training or experience and supported by a post-secondary credential (i.e. certificate, diploma, degree) requiring at least one year of full-time study after high school. | 5 |
Maximum points | 10 |
The business operation itself must also be considered eligible for the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream. Click the slide directly below to learn more.
Eligibility criteria for businesses under New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream
- The business must have started as a career objective. Businesses created solely for immigration purposes are ineligible.
- The applicant must provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business from within New Brunswick by:
- assuming risk and influencing the direction of the business; and
- being present at the business premises on a day-to-day basis.
- The business must be in sound financial health. This means that it must be producing revenue and earning sufficient profits to allow the owner to become economically established in the province. An Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report from a designated NB Audit Verifier will be required to assess the financial health of the business.
- The business must be established as a sole proprietorship or corporation.
- The business must be a continued operation of an existing business or the establishment of a new business.
- The business must be a for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services.
- The business must be considered a “permanent establishment” as defined under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985
- The business must create significant economic benefit through:
- 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 of new technologies;
- enhanced technology commercialization;
- the transfer of technology and specialized knowledge to New Brunswick; and
- providing products and/or services to an under-served local or regional market.
- The business must pay income tax on taxable income earned in the province, regardless of income or other taxes which may also be payable in other jurisdictions as a result of income earned or other business activity.
- The business must 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.
- The business must comply with all Canadian laws in establishing, purchasing and maintaining the business.
- The business must obtain the necessary licenses and permits, etc. from all applicable municipal, provincial and/or federal authorities.
- The applicant must commit to not selling the business for a minimum of three years after receiving permanent residence in Canada.
The following business activities are not eligible for the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream:
- 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;
- aestheticians and services;
- beauty salons;
- bed and breakfast accommodations;
- coin operated;
- consultancy (business or agency that offers expert professional advice in a field);
- cooperative (business or organization owned and operated by its member);
- credit or debit cards (active or inactive);
- domain names;
- a farm that is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income;financial brokerage (business that derives its prime source of income
- from acting as an intermediary for buyers and sellers)
- financial services including, but not limited to cooperatives and/or credit unions;
- home-based and/or businesses operating from a residential property;
- landlord property and rental management;
- not-for-profit businesses and organizations;
- property investment (purchase of real estate for the intention of earning a return on the investment, either through rental income, the future resale of the property or both);
- professional practices and services where the applicant fails to provide proof of licensing and/or accreditation in New Brunswick;
- secured loans where items of personal property are used as collateral (i.e. pawnbrokers); and
- short-term borrowing including, but not limited to, payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines.
The following business activities may be eligible for the Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream if the applicant can demonstrate real economic benefit to New Brunswick:
- brokerage in business, insurance and real estate;
- e-commerce or online businesses where the service or product is new to the Canadian marketplace is a significantly improved version of existing services and products, and where products are warehoused in New Brunswick;
- inn or boutique hotel that has at least five rental units, each having at least a three-piece bath; revenues of at least CAD $100,000 and has eligible operating expenses of at least CAD $75,000 in the last operating year, supported by financial statements and tax returns;
- real estate construction and/or development; and
- reseller of goods and/or services where the business provides value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling.
The following business characteristics are not eligible for the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream if the business:
- 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.; and
- that by association could bring the department into disrepute.

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Application process
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the NBPNP
New Brunswick PNP accepts EOIs online using the Immigration New Brunswick online portal. The first step is to create and submit your EOI.
Step 2: Receive an invitation to apply for immigration to New Brunswick
Candidates selected from the pool will receive a written ITA in order to submit a full application to the NBPNP.
Step 3: Submit the application and conduct interview
It is important to answer all the questions in the form, provide the necessary documents in the required format, and sign the forms. Supporting documents that are in a language other than English or French must be translated by a certified translator or interpreter who is a member of a translation or interpretation provincial or territorial organization.
Applicants are responsible for providing and paying for an Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report. The report must be completed by a New Brunswick designated Audit Service Verifier.
The Audit opinion will include an audit of the financial statements of the business and the Special Purpose Report must include the following:
- The financial viability and sustainability of the business discussing any relevant issues affecting the business’ ability to continue in the near future as a going concern;
- Recommendation for the business to improve its viability and sustainability;
- A determination of any issues, challenges or concerns pertaining to auditing the financial statements; and
- A business review which may include but is not limited to market analysis, product analysis, competitive analysis, and financial analysis.
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be invited to participate in an in-person interview with a NBPNP Immigration Officer.
Applicants need to be available for an interview within 15 business days of receiving the request. The interview will include a site visit to the business. There are two possible outcomes following the interview:
- Refusal Decision: If the interview is unsuccessful, the applicant will receive a refusal letter from the Department with no possibility of appeal.
- Nomination Decision: If the interview is successful, the applicant will receive a nomination certificate which remains valid for six months from the date of issuance.
Step 4: Application to IRCC for permanent residence
Nominated applicants must submit a complete application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) prior to the expiry date indicated on the Nomination Certificate.
Step 5: Report landing
You must report your landing, in writing, within 30 days following your landing date to the Department using the Report Your Landing (NB013PGES) Form available here.
The business in New Brunswick must be operated for a minimum of three years after receiving permanent residence in Canada.
Stay up to date with all PNP options throughout Canada, including the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream, with our PNP Live Tracker.

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