The New Brunswick Skilled Workers Stream offers a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals planning to settle in New Brunswick who have full-time, non-seasonal employment or a job offer from an eligible employer in the province.
Effective February 3, 2026, Immigration New Brunswick (ImmigrationNB) does not accept expressions of interest or issue invitations under the Skilled Workers Stream for individuals working in the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72) or certain specified occupations. The stream targets foreign nationals with strong ties to New Brunswick, including those with work experience or education in the province, and aims to address labor shortages in roles that cannot be filled by permanent residents or Canadian citizens. Applicants must maintain valid work authorization throughout the immigration process.
- ImmigrationNB does not accept expressions of interest or issue invitations for occupations in the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72) including various NOC codes such as food service supervisors, chefs, cooks, bakers, hotel receptionists, servers, and housekeeping staff.
- Applicants in these occupations may apply if their employer is not directly engaged in accommodation and food services.
- Certain other occupations are excluded from consideration regardless of sector, including retail and wholesale trade managers, cashiers, meat cutters, and food processing laborers.
- Applicants must maintain valid work authorization during the immigration process; processing times are not guaranteed.
- The stream provides a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals with full-time, non-seasonal employment or job offers from eligible New Brunswick employers.
- Target groups include those with at least 6 months of full-time work experience with an eligible employer in New Brunswick, recent graduates from eligible post-secondary programs in New Brunswick with a job offer, and individuals with job offers in priority occupations linked to government recruitment missions.
- As of February 3, 2026, ImmigrationNB no longer accepts expressions of interest or issues invitations for applicants working in accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72) occupations and certain other specified occupations.
- Applicants in excluded occupations may still apply if their employer is not directly engaged in accommodation and food services.
- Foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in New Brunswick through full-time, non-seasonal employment or job offers from eligible employers.
- Individuals working in or applying under occupations excluded from the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72) and other specified occupations.
- Recent graduates from eligible New Brunswick post-secondary institutions with job offers.
- Applicants with job offers in priority occupations connected to government recruitment efforts.
- Review the relevant application guides including 'Important Information for All Streams' and guides specific to your situation (Experience in New Brunswick, New Brunswick Graduates, Priority Occupations).
- Submit an expression of interest through the New Brunswick Candidate Pool.
- If designated, follow the steps outlined in the 'After Designation' guide.
- Complete and upload required PDF forms such as NB-004 Employment Information, NB-005 Consent and Declaration, and others as applicable.
- Effective February 3, 2026