After a pause in invitation rounds, the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has restarted its selection process with its first invitation draw of December 2025. The program had not held a draw since mid-November, but it officially reopened in early December to issue new opportunities for eligible candidates to pursue permanent residence through provincial nomination.
On December 9, 2025, New Brunswick issued a total of 110 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across two of its main immigration streams: the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream and the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream. These invitations are set to be processed in 2026, marking a fresh intake of applicants after the program’s brief suspension.
The majority of invitations went to candidates under the Skilled Worker Stream, reflecting the province’s continued focus on individuals who have established a connection to the local labour market, have work experience in the province, or have recently graduated from a New Brunswick institution and are employed locally. In this draw, 102 invitations were issued under the Skilled Worker Stream, while 8 invitations were issued under the Express Entry Stream.
Candidates in the Express Entry – Employment in New Brunswick pathway needed to demonstrate several key eligibility factors to receive an invitation. These included having a valid Express Entry profile, at least 12 months of continuous full-time work experience in a year-round non-seasonal job in New Brunswick, and meeting certain language and education requirements. Applicants were also expected to be currently living in the province with authorization to work.
For the Skilled Worker Stream, two key pathways were included in this draw: New Brunswick Experience and New Brunswick Graduates.
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Under the New Brunswick Experience pathway, candidates must have at least six months of full-time work experience with an eligible New Brunswick employer and be employed in a non-seasonal position. Continuous residency in the province prior to their Expression of Interest was also required.
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The New Brunswick Graduates pathway was aimed at individuals who completed a program that qualifies for a Post-Graduation Work Permit at a New Brunswick designated learning institution, and who have secured full-time non-seasonal employment or have an offer for such a position.
In both streams and pathways, candidates working in certain restricted occupations were not considered for invitations, showing that the province continues to refine eligibility criteria to align with labour market priorities and to support economic needs.
This December draw marked an important restart for New Brunswick’s PNP after a pause in nomination invitations, providing renewed opportunities for skilled workers and graduates aiming to build their future in the province. Moving forward, applicants whose Invitations to Apply were issued in this draw can expect the processing of their applications to continue into the new year, helping maintain New Brunswick’s role as a welcoming destination for permanent residence through provincial nomination.
