The New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream is a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals with the skills needed in the province. It has three categories: New Brunswick Experience, New Brunswick Graduates and New Brunswick Priority Occupations.

New Brunswick Experience

The New Brunswick Experience stream is for skilled foreign workers who are already living in New Brunswick and have work experience with an eligible local employer. This pathway allows applicants with at least six months of continuous, full-time work in the province to apply for permanent residence.

Unlike Express Entry-aligned pathways, this stream is not points-based and does not require a federal Express Entry profile.

Key Eligibility Criteria

To qualify under this stream, you must meet all of the following:

1. New Brunswick Employment
  • You must be working full-time (30+ hours/week) in a non-seasonal job for an eligible employer.
  • You must have completed at least 6 consecutive months of work for the same employer.
  • Your job must fall under a valid NOC code (any TEER level is accepted).
  • The job must pay a competitive base wage based on regional labour market standards.
  • If your job is in a regulated occupation, you must hold a valid licence or certification in New Brunswick.
  • If you are a transport truck driver (NOC 73300), you must have a valid NB Class 1 licence.
2. Education
  • Your education must meet the NOC requirements for your job.
  • If your credentials are from outside Canada, you must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued within the last 5 years.
3. Language Proficiency
  • You must score at least CLB 4 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
  • Accepted tests include: IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, or PTE Core.
  • Test results must be less than 2 years old.
4. Residency in New Brunswick
  • You must have lived in New Brunswick for at least 6 months with valid temporary resident status.
  • Provide supporting documents such as:
    • Lease or rental agreement
    • NB driver’s licence or vehicle registration
    • Utility bills, pay stubs, or insurance policies
5. Intent to Reside
  • You must demonstrate your intent to settle in New Brunswick permanently.
  • Factors considered include:
    • Continued employment
    • Property ownership or rental history
    • Community ties and networks
6. Age
  • You must be at least 19 years old. 

New Brunswick Graduates

The New Brunswick Graduates category offers a pathway to permanent residence for recent international graduates of designated learning institutions (DLIs) in New Brunswick. This stream aims to retain skilled talent educated in the province and help meet the local labour market needs.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible, you must:

  1. Graduate from a New Brunswick DLI:
     You must have completed a program eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from a recognized institution in the province.
  2. Have a Job or Job Offer:
     You must be working in a full-time, non-seasonal position in New Brunswick or have accepted an offer for one. Your employer must be eligible and willing to support your application.
  3. Meet the Education Requirements of Your Job:
     Your education must match the requirements outlined for your occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
  4. Demonstrate Language Proficiency:
     You need at least CLB 4 in all four language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking), unless:
    • Your job falls under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3; and
    • Your completed program in New Brunswick was conducted in English or French.
  5. Live in New Brunswick:
     You must have lived in New Brunswick for at least six months with valid temporary residence status.
  6. Plan to Stay in the Province:
     You must intend to live and work in New Brunswick long-term.
  7. Be At Least 19 Years Old.

Special Case: MAHE–UNB Nursing Graduates

If you completed the MAHE–UNB Dual Degree in Nursing and have accepted a registered nurse position (NOC 31301), you are exempt from the education and residency requirements.
 You must submit your valid temporary registration permit from the Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB).

New Brunswick Priority Occupations

The New Brunswick Priority Occupations category provides a streamlined pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers who receive a full-time, non-seasonal job offer in a high-demand occupation. This job offer must come directly as a result of a recruitment mission led by the Government of New Brunswick.

Who Can Apply

You may qualify if you:

  1. Receive a Full-Time Job Offer
     Your job offer must:
    • Be from an eligible New Brunswick employer;
    • Be for a permanent, non-seasonal position in a priority NOC code (listed below);
    • Result directly from participation in a Government of New Brunswick-led recruitment mission.
  2. Have Related Work Experience
     You need at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid work experience in the same or a related job (same or related NOC) within the last 5 years.
  3. Meet Job-Specific Education Requirements
     Your education must match the National Occupational Classification (NOC) requirements for your job.
  4. Show Language Proficiency
     You must score at least CLB 4 in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) on an approved English or French test.
  5. Intend to Stay in New Brunswick
     You must show a genuine intent to live and work in the province permanently.
  6. Be at Least 19 Years Old

Priority Occupations

Your job offer must fall under one of the following NOC 2021 codes:

Healthcare

  • 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
  • 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
  • 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
  • 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
  • 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
  • 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
  • 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations

Education

  • 41220 – Secondary school teachers
  • 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
  • 42201 – Social and community service workers
  • 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
  • 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants

Construction trades

  • 70010 – Construction managers
  • 70011 – Home building and renovation managers
  • 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades, and telecommunications occupations
  • 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers, and servicers
  • 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
  • 72102 – Sheet metal workers
  • 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
  • 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
  • 72201 – Industrial electricians
  • 72310 – Carpenters
  • 72320 – Bricklayers
  • 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
  • 72402 – Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics
  • 72500 – Crane operators
  • 73100 – Concrete finishers
  • 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers, and finishers and lathers
  • 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
  • 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
  • 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
  • 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
  • 75101 – Material handlers