New Brunswick Halts Some Permanent Residency Programs Temporarily

New Brunswick has paused several immigration pathways after reaching the candidate allocations for the year. These changes, announced on November 15, affect specific programs that were previously open to skilled workers and international graduates.

The affected pathways include the New Brunswick Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), the New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot, and the Exploratory Visit Connection under the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative. These suspensions are expected to last until the end of the year, and candidates who have already submitted applications or received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) may still be processed.

The AIP is an immigration pathway for skilled workers looking to settle in Atlantic Canada. This program is designed for those who have a job offer from a designated employer in the region. However, as of November 15, New Brunswick will no longer be accepting new Employer Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under this program. Despite this pause, the province will continue processing applications from candidates who have already submitted full Employer Designation applications.

If a candidate has received an ITA from an employer, they can still proceed with submitting their Employer Designation application. New Brunswick officials have urged applicants to keep an eye on the province’s immigration website for any updates. Candidates interested in the AIP program can also explore opportunities in other Atlantic provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, which continue to run the AIP.

Another program affected by the suspension is the New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot. This program is targeted at international graduates from specific one-year or two-year programs that lead to careers in high-demand fields such as education, IT, business administration, and health. The pilot, which helps graduates who are not eligible for the federal Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), has also paused the issuance of new nomination certificates.

Candidates who have already received an ITA may still submit their full nomination application. However, those who miss the 90-day window after the program resumes in January will no longer be eligible for a provincial nomination. These individuals will need to seek alternative immigration pathways.

The final program affected is the Exploratory Visit Connection under the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative. This stream is specifically for French-speaking foreign nationals and requires candidates from outside Canada to conduct an in-person exploratory visit to New Brunswick. The visit must last at least five full business days and be focused on job research in the province. However, this pathway has been paused, and no new ITAs will be issued.

Candidates who already have an EOI submitted before March 12, 2024, will not be considered, but expressions of interest submitted prior to this date are valid for 365 days and will be processed if the stream reopens. There are still other ways to apply to New Brunswick, such as having a genuine job offer or meeting the province’s specific residency or educational criteria.

It’s not uncommon for provincial immigration programs to close temporarily once their allocations are met, and this year, New Brunswick’s programs have reached their limits. Candidates hoping to apply for these pathways should check for updates early in 2025 when the programs may reopen.