The first step for eligible individuals is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. An EOI will be reviewed based on the following factors: age, language, education, work experience, the economic benefit of the business (to the province), and adaptability. Candidates are assigned a score based on the following:
Applicants to the program must submit language test results that are not more than 18 months old at the time of applying for the stream. Test results must be from one of the following designated language test providers:
Note: Individuals possessing educational credentials exclusively outside New Brunswick are ineligible to apply. The term "equivalent" refers to the possibility for an applicant to list any further educational credential obtained outside New Brunswick (an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required) in addition to the education completed in New Brunswick.
Applicants are awarded points for their past work experience, excluding the one year of business operations in New Brunswick.
For a business to be considered eligible under the PGES, it needs to meet the following minimum criteria:
The process of applying for and receiving Canadian permanent residence through the PGES streams can be summed up in five steps:
The first step in applying to the PGES is submitting an EOI. Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the program (listed above) will be placed into a pool of potential applicants and will be assigned a score based on the PGES points-based system.
The highest-ranked candidates will be selected from the pool and invited to apply to the program. To rank candidates, the NBPNP will assess candidates based on a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System.
Candidates who obtain higher scores will have a better chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). It is important that candidates review the eligibility requirements of the program when submitting an EOI to the program.
After obtaining an ITA letter, candidates are required to submit a complete application to the NBPNP within 90 days. The ITA letter includes a number that the applicant will need to include with the application.
When preparing the application, it is important that the candidate answers all the questions in the form, provides the necessary documents in the required format, and signs the forms as required. Supporting documents that are neither in English or French must be translated by a certified translator or interpreter that is a member of a translation or interpretation provincial or territorial organization.
As part of the application, the candidate is 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:
When assessing an application, the NBPNP will conduct a full review of the application and verify the information provided in the EOI. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be invited to participate in an in-person interview with a NBPNP Immigration Officer.
The applicant needs 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:
Candidates must submit a complete Canadian permanent residence application and provide the required supporting documents to IRCC before the New Brunswick provincial nomination certificate expires within six months.
If the permanent residence application is approved by IRCC, a permanent resident visa will be issued to the applicant (and spouse/partner and/or dependents, if applicable). It is important to report landing using the correct forms within 30 days of obtaining a permanent resident visa to finalize the settlement process with the NBPNP.
The New Brunswick business must remain in operation for a minimum of three years after receiving permanent residence in Canada.