New Brunswick PNP (NBPNP)
Streams, English levels and how to apply
The NBPNP has 4 streams and 2 pilot programs. The Skilled Worker stream needs CLB 4 in English, and the Express Entry stream needs CLB 7 and adds 600 CRS points. See which stream fits you.
- Official sources
- Checked October 18, 2026
Planning to apply to New Brunswick?
A CELPIP teacher will contact you with a free plan to reach the CLB level your stream needs.
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New Brunswick PNP at a glance
4 streams, 2 pilots
Skilled Worker, Express Entry, Strategic Initiative (for French speakers) and Business Immigration, plus the Critical Worker Pilot and the Private Career College Graduate Pilot.
CLB 4 to CLB 7
The Skilled Worker stream needs CLB 4 in all four abilities. The Express Entry stream needs CLB 7 in all four abilities.
+600 CRS with Express Entry
The Express Entry stream needs 67 of 100 points on New Brunswick's selection grid. A nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry profile.
Free EOI, $250 to apply
An expression of interest is free. If you are invited, the application fee is $250 for the worker streams and $2,000 for Business Immigration.
Language tests and selection points
New Brunswick accepts CELPIP, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Test reports must be less than 2 years old when you apply to Immigration New Brunswick, and for the Express Entry stream also when you apply to IRCC. For CLB 4 (Skilled Worker), you need CELPIP 4 in each ability, or IELTS 3.5 reading, 4 writing, 4.5 listening and 4 speaking. In the Express Entry grid, each ability earns 4 points at CLB 7, 5 at CLB 8 and 6 at CLB 9 or higher. CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities of your second official language adds 4 points.
NBPNP streams and English minimums
Skilled Worker, Express Entry and Strategic Initiative invite candidates in scheduled draws. The Critical Worker Pilot takes candidates only through participating employers.
| Stream | Who it is for | Express Entry | New Brunswick job offer | Minimum English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry: Employment in New Brunswick | Express Entry candidates aged 19 to 55 who have lived and worked full time in New Brunswick in a TEER 0–3 job for the past 12 months. | Yes | Required: full-time, non-seasonal TEER 0–3 job with an employer operating in New Brunswick for 24 months | CLB 7 in all four abilities |
| Express Entry: New Brunswick Interests | Express Entry candidates aged 19 to 55 who got a letter of interest from Immigration New Brunswick in their Express Entry profile. | Yes | Not required (you must meet the federal proof of funds) | CLB 7 in all four abilities |
| Skilled Worker | Workers with a full-time, non-seasonal job or job offer in New Brunswick. Three pathways: New Brunswick Experience, New Brunswick Graduates and New Brunswick Priority Occupations. | Not required | Required, from an employer operating in New Brunswick for 24 months | CLB 4 in all four abilities (some New Brunswick graduates are exempt) |
| Strategic Initiative | French speakers. Three pathways: Francophone Workers in New Brunswick, New Brunswick Francophone Priorities and Francophones Working Remotely in New Brunswick. | Not required | Required for Francophone Workers only | No English minimum: NCLC 5 in French in all four abilities |
| Business Immigration | Entrepreneurs aged 19 to 59 who want to start or buy a business in New Brunswick, with a net worth of at least $500,000 ($300,000 for agriculture). | Not required | Not applicable | CLB 4 in all four abilities |
| Private Career College Graduate Pilot | Graduates of eligible programs at participating private career colleges in New Brunswick who cannot get a post-graduation work permit. | No (non-Express Entry process) | Required, full-time and related to your program | CLB 5 in all four abilities |
| Critical Worker Pilot | Workers recruited by one of six participating employers. You cannot apply directly. | No (non-Express Entry process) | Required, from a participating employer | Not stated |
Changes to know
- Since May 4, 2026, new invitations in the New Brunswick Experience pathway (Skilled Worker) go only to jobs in health care, education and construction, because the stream has little allocation left.
- Since February 3, 2026, the Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams do not invite candidates who work in the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72). They also do not invite 14 occupations in any sector, such as cashiers, retail salespersons and shippers and receivers.
- The New Brunswick Student connection of the Express Entry stream did not return in 2025.
- The Private Career College Graduate Pilot is extended in a limited capacity to the end of 2027, for students already registered in specific programs.
- The Critical Worker Pilot is limited to its six participating employers and is not open to other employers.
How to apply (worker streams)
Submit an expression of interest
Create a profile on the INB portal and submit an expression of interest. It is free and stays in the pool for 365 days. For the Express Entry stream, you also need a valid federal Express Entry profile.
Wait for a draw
Immigration New Brunswick does not invite on a first come, first served basis. It invites candidates based on labour market needs and the allocation left. Skilled Worker, Express Entry and Strategic Initiative have scheduled draws.
Apply
After an invitation, you have 20 calendar days to submit a complete application and pay the $250 fee. There is no extra fee for family members.
Get nominated
The assessment may take several months. A nomination certificate expires 6 months after it is issued, so apply for permanent residence before then.
Apply for permanent residence
In the Express Entry stream, accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile to get 600 points. Other streams apply to IRCC outside Express Entry. IRCC makes the final decision.
Official sources
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (gnb.ca)
- New Brunswick Express Entry stream (gnb.ca)
- New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream (gnb.ca)
- Employment in New Brunswick guide with the selection grid (gnb.ca, PDF)
- Important notices (gnb.ca)
- How provincial nominees immigrate (IRCC)
Checked against gnb.ca and canada.ca on October 18, 2026. The old welcomenb.ca pages now redirect to gnb.ca. Check the official pages and application guides before you apply, because streams and draws change often.
New Brunswick Express Entry points calculator
Estimate your score on the selection factor grid of the New Brunswick Express Entry stream. You need at least 67 points out of 100, or Immigration New Brunswick refuses the application.
Choose an answer for every visible question to see your estimated score.
Based on the selection factor grid in the Employment in New Brunswick (October 2026) and New Brunswick Interests (June 2026) guides on gnb.ca. You must be 19 to 55, have CLB 7 or higher in every ability and have at least 1 year of TEER 0–3 work. Arranged employment also gives 5 adaptability points, as the grid says. Adaptability is capped at 10. Your final score is the one an Immigration New Brunswick officer gives.
Recent NBPNP draws
The latest official invitation rounds. This province publishes how many people it invites, not the minimum score.
| Date | Stream | Targeted at | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | Atlantic Immigration Program | Applications selected; draws on Sept 25 and Oct 2 | 63 |
| Sep 18, 2026 | New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream | New Brunswick Graduates; New Brunswick Experience (draw Sept 15 to 18) | 197 |
| Sep 17, 2026 | New Brunswick Express Entry stream | Employment in New Brunswick | 102 |
| Sep 11, 2026 | Strategic Initiative | Francophone Workers in New Brunswick; New Brunswick Francophone Priorities | 251 |
Source: official draw results, checked Oct 19, 2026. See all NBPNP draws
Reach your New Brunswick CLB level with CELPIP
The Skilled Worker stream needs CLB 4 and the Express Entry stream needs CLB 7. CLB 9 in every ability earns the full 24 first-language points in the Express Entry grid. CELPIP levels match CLB levels one to one.
- CELPIP 4 = CLB 4
- CELPIP 5 = CLB 5
- CELPIP 6 = CLB 6
- CELPIP 7 = CLB 7
- CELPIP 8 = CLB 8
- CELPIP 9 = CLB 9
- CELPIP 10 = CLB 10
New Brunswick PNP questions
What English level does the New Brunswick PNP need?
The Skilled Worker and Business Immigration streams need CLB 4 in all four abilities. The Express Entry stream needs CLB 7 in all four abilities. The Private Career College Graduate Pilot needs CLB 5. New Brunswick graduates who studied in English or French and work in a TEER 0–3 job do not need a test for the Skilled Worker stream.
Does a New Brunswick nomination add 600 CRS points?
Only through the New Brunswick Express Entry stream. After you accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile, you get 600 points. The Skilled Worker stream and the pilots are not Express Entry streams.
Do I need a job offer for the New Brunswick PNP?
The Skilled Worker stream, the Employment in New Brunswick pathway, the Francophone Workers pathway and both pilots need a New Brunswick job. The New Brunswick Interests pathway does not, but you need a letter of interest from Immigration New Brunswick and the federal proof of funds.
How much does it cost?
An expression of interest is free. If you are invited, the application fee is $250 for the Skilled Worker, Express Entry and Strategic Initiative streams, with no extra fee for family members. Business Immigration costs $2,000.
How is the Express Entry stream scored?
Immigration New Brunswick scores you out of 100 on age, language, education, work experience, arranged employment and adaptability. You need at least 67 points. Each English ability earns 4 to 6 points, from CLB 7 to CLB 9 or higher.
Can I apply in French?
Yes. The Strategic Initiative is for French speakers. You need NCLC 5 in French in all four abilities and at least 65 of 100 points on its own selection grid. New Brunswick accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French.
Photographs: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 · Cape Jourimain Lighthouse (1), Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Canadian Passports - Old and New, Jusfiq, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hand-writing-exam-classroom, Alison wood, CC BY 3.0