This category targets individuals who have worked in New Brunswick and have close family ties to the province. Under this stream, the skilled worker applicant, or his or her spouse, must be sponsored by a family member in New Brunswick. In order to be eligible, the applicant must be related to the family supporter in one of the following ways:

• Non-dependent child
• Brother or sister
• Niece or nephew (children of brothers or sisters)
• Grandchild

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

• Be between 22 and 50 years of age;
• Have sufficient English or French ability to settle in New Brunswick and fulfil the job duties in their intended occupation. Language test results must be no more than two years old and must come from a designated testing agency;
• English:
• IELTS (General Training Test only)
• CELPIP (General Test only)
• French:
• TEF
• Have the education, qualifications, and/or licence/certification needed to perform the job duties in their intended occupation;
• Applicants must have either a post-secondary academic degree requiring at minimum three years of full-time study, or a diploma in a specific trade requiring at minimum two years of full-time study.
• Have at least two years of continuous, full-time work experience in their intended occupation in New Brunswick, within the last five years;
• Have a job in one of the following National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill levels:
• Skill levels 0, A or B
• Skill level C, Category 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
• Skill level D, Category 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
• Demonstrate an intent to live and work in New Brunswick and submit a Settlement Plan approved by an immigration Program Officer; and
• Have the funds to settle in New Brunswick.
• A minimum of $10,000 CAD, and an additional $2,000 for each accompanying family member are required.

Minimum Requirements for Family Supporters

• Be a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident, and reside full-time in New Brunswick;
• Be operating a business in New Brunswick for at least 12 consecutive months at the date of receipt of the NBPNP application; or
• Have been working in New Brunswick for at least 12 consecutive months at the date of receipt of the NBPNP application;
• The job must be represented in one of the following NOC skill levels:
• Skill levels 0, A, B
• Skill level C, Category 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
• Be financially self-supporting;
• Participate in an interview with an official from the Population Growth Division;
• Assist the applicant with a settlement plan; and
• Support only one applicant at a time.

When Not to Apply

• Sponsored a family member, in the past, through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Family Sponsorship Program and failed to comply with the Sponsorship Agreement;
• Supported and Applicant, in the past, through the NBPNP where the family member is not living and working in New Brunswick;
• Defaulted on a Court Order for alimony or child support; or
• Been charged or convicted of a violent crime and/or are in prison.

Minimum Requirements

• Be between 22 and 55 years of age;
• Hold at least a high school diploma;
• Demonstrate sufficient English and, or French language ability to actively manage a business in New Brunswick;
• Demonstrate an intention to live and operate a business in New Brunswick;
• The applicant must assume a day-to-day management role in the business.
• Show relevant and proven management experience in three of the last five years;
• Provide a business plan, approved by a New Brunswick government official, that will show how the business will benefit New Brunswick;
• Have a personal net worth of at least $300,000 CAD;
• Have sufficient funds to establish the business, settle successfully, and support all dependent family members for up to two years;
• Submit a conditionally refundable deposit of $75,000 CAD and a signed copy of the Deposit Agreement prior to nomination;;
• Make at least one business trip to New Brunswick and demonstrate an understanding of the province's business environment;
• Meet with an NB PNP official for an interview following the business trip; and
• Score 50 points on a selection grid.

Selection Factors

Factor 1: Age

Factor 2: Language

Factor 3: Education

Factor 4: Business Experience

Applicants are assessed based on the number of years they have owned a business or worked as a senior manager in a business during the last five years as well as based on the type of management experience.

Factor 5: Adaptability

Business Trip

Applicants are required to take a business trip to New Brunswick, prior to submitting their application, in order to become better acquainted with the province's business environment. The trip must be a minimum of five full business days, not including travel days, interview days, and statutory holidays.

During the trip, applicants are required to conduct extensive research. It is recommended that candidates set up meetings with various business people and officials in New Brunswick to aid in this research.

Following the business trip, applicants are required to participate in an interview with an NBPNP official to discuss the findings of their trip including topics such as identification of business opportunities, labour requirements, competition, suppliers, market trends, taxes and financials, etc.

The New Brunswick business trip and the interview with an NBPNP official must take place within one year of the date on the candidate's Notice of Interview.

Interview

• Ability to speak, listen, and understand English or French;
• Previous management experience;
• Understanding of business in New Brunswick;
• Overall suitability to become economically established in New Brunswick; and
• Other topics relevant to the immigration application.

Business Plan

Under the Business Applicants stream, all candidates are required to submit a business plan with their application. The business plan is a written document explaining how the business will operate.

Applicants have three options when considering a business in New Brunswick:

• 1. Purchase an existing business
• 2. Enter into a partnership with a New Brunswick entrepreneur
• 3. Start a new business

In order to qualify, the applicant must control a minimum percentage of equity in the business, equal to or greater than 33.33 percent.

Conditionally Refundable Deposit

• The applicant meets the requirements of the Deposit Agreement;
• The applicant and his/her dependent family members have been granted permanent resident status by IRCC;
• The applicant and his/her dependent family members are permanent residents of New Brunswick;
• The applicant establishes his/her business within two years of landing on Canada;
• The applicant's business is registered or incorporated;
• The applicant provides proof that a minimum $125,000 CAD business investment has been made;
• If the applicant can provide proof that a minimum $65,000 CAD business investment has been made, and all other requirements are met, a maximum of $30,000 CAD may be refunded to him/her.
• The applicant has assumed a day-to-day managerial role in the business;
• The applicant's business has been operating for one year; and
• If applicable, a partnership agreement has been finalized and signed by all parties involved.

If the applicant is unable to establish a business within two years of landing in Canada, he or she may make a written request to NBPNP for an extension. There is no guarantee, however, that the extension will be granted. In the event that the applicant fails to establish and operate an approved business within the first two years of landing in Canada, and no extension is requested or granted, the province of New Brunswick will retain the full deposit.

If the applicant is not granted a Permanent Resident Visa, the deposit will be refunded in full.

Business Investment

• Purchase of land and/or building for business purposes;
• Moving costs for devices, equipment, and goods required for business operation;
• Purchase of manufacturing equipment;
• Purchase of office equipment, computers, and similar equipment;
• Expenses for marketing and promotions;
• Expenses for professional services in connection with establishing the business;
• Purchase of initial inventory; and/or
• Intellectual property.

When Not to Apply

• Have an application in process under another immigration program in Canada;
• Are not lawfully residing in their country of residence at the time an application is received at the NBPNP Office (proof of lawful residence is required);
• Have an unresolved humanitarian and compassionate claim in Canada;
• Are failed humanitarian and compassionate claimants living in Canada;
• Have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada;
• Are Failed refugee claimants living in Canada;
• Are under a removal order in Canada;
• Are prohibited from entering Canada;
• Are engaged in full-time post-secondary education;
• Are live-in caregivers; or
• Are seasonal workers.