First Steps

New Brunswick’s immigration program streams are pathways to Permanent Residence (PR) for foreign workers who have the skills, education, and work experience necessary to successfully contribute to the New Brunswick economy.

When applying to many of these programs, you must be Permanent Residence (PR) Ready. This means that you meet all minimum eligibility requirements and that you have all the required documents on hand to prepare and submit a complete and correct application to the province of New Brunswick and to the Government of Canada.

1. Read the Guide

Each of our economic Immigration Program Streams have different eligibility requirements relating to age, language test scores, education levels, and professional experience, so it is very important to review your desired stream program guides for information on eligibility requirements for each program. Be sure that you are eligible for a program stream before you prepare to submit an application.

2. Gather the Necessary Documents

Identity Documents: You must gather all identity and civil status documents for yourself and all accompanying family members (and even some non-accompanying family members), and you must have these documents translated and notarised if they are not already in English or French. You and all accompanying family members must have valid passports.

Consult the federal government document checklist to confirm which documents you need to gather and translate. You may wish to gather your diplomas and other educational credentials to have these translated at the same time.

Education Credentials: All our immigration programs require a minimum education level that is equivalent to a Canadian High School diploma. If you do not have Canadian education credentials, you will need to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) that confirms the Canadian equivalency of your education. If your educational documents require translation into English or French, you may wish to have them translated along with your other identity and civil status documents. Visit any of the following agencies to inquire about or begin the assessment process:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Comparative Education Service (CES)
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

Language Tests: Under most of our program streams, you must provide a valid Language Test, in English or in French, that was administered by a designated IRCC testing agency and that is less than 18 months old at the time your application is submitted to the province of New Brunswick. A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is required in all language skills, in English or in French. Note: Certain employers may require a higher score than the minimum requirement for immigration. To inquire about or to register for a language test, visit the following sites:

• IELTS General Training
• CELPIP
• PTE CORE
• TEF CANADA
• TCF pour le Canada

Check the program guide to verify the minimum language score required:

Letters of Employment: You must provide letters of employment that confirm your professional experience.

Letters must be:

• Written on company letterhead.
• Signed by the responsible officer/supervisor.
• Show the company’s full address, telephone numbers, e-mail and website addresses, and be stamped with the company’s official seal (if applicable).

Letters must include all the following information:

• The specific period of your employment with the company.
• The positions you have held during the period of employment and the time spent in each position.
• Your main responsibilities and duties in each position.
• Your total annual salary plus benefits and the number of hours worked per week.

Know Your National Occupation Classification (NOC) Code

For immigration to Canada, professions are categorized into NOC codes. Consult the NOC website to find the NOC code that matches your professional duties and experience.

Talk to your current and previous employers about obtaining a letter that meets the requirements for immigration to Canada.

Please note: If you are nominated by New Brunswick, you will need to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for your permanent resident visa within 9 months (before the expiry date on the nomination certificate). You must maintain the conditions of your nomination while you are awaiting a decision on your Permanent Residence (PR) application. You, your spouse, and your dependents must meet all requirements for medical, security, and criminal admissibility. IRCC has the final authority to issue a permanent resident visa.