New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream

The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream has replaced the Entrepreneurial Stream which is now closed and no longer accepting applications. If you have submitted an application prior to the stream closing, please visit the Entrepreneurial Stream page.

The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream is an economic immigration pathway for experienced entrepreneurs who are ready to establish, operate, and actively manage a business while living and settling in New Brunswick permanently.

An entrepreneur must start a business or purchase an existing business and actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business. After operating the business for 6 months and meeting the requirements of the business performance agreement, the entrepreneur may be nominated by New Brunswick for permanent resident status.

Applicants under this stream must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

To apply, you must demonstrate that you meet ALL of the following conditions:

• Ages 19–59
• Minimum language level of CLB 4
• Minimum education level of high school
• Personal net worth of at least $500,000 CAD ($300,000 CAD for farming applicants)
• Business ownership or senior management experience:
  • Business ownership must be a minimum 51% in a private sector company, involved in the day-to-day operations as the primary decision maker, supervising 2 employees in 2 years of last 5 years; or
  • Senior manager in a for-profit company and involved in the day-to-day operations as a primary decision maker, supervising 2 employees in 2 years of last 5 years.
• A business plan with a minimum of $150,000 CAD in eligible investments and create one full-time job
• Meet a minimum of 65 points

Creating an EOI does not guarantee that you will receive an invitation to apply. Decisions are based on the economic situation of the New Brunswick labour market, current inventory, yearly nomination allocations distributed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and any other factors determined by GNB.

Priority will be given to those that meet the following selection factors:

• You have visited NB for 5 business days in the last 12 months. (See our guide for more details on how to start your exploratory visit.)
• You or your spouse have a diploma or certificate that requires a minimum of 1 year of full-time study from a post-secondary institution in NB.
• You or your spouse have worked 30 hours/week for at least 6 consecutive months in a high-skilled occupation in NB in the last 2 years.
• You or your spouse have family members (cousins are not included) over 18 years old who is PR or citizens of Canada living in NB for minimum of 12 months.
• You have received a letter of support from Immigration New Brunswick or Opportunities New Brunswick
• You are an Entrepreneur in the Agriculture sector and have received a letter of support from the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries.

Your EOI remains valid for one year from the date we received it. If you have not been chosen in that time, and you still want to immigrate through the program, you can submit a new EOI.

Guides

• NB Business Immigration Stream
• NB Provincial Nominee Program: Post-Nomination Guide

INB Information

• INB Portal
• INB User Guide for Applicants
• INB User Guide for Representatives

If you experience or notice any technical issues with INB, please contact [email protected]

1. Read Our Guide

Consult the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream Guide which provides comprehensive information on the program. Please read it carefully before applying.

Topics covered include eligibility requirements, selection factors, the application process, and other important information.

Additional Resources

• Q&A for potential applicants to the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream.

2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

If you meet all eligibility criteria and selection factors, you can apply to the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream by registering online and submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province through the INB Portal.

3. Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

The province will review your Expression of Interest (EOI), and if you are selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in your INB account. If an ITA is sent to you, then you can submit a full application online.

4. Complete Your Electronic Application

The application and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically through your INB account. All documents must be provided as PDF files. Make sure your application is complete and includes all mandatory forms and documents.

Submitting an application and meeting the eligibility requirements for the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream does NOT guarantee a nomination. The Government of New Brunswick reserves the right to change criteria and/or pause streams.

Before submitting your complete application, you must pay your fees through your online account. Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children are included in the processing fee. Processing fees are non-refundable. The Canadian $250 processing fee is payable by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, INTERAC Online or Visa/Debit.

6. Wait for a Decision

Your application will be assessed according to eligibility requirements and selection factors. The government of New Brunswick will advise you of the final decision in writing and upload that decision to your online profile’s dashboard. The decision to issue a nomination certificate will be at the sole discretion of he government of New Brunswick. If you are nominated you can apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR). Remember, you must maintain the conditions of your nomination while you are awaiting a decision on your permanent residence (PR) application.

Forms to Submit with Your Online Application

• NBBIS-001 Document Checklist
• NBBIS-BP Business Plan (Required)
• NBBIS-002 Personal Net Worth Statement (Required)
• NBBIS-003 Narrative Statement of Accumulated Fund (Required)
• NBBIS-004 Report of Arrival in Canada (Required)
• NBBIS-005 Report of Business Opening (Required)
• NBBIS-006 Request for Nomination (Required)
• NBBIS-007 Request for Change in Business Plan (As Applicable)

If you receive a provincial nomination, you may then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a permanent residence (PR) visa.

You, your spouse, and dependents must meet statutory requirements for medical, security, and criminal admissibility. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has the final authority to issue a permanent residence (PR) visa. There is no guarantee that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will approve your permanent residence (PR) application even if you are nominated by the Government of New Brunswick.

The province will issue a letter of support for a temporary work permit so you can get to New Brunswick and start building your business while your application for permanent residence is being processed.

Other Forms

• NB-005 Consent and Declaration (Required)
• NB-007 Use of Representative (If applicable)
• NB-008 Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (If applicable)
• NB-009 Declaration Non-accompanying Parent/Guardian for Minors Immigrating to Canada (If applicable)
• NB-011 Request to withdraw your application (If applicable)
• NB-025 INB Enrolment Form for Authorized Representatives (If applicable)

• NB-013ES Report your Landing
• NB-030ES Business Plan Template
• NB-032ES Request to Change Business Plan
• NB-033ES Request for Refund
• New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Guide (Not applicable for the New Brunswick Business Immigration Steam)

Important Notice

The Entrepreneurial Stream forms are for existing clients of the Entrepreneurial Stream only and are not valid for the current and active New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream.

For information on refunds for reasons such as a withdrawal of application to the Entrepreneur Stream or a refusal of permanent resident application please email [email protected].