New Brunswick has carried out another major round of immigration invitations, selecting hundreds of foreign workers and skilled candidates through provincial and regional pathways during the first week of May 2026. The province invited 373 individuals between April 30 and May 3 through several immigration streams aimed at addressing labour shortages and strengthening economic growth.
The invitation rounds included candidates under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) along with the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Healthcare workers, French-speaking applicants, graduates, and individuals already employed in the province were among the primary groups selected.
At the same time, provincial authorities introduced important changes that will narrow future invitations under one of the province’s most popular immigration pathways.
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Province Conducts Multiple Immigration Draws in Early May
The latest invitations were distributed across four immigration pathways:
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Strategic Initiative Stream
- Express Entry Stream
- Atlantic Immigration Program
The province focused heavily on workers already contributing to the labour market while also targeting candidates capable of filling urgent shortages in essential sectors.
Skilled Worker Pathway Receives Highest Number of Invitations
The largest number of invitations was issued under the Skilled Worker Stream, where New Brunswick conducted two separate rounds of selections.
Candidates were considered through:
- New Brunswick Experience pathway
- New Brunswick Graduates pathway
The first selection round focused specifically on healthcare occupations, while the second included applicants from a broader range of industries.
Skilled Worker Stream Draw Overview
| Draw Date | Pathways | Occupation Categories Chosen | Invitations Issued |
| May 1, 2026 | New Brunswick Experience; New Brunswick Graduates | Healthcare occupations | 87 |
| May 3, 2026 | New Brunswick Experience; New Brunswick Graduates | All occupational sectors | 113 |
A combined total of 200 invitations was issued under this stream, making it the most active category in the latest provincial selection rounds.
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New Rules Introduced for the New Brunswick Experience Pathway
The May 3 selection round also represented a major turning point for the New Brunswick Experience pathway.
Provincial officials confirmed that starting May 4, invitations under this pathway would become restricted to only three occupational sectors:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Construction trades
As a result, candidates working outside these industries may no longer receive invitations under this pathway unless future policy changes are announced.
According to the province, the temporary restriction has been implemented because nomination spaces available for 2026 are limited. The government plans to focus those spaces on industries experiencing the strongest workforce shortages.
Eligibility Requirements Under the Skilled Worker Stream
The Skilled Worker Stream supports employers in New Brunswick seeking to retain foreign workers already integrated into the provincial workforce.
To qualify, applicants generally need to:
- Hold a full-time job offer or current employment with an eligible New Brunswick employer
- Meet language and educational standards
- Demonstrate an intention to settle permanently in the province
- Work in an eligible occupation
This stream remains one of the province’s central immigration programs for supporting long-term labour market stability.
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Francophone Immigration Continues to Expand
New Brunswick also issued 106 invitations through the Strategic Initiative Stream, which is focused on attracting French-speaking immigrants.
Selections were conducted through two pathways:
- Francophone Workers in New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Francophone Priorities
The province did not publish separate invitation numbers for each category.
New Brunswick has consistently increased efforts to attract Francophone newcomers in recent years as part of its strategy to support bilingual communities and strengthen population growth outside major urban centres.
Express Entry Candidates Also Receive Invitations
Another 17 candidates were selected through the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream.
This pathway is connected to the federal Express Entry system and allows the province to nominate candidates who meet local labour market priorities.
Typical Eligibility Criteria for This Stream
Applicants are usually required to:
- Maintain an active Express Entry profile
- Have at least 12 months of residence in New Brunswick
- Work full-time in a skilled non-seasonal position
- Gain eligible work experience within the province
Successful candidates receive an additional 600 CRS points after provincial nomination, dramatically improving their chances of receiving permanent residence invitations from the federal government.
Atlantic Immigration Program Targets Essential Industries
Alongside provincial selections, New Brunswick also invited 50 candidates through the Atlantic Immigration Program on May 1.
The province concentrated on workers employed in industries facing ongoing labour shortages, including:
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
- Construction trades
The Atlantic Immigration Program allows designated employers across Atlantic Canada to recruit international workers and graduates for positions that cannot easily be filled locally.
The program operates across four Atlantic provinces:
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Basic Requirements Under the Atlantic Immigration Program
Foreign nationals applying through the AIP generally must:
- Obtain a valid job offer from a designated employer
- Meet language standards linked to the job’s TEER level
- Show relevant work experience if required
- Meet education criteria for the position
- Receive provincial endorsement before submitting a permanent residence application
One major advantage of the program is that certain applicants may qualify even without previous Canadian work experience.
Long Processing Times Continue to Affect Applicants
Although the Atlantic Immigration Program continues to issue invitations, applicants are still facing lengthy federal processing periods.
Current estimated processing times for permanent residence applications under the AIP are approximately 40 months.
To help employers fill labour shortages more quickly, eligible applicants may still receive temporary work permits valid for up to two years while awaiting permanent residence decisions.
New Brunswick Focuses on Critical Labour Shortages
The latest immigration activity highlights New Brunswick’s increasing focus on targeted immigration rather than broad-based selections.
Workers in healthcare, education, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and French-speaking occupations are expected to remain among the province’s highest priorities throughout the remainder of 2026 as provincial nomination allocations remain limited.
