New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program – Francophone Workers Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa/Program Name	Francophone Workers in New Brunswick
Stay	Permanent residence (via IRCC)
Cost	Free EOI; $250 nomination fee
Eligibility Timing	Met at EOI and application
Work Rights	Permanent full-time employment required
Study	Canadian postsecondary students ineligible
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Spouse, partner, and dependents included
Visa Record	Refusals/misrepresentation cause ineligibility
Nomination Validity	6 months from issuance
Minimum Score	65 out of 100 points

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Purpose

The Francophone Workers in New Brunswick stream provides French-speaking foreign nationals with a pathway to provincial nomination, allowing eligible candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must satisfy all minimum criteria when submitting both an Expression of Interest (EOI) and a formal application, and achieve at least 65 points on the selection grid.

Minimum Criteria

• Age: At least 19 years old.
• Intent to Reside: Demonstrated intent and ability to live and work in New Brunswick permanently through employment, residence, community ties, or family connections.
• French Language Proficiency: Minimum NCLC 5 across all four competencies (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) on a TEF Canada or TCF Canada test completed within the last 2 years. Combining scores from multiple tests is not permitted if the most recent test is below the required level.
• Education: At least a Canadian high school diploma (with transcripts/certificates from a Canadian institution) or an equivalent foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued within the last 5 years.
• NB Employment: Working in or holding an accepted offer for a permanent, full-time (minimum 30 hours/week, 1,560 hours/year), non-seasonal position with an eligible NB employer at a competitive base wage matching regional Job Bank standards (or matching/exceeding LMIA wage terms).
  • Positions under NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers) require a valid NB Class 1 driver’s license.
  • Designated or regulated occupations require the appropriate provincial license or certificate.
• Work Experience: At least 1 year (1,560 hours over at least 12 months) of paid, related work experience within the past 10 years (in Canada or abroad).
  • Exemption: Work experience is not required if the candidate completed a postsecondary program of at least 1 year at a New Brunswick Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
  • Self-employed experience must be validated through independent third parties and cannot be in retail food or accommodation.
• NB Residency: Must have lived in New Brunswick on valid temporary resident status for at least 6 months, supported by at least 3 qualifying residency documents.
  • Exemption: Applicants who received a job offer via a Government of New Brunswick-led recruitment mission are exempt from the 6-month residency rule.

Ineligibility

Do not apply if you:

• Are currently enrolled in post-secondary education in Canada;
• Have an active immigration application in any Canadian province or territory;
• Have been refused for misrepresentation under any immigration program within the past 5 years;
• Are not residing lawfully in your current country of residence;
• Have been refused admission to, or ordered to leave, Canada or another country/territory;
• Are working in Canada without authorization; or
• Have an active, approved, or failed claim for refugee protection or humanitarian and compassionate consideration.

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Selection Factors (Passing Score: 65/100)

Factor	Criteria / Breakdown	Max Points
Age	19–24 (4 pts); 25–44 (12 pts); 45–50 (4 pts); 51+ (0 pts)	12
French Language	NCLC 7+ (7 pts/skill); NCLC 6 (6 pts/skill); NCLC 5 (5 pts/skill) across 4 skills	28
Education	Doctoral/Master's/Professional degree (25 pts); 2+ postsecondary credentials with one 3+ years (22 pts); 3+ year credential (21 pts); 2-year credential (19 pts); 1-year credential (17 pts); High school (15 pts)	25
Work Experience	6+ years (15 pts); 4–5 years (12 pts); 1–3 years (10 pts) in past 10 years	15
Adaptability	<ul><li>Previous full-time NB work of 1+ year (15 pts)</li><li>Current qualifying NB job/job offer (15 pts)</li><li>Previous full-time, in-person NB study of 1+ year (5 pts)</li><li>Eligible adult relative (PR/Citizen) living in NB for 12+ months (5 pts)</li><li>Accompanying spouse/partner CLB/NCLC 5+ in all skills (5 pts)</li><li>Accompanying spouse/partner 1+ year NB work experience (5 pts)</li></ul>	20

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Employer Requirements

To support an application, the employer must:

• Be registered with the NB Registry of Employers of Foreign Workers;
• Have operated actively in NB from a physical structure with signage and business phone service for at least the past 12 consecutive months (24 months on the International Registration Plan for NOC 73300 transport employers);
• Maintain an arm's-length, genuine employment relationship (placement agencies cannot support applications; candidate or spouse cannot be majority shareholders);
• Demonstrate genuine recruitment efforts favoring Canadian citizens/PRs (ads active for at least 4 weeks across 2 media types within the 6 months prior to the offer, unless LMIA-exempt); and
• Complete the NB-004 form and, if supporting a closed work permit, submit an offer and pay the $230 employer compliance fee via IRCC’s Employer Portal (this fee cannot be recovered from the employee).

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Family Provisions

• Applications must include details and documents for all family members (spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children under 22, or 22+ if financially dependent due to physical/mental condition), even if they are not immigrating.
• No additional provincial application fee is charged for family members.

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Application Steps

1. Gather Documents  ──▶  2. Submit EOI (INB Portal)  ──▶  3. Receive ITA & Apply (20 Days)
                                                                     │
8. Report Landing   ◀──  7. IRCC Approval   ◀──  6. IRCC PR App  ◀──  4. Assessment & PFL
   (Within 30 Days)                               (Within 6 Mos)      │
                                                                 5. Provincial Nomination

1. Document Preparation: Collect required evidence, language tests, credentials, and certified translations.
2. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI): Free submission via the INB portal. Update by withdrawing and submitting anew without penalty.
3. Invitation to Apply (ITA): If invited, submit a complete nomination application within 20 calendar days and pay the $250 non-refundable fee.
4. Assessment & Fairness: ImmigrationNB verifies completeness and eligibility. If issues arise, a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) will be issued with a response deadline.
5. Nomination Decision: Successful candidates receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate valid for 6 months.
6. Federal PR Application: Apply to IRCC for permanent residence prior to the nomination certificate’s expiry date.
7. IRCC Decision: IRCC assesses admissibility (statutory, medical, and security checks) and issues final PR approval.
8. Report Landing: Log in to the INB portal and click "Report PR Landing" within 30 days of receiving the signed Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).

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Document and Translation Guidelines

• Mandatory Upfront Documents: Language test results (< 2 years old) and Canadian credential or ECA (< 5 years old) must be included at application submission, or the file will be closed unassessed with no refund.
• NB Employment Evidence: Work authorization, employment contract/offer letter, pay stubs/bank statements for the past 6 months, and completed NB-004 form (NB DLI graduates may submit an explanation letter if the form is unavailable).
• Translation Rules: Non-English and non-French documents must be translated by an independent, certified third party (or accompanied by a translator affidavit if uncertified). Candidates, relatives, and paid immigration representatives are prohibited from translating application documents. Original copies must be uploaded alongside translations.