New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) – Business Immigration Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream name	NB Business Immigration Stream
Stay duration	Work permit leading to permanent residence
Provincial application cost	CAN$2,000 (EOI is free)
Age requirement	19 to 59 years old
Minimum net worth	CAN$500,000 (CAN$300,000 for agriculture)
Minimum investment	CAN$150,000 in eligible business
Language requirement	Minimum CLB 4 in all skills
Education requirement	High school diploma or foreign equivalent
Experience requirement	2+ years ownership or senior management
Work rights	Work permit issued via IRCC
Study rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship pathway	Not stated in the source
Family inclusion	Spouse and dependent children included
Visa record	Not stated in the source

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Purpose & Overview

The New Brunswick (NB) Business Immigration Stream is an economic immigration pathway designed for experienced entrepreneurs and senior managers who intend to establish, operate, and actively manage an eligible business while residing permanently in New Brunswick.

Who Cannot Apply

You are ineligible to apply under this stream if you:

• Own a business or residential property in another Canadian province or territory.
• Have an accumulated personal net worth that cannot be verified by a designated third party.
• Are a passive investor with limited to no day-to-day management involvement.
• Are enrolled in full-time post-secondary education in Canada.
• Have an active immigration application in process in any other Canadian province/territory or with New Brunswick.
• Have been refused for misrepresentation under any Canadian immigration program within the past 5 years.
• Are living without legal status in your current country of residence or are working in Canada without authorization.
• Have been refused admission to or ordered to leave Canada or any other jurisdiction.
• Have an active or failed claim for refugee protection/asylum or humanitarian and compassionate consideration in Canada.

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Eligibility Requirements

All eligibility requirements must be met at the time of Expression of Interest (EOI), application submission, and provincial nomination.

1. Business Criteria

The business must:

• Provide an economic benefit to New Brunswick.
• Be structured as a sole proprietorship, partnership (solely with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident), or corporation.
• Be a private-sector, for-profit entity earning profits through selling goods and/or services.
• Be a permanent establishment under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985.
• Pay provincial income tax on taxable income earned in New Brunswick and comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws and licensing rules.

2. Minimum Investment & Equity

• Equity: You must control at least 33.3% equity in the business.
• Investment: Minimum of CAN$150,000 before taxes, sourced from your verified personal net worth (excluding personal-use assets like a primary home or personal vehicles).
• Allowable investment allocations:
  • Land/Buildings: Up to 25% of total eligible investment or actual cost (whichever is lower).
  • Property/Leasehold Improvements: Up to 25% of total eligible investment or actual cost (whichever is lower).
  • Equipment (Manufacturing/Production): Up to 100% of eligible investment.
  • Office Equipment: Day-to-day work equipment used by staff.
  • Initial Inventory: Up to 50% of total eligible investment or actual cost (whichever is lower).
  • Operating Costs: First 6 months of rent, utilities, and employee salaries.
  • Professional Services: Up to 4% of total investment or CAN$10,000 (whichever is lower) for North American service providers.
  • Business Vehicle: Up to 5% of total investment or CAN$15,000 (whichever is lower), amortized for business use with a mileage log.

3. Purchasing an Existing Business

If purchasing an existing operation, you must prove:

• It has operated continuously by the same owner (who must be a Canadian citizen or PR) for the 3 years preceding purchase.
• Purchase price reflects proven fair market value.
• Proven net profit in at least 2 of the previous 3 years (audited financial statements and CRA tax assessments required).
• Continuation of employment terms for existing staff.
• The business is not in receivership and has not filed for bankruptcy in the previous 3 years.
• Goodwill does not exceed 10% of net book value.

4. Job Creation

The business must create at least one full-time job (minimum 30 hours per week) for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in New Brunswick. You, your spouse/common-law partner, and dependent family members cannot fill this position.

5. Active Management & Residency

• Active Management: You must provide day-to-day, on-site, ongoing management from within New Brunswick, assuming business risks and directing operations (IRPR §87(6)(c)).
• Residency: You must reside in New Brunswick for at least 75% of the Business Establishment Period (BEP) and live within 100 km of the business premises.

6. Personal Net Worth & Verification

• Standard Net Worth: Minimum verifiable personal net worth of CAN$500,000.
• Agriculture Net Worth: Minimum CAN$300,000.
• Verification: Must be legally acquired and validated via a Net Worth Verification Report prepared by an ImmigrationNB-designated professional accounting service provider within 90 days of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Reports are valid for 12 months.
• Inheritances, gifts, or donations received within 6 months prior to application submission are excluded.

7. Sector-Specific Rules

Agriculture

• Requires 2+ years of farm ownership or farm management experience.
• Must operate at least 9 out of 12 months per year and live on the farm or within 10 km.
• Must complete a mandatory exploratory visit (minimum 5 full business days) and obtain a reference letter from a Business Growth Officer at the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries before submitting an EOI.
• Ineligible Farm Concepts: Hobby farms, equine operations, exotic plants, and petting zoos.

Seasonal Tourism

• Requires a minimum operating duration of 9 out of 12 months per year (reduced to 6 months if eligible equity investment exceeds CAN$1,000,000).

Ineligible Businesses

Adult services; bed and breakfasts; coin-operated businesses; consultancy agencies; online language/education centers; e-commerce/online-only setups; settlement services for newcomers; cooperatives; domain flipping; brokerages; financial services/payday lenders/pawnbrokers; home-based businesses; property investment/rental management; small inns/boutique hotels (<5 units or <CAN$100,000 revenue); non-profits; passive immigration schemes; remote operations outside NB; drug paraphernalia or illegal product distribution; adult residential/long-term care facilities.

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Selection Factors (Point Grid)

Candidates must score a minimum of 65 points across the following factors:

1. Age (Max 10 Points)

• Age 19–49: 10 points
• Age 50–59: 5 points

2. Language Proficiency (Max 25 Points)

Official results from IELTS General, CELPIP General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada (valid for 2 years; minimum CLB 4 across reading, writing, listening, and speaking):

Skill Band	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
CLB 7+	5	5	5	5
CLB 5–6	4	4	4	4
CLB 4	3	3	3	3
Second Official Language (CLB 4+ all skills)	—	—	—	5

3. Education (Max 20 Points)

Requires Canadian credential or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) less than 5 years old:

• Master’s Degree or Ph.D.: 20 points
• Post-secondary academic degree (3+ years study): 16 points
• Post-secondary trade diploma (2+ years study): 13 points
• High school diploma: 10 points

4. Experience (Max 15 Points)

• Business Ownership (≥51% ownership, supervising ≥2 full-time staff):
  • 10 years in last 10 years: 15 points
  • 6–9 years in last 10 years: 12 points
  • 2 years in last 5 years: 8 points
• Senior Management (managing unit/function, supervising ≥2 staff, hiring/firing authority):
  • 10 years in last 10 years: 9 points
  • 6–9 years in last 10 years: 7 points
  • 2 years in last 5 years: 5 points

5. Business Plan (Max 25 Points)

• Exploratory visit to NB (≥5 business days within past 12 months with report): 5 points
• Transferring ≥5 years ownership experience to same sector in NB: 4 points
• Business located outside Fredericton, Moncton, or Saint John (>20 km from city center): 5 points
• Investment >CAN$500,000 (3 points) OR CAN$150,000–$499,999 (2 points)
• Included relevant statutes, regulations, bylaws, and accreditation details: 3 points
• Included relevant and detailed market research: 5 points

6. Adaptability – Spouse / Common-Law Partner (Max 5 Points)

• 1+ year full-time study at an NB post-secondary institution on a study permit: 5 points
• 6+ months continuous full-time work in NB: 5 points
• Minimum CLB/NCLC 4 in all four language abilities: 5 points

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Family Provisions

• Eligible Dependents: Spouse or common-law partner; unmarried dependent children under 22 years of age; or dependent children 22+ who have relied substantially on financial support due to a physical or mental condition.
• All family members must be declared on the application with supporting documentation regardless of whether they accompany the applicant to Canada.
• No additional provincial application fee is charged for family members.

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Application Steps & Roadmap

1. Research Stream & Draft Business Plan (Template NBBIS-BP)
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2. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) via INB Portal (Free, valid 12 months)
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3. Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA)
   │  └─ Submit full application & CAN$2,000 fee within 90 calendar days
   │  └─ Complete Designated Net Worth Verification Report
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4. Application Assessment & Approval
   │  └─ Sign Business Performance Agreement (BPA) within 60 days
   │  └─ Receive Work Permit Support Letter
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5. Apply to IRCC for Work Permit & Relocate to New Brunswick
   │  └─ Submit Report of Arrival (NBBIS-004) within 1 month
   │  └─ Business Plan Change Requests (NBBIS-007), if any, within 3 months
   │  └─ Open business & submit Opening Report (NBBIS-005) within 9 months
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6. Operate Business for Minimum 6 Consecutive Months (within 2-year BEP)
   │  └─ Submit Request for Nomination (NBBIS-006) to bis-vie@gnb.ca
   │  └─ Undergo official site visit and compliance interview
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7. Receive Provincial Nomination & Apply to IRCC for Permanent Residence

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Obligations, Monitoring & Site Visits

• Business Establishment Period (BEP): A 24-month period commencing upon arrival in Canada to execute the approved business plan.
• Mandatory Reporting:
  • Report arrival within 1 month.
  • Open business within 9 months.
  • Operate business for at least 6 consecutive months before requesting nomination.
• Site Visits: ImmigrationNB conducts official site visits and compliance interviews to verify financial records, incorporation proof, licensing, payroll, and investment receipts. Unannounced site visits may also occur.
• Non-Compliance: Failure to meet reporting milestones, operating rules, or terms in the Business Performance Agreement will be reported directly to IRCC and will result in refusal of provincial nomination.

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Document & Translation Guidelines

• All non-English and non-French documents must include:
  • A copy of the original document.
  • A complete translation prepared by an independent, certified third-party translator (proof of certification required).
  • An affidavit of translation if the translator is not certified.
• Applicants cannot translate documents themselves, nor can family members or representatives.