New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream (NBBI)
Selection
- P.N.P: Provincial Nominee Programs
- E.O.I: Expression of Interest
- P.S: Point System
Applicant
Visa
- Permanent Resident
- |
- Work
Status
- Open
GSB
NB-SB
SUMMARY
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream is for business owners and senior managers who wish to become permanent residents by owning a business in New Brunswick and managing it, while residing in the Province.
Approved applicants must operate a business in New Brunswick on a Work Permit (WP) before being nominated for permanent resident status in Canada
Application to the stream is by invitation only. You should first complete the online Expression of Interest (EOI). Selected applicants will be invited to apply for the program based on the information they enter online. You cannot apply directly to this program unless you are invited to apply.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
NB-SA
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The following requirements must be met if you are applying to the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream:
1- Eligible Connection to New Brunswick
To be considered under the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream you must have at least one (1) of the following connections to New Brunswick:
- You have visited New Brunswick for at least five (5) business days within the previous twelve (12) months prior to submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI)
- You or your spouse have been awarded a diploma or certificate that required at least one (1) year full-time study at a post-secondary institution in New Brunswick after completion of high school
- You or your spouse have worked 30 hours per week for at least six (6) consecutive months in a occupation in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 categories for a company located in New Brunswick in the last two (2) years
- You or your spouse have family members (i e, son or daughter over the age of 18, parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew), who are Permanent Residents or citizens of Canada living in New Brunswick for at least 12 months, or dependent children studying in NB.
2- Age
You must be between 21 and 59 years of age.
3- Net Worth
You must have a verifiable personal net worth of at least $500,000 CAD. Your personal net worth must be legally obtained.
Inheritances, donations and gifts received less than six (6) months before an application is received by the Department will not be considered eligible towards your net worth.
4- Language Ability
You must have within two (2) years prior to submission of EOI, an approved test results and have obtained a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark CLB 5 in all for abilities in English or French (➨Appendix 5).
Test results must also be less than two (2) years old when you submit your application to IRCC for PR, should you receive a nomination certificate.
5- Education
You must have a minimum of Canadian secondary diploma or equivalent foreign credential.
Candidates with a foreign education must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report (➨Appendix 3) for their foreign education.
The ECA Report must not be more than five (5) years old prior to the date the EOI is submitted and the time IRCC receives your PR application.
6- Business Experience
There is no confirmed minimum ownership or management experience for the Business Immigration Stream. However you receive points for your experience and you are unlikely to be accepted without meeting one of the following:
- At least five (3) years’ experience in the last five (5) years managing and owning a business (51% ownership minimum).
- At least six (6) years’ experience in the last ten (10) years in a senior business management role (less than 51% ownership).
You must be personally involved in the day-to-day operation as a primary decision maker responsible for supervising at least two (2) people.
7- Ineligibility
You are not eligible to apply under the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream if:
- You have current application in process through another immigration program.
- You own property and/or a business in another province or territory in Canada.
- You are engaged in full-time post-secondary education in Canada.
- You are registered in the federal Live-in Caregiver Program.
- You are on a federal post-graduate work permit and your occupation falls under NOC TEER 5.
- You are a refugee claimant in Canada, a failed refugee claimant, had a removal order, are prohibited from entering or being in Canada, do not have status in Canada or are living illegally in your country of residence.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
NB-MRA
NEW BRUNSWICK BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify as an eligible business under the Business Immigration Stream, you must have an intention to buy or establish a business in New Brunswick that meets the following criteria:
1- Business Investment
You must invest a minimum of $150,000 CAD into starting or buying a business.
Investment amounts derived from loans or other forms of financing are not eligible. Items purchased for personal use such as principal residence or motor vehicles are not accepted either. Working capital such as rent, wages, leasing costs, cash flow and any other recurring expenses are also excluded from eligible investment.
The following list of equity expenditures may be included as business investments: land; buildings; equipment; software; licenses; franchise fees; leasehold improvements; professional fees associated with the establishment of business; vehicle and furniture and fixtures.
2- Business Ownership
You must own at least one third (33.33%) of the equity of a business in New Brunswick.
If purchasing an existing business, the New Brunswick based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner in New Brunswick for the previous three (3) years. It must also be actively in operation and has achieved net profit for at least two (2) of the previous three (3) years.
3- Type of Business
The business purpose must be to make a profit from active income through the sale of goods and/or services.
The following business activities are ineligible for the Entrepreneurial Stream:
- The adult or pornographic products or services
- Bed and breakfast accommodations
- Coin operated businesses
- Consultancy (business or agency that offers expert professional advice in a field)
- Online language and educational training centers
- e-commerce or online businesses
- Facilities that provide temporary residents and/or newcomer’s settlement services
- Cooperative (business or organization owned and operated by its member)
- Domain names
- Hobby farm for personal consumption or use that does not generate a primary source of income
- Brokerage businesses (a business that derives its prime source of income from acting as an intermediary for buyers and sellers)
- Financial services such as cooperatives or credit unions, payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines or pawnbrokers
- Home-based and/or businesses operating from a residential property
- Landlord property and rental management
- Inn or boutique hotel that has less than five rental units with revenues less than CAD $100,000
- Not-for-profit businesses and organizations
- Property investment (purchase/construction/development of real estate for the intention of earning a return on the investment, either through rental income, the future resale of the property or both); However, construction and/or development may be eligible if multiple signed and verifiable contracts are provided; This does not include the purchase of existing properties and/or businesses
- Professional practices and services where the applicant fails to provide proof of licensing and/or accreditation in New Brunswick
- Immigration-linked passive investment schemes
- Business conducted remotely from a jurisdiction outside New Brunswick
- Businesses that offer products and/or services that are primarily used during a certain time of the year
- Businesses that promote and/or sell controlled substances and illegal drugs, prescription drugs and items used to manufacture controlled substances and/or drug paraphernalia
- Businesses that promote and/or sells illegal items and items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activities including, but not limited to counterfeit products, copies of movies, software and trademarks, etc.
- Businesses that by association could bring the department into disrepute
4- Job Creation
The business must create at least one (1) full-time job for permanent residents or citizens of Canada living in New Brunswick. The one full-time job cannot include you, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children and/or other family members. Full-time means that an employer is expected to provide a minimum of 30 hours per week of work to each of these employees.
5- Active Management
You must provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business at the business site.
CALCULATE YOUR SCORE
If you meet all above minimum requirement, then find out if you score at least total of 65 of 100 points based on the following selection factors:
The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream factors may be summarized as follows (➨immilib.com/NBBI-Grid):
| Selection Factor | Maximum Points |
| Factor 1: Age | 10 |
| Factor 2: Language Ability | 25 |
| Factor 3: Education | 20 |
| Factor 4: Ownership and Management | 15 |
| Factor 5: Business Concept | 25 |
| Factor 6: Spouse Adaptability | 5 |
| Maximum Points Total | 100 |
| Selection Pass Mark | 65 |
Factor 1: Age
You’ll get points based on your age on the day you enter in your EOI profile.
| Age | Points |
| Under 21 | Not Eligible |
| 21-29 | 5 |
| 30-49 | 10 |
| 50-59 | 5 |
| Over 59 | Not Eligible |
Factor 2: Language Ability
To be awarded points for language, you must have taken an approved test results.
Test must be taken no more than two (2) years prior to the date your PR application to IRCC is submitted.
| First official language (English or French) | ||||
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| CLB 7 or Higher | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| CLB 5-6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| CLB 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Below CLB 4 | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| Second official language (English or French) | |
| At least CLB 5 in all of the 4 abilities | 5 |
| CLB 4 or less in any of the 4 abilities | 0 |
To prove you language abilities you must take any of the following approved tests:
- English: IELTS General or CELPIP General or PTE Core
- French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada
To find out the equivalent CLB level for any of the above approved tests, see (➨Appendix 5).
Factor 3: Education
| Level of Education | Points |
| Doctoral (PhD) level or Master's degree, after completion of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree | 20 |
| Post-secondary academic degree – 3 years or more | 16 |
| Post-secondary diploma – 2 years or more | 13 |
| High school diploma | 10 |
| No high school diploma | Not Eligible |
You will be awarded points for your Canadian educational credential or foreign credential accompanied by Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report.
The ECA Report must not be more than five (5) years old prior to the date IRCC receive your PR application.
Factor 4: Business Ownership or Senior Management Experience
You may claim points based on your business experience. The number of points is based on your past business ownership experience OR senior management experience.
| Experience | Points |
| 10 years of business ownership experience (min %51 ownership) in the last 10 years | 15 |
| 6-9 years of business ownership experience (min %51 ownership) in the last 10 years | 12 |
| 3 years of business ownership experience (min %51 ownership) in the last 5 years | 8 |
| 10 years of experience in a senior management role in the last 10 years | 9 |
| 6-9 years of experience in a senior management role in the last 10 years | 7 |
| 5 years of experience in a senior management role in the last 5 years | 5 |
| No or Less than above management or business ownership experience | Not Eligible |
Factor 5: Business Concept
You may be awarded up to 25 points for the following elements of your business concept in New Brunswick. You must include your business concept when you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).
| Adaptability | Points |
| You visited NB for a minimum of 5 business days within one year (12 months) previous to applying | 5 |
| You will transfer minimum 5 years of business ownership experience to the same industry and sector in New Brunswick | 4 |
| Business is located outside of the greater Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton regions (more than 20 kms from city center) | 5 |
| Eligible investment is greater than $500,000 CAD, or Eligible investment is between $150,000 CAD and $499,999 CAD | 3 or 2 |
| You included relevant statutes, regulations, by-laws and accreditation requirements related to your business plan | 3 |
| You included relevant and detailed market research related to business plan | 5 |
Factor 6: Spouse Adaptability
You may be awarded up to a maximum of 5 points for your spouse or common-law partner adaptability factors.
| Spouse Adaptability | Points |
| Your spouse or common-law partner completed a full-time post-secondary program of at least 1 year in New Brunswick | 5 |
| Your spouse or common-law partner completed at least 6 months of continuous full-time employment in New Brunswick | 5 |
| Your spouse or common-law partner meets the minimum level of CLB 5 in all four abilities of English or French | 5 |
| Your Total Score |
GCYSA
NB-CYSA
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Step 1: Establish a New Brunswick Connection
Prior to submitting an online Expression of Interest (EOI), you must demonstrate at least one (1) of the eligible connections as described in “Minimum Requirements” that include study, work or family in New Brunswick, making an exploratory visit or participating in an entrepreneurial information session.
Exploratory Visit
You will be awarded points if you have participated in an exploratory visit to New Brunswick of no less than five (5) working days over the previous twelve (12) month period prior to issuing an Expression of Interest.
If you are planning to live in New Brunswick and to operate a business here, you are encouraged to visit the Province to assess the viability of your business. The Exploratory visit must be a minimum of five (5) full business days, although longer trips are recommended. It must be over the previous two (2) years period prior to issuing an Expression of Interest. Travel days, and statutory holidays and weekends shall not be included as part of the minimum five full business day requirement.
The purpose of the exploratory visit is for you to conduct extensive research related to business opportunities that are of economic benefit to New Brunswick. Suggestions for business meetings include, but are not limited to:
- New Brunswick business owners;
- Regional economic development officers
- Chamber of commerce officials
- Industry association officials
- Commercial bankers
- Commercial and/or residential real estate agents
- Business brokers
- Accountants that provide advice on business organizations, evaluations, book keeping and taxation
- Legal counsel that provides assistance with legal transfers, purchase agreements, etc.
- New Brunswick-based ethnic and cultural associations
If you participate in an exploratory visit, you must submit an Exploratory Visit Report with your application. The report must include the following details:
- Length of your stay.
- The name of the professional business service providers or settlement organizations visited during your trip, including mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and emails.
- A description of the activity and/or meeting and how it relates to your business establishment or settlement.
- Copies of all airline tickets, boarding passes and hotel receipts during your entire stay in Canada.
- Copies of business cards collected from relevant contact and business service providers contacted during your visit.
- Details of visit to existing business location and meetings with current owners if you are planning to purchase an existing business. You should include the business name, location and the current owner’s names and contact details.
To find out how you can travel to Canada for a temporary visit, see (➨page).
Step 2: Submit an Online NBPNP Expression of Interest
If you meet the minimum criteria including the minimum score of 65 under the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream point grid, you can register and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to NBPNP. You must create a candidate profile within the INB Portal (➨immilib.com/NBBI-Apply). Within the INB portal you must choose the Business Immigration Stream and follow the instructions to submit the EOI.
Following submission you will be able to check the most up-to-date information regarding the status of your application at any time by logging in to view My Dashboard. If you are selected, you will receive a message in your INB Portal account including an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Having a higher score does not guarantee priority over a candidate with a lower score. A well-researched business concept that demonstrates the potential to provide significant economic benefit to the province has a greater likelihood to receive an ITA.
Step 3: Prepare Documents
In addition to the applications forms and supporting documents, before submission of complete application, you need to obtain a Business Plan and a Net Worth Verification Report.
Business Plan
You will need to submit a Business Plan as part of your application. You must submit a business plan that demonstrates that the business will be viable and likely to provide material economic benefit to the economy of New Brunswick as a whole or to the local economy where the business will be located.
In developing the plan, you must demonstrate that you have conducted extensive research and considered relevant economic, market and cultural factors.
Your business plan will be reviewed to ensure that it meets program requirements and the commitments made in your EOI. Thus, this document should be drafted as an essential component of your application.
Net Worth Verification Report
As part of your application, you must provide a Net Worth Verification Report. This report must be prepared by one of designated Net Worth Verifiers. These third party verifiers are experts in assessing net worth and legal accumulation of net worth.
There are three current designated Personal Net Worth Verifiers from which to choose:
| List of New Brunswick Designated Net Worth Verifiers | ||
|
Grant Thornton LLP Nick Ross 570 Queen St, 4th Floor PO Box 1054 Fredericton, NB E3B 5C2 (506) 858-2525 |
MNP LLP Roy Tong, Senior Manager, Provincial Nominee Program Services Suite 2200, MNP Tower, 1021 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6E 0C3 (778) 374-2102 |
MDD Forensic Accountants Jarrett Reaume 1959 Upper Water Street, Suite 1301 Halifax, NS B3J 3N2 (902) 406-8886 |
Step 4: Submit Application to NBPNP
You have up to 90 calendar days from the date of the ITA to submit a complete application via the New Brunswick online system. If you fail to submit a complete application by the deadline, your ITA will be automatically removed and you will have to start the process again.
Once you have submitted your complete application through INB Portal and paid the processing fee, your application will be reviewed.
An NBPNP officer will contact you by email if information is needed to assess your application and will tell you how to send the information.
You may be required to participate in an interview as reasonably required to verify information related to your application, or any other reason to be disclosed at the time of the request.
To find out how you can travel to Canada for a temporary visit, see (➨page).
Step 5: Business Performance Agreement
Upon approval, you will be sent a Business Performance Agreement for your review and signature.
You must submit your signed and dated Business Performance Agreement within sixty (60) days from the date the agreement was sent to you by email.
| NBPNP Application | |
| Submit Online Application: | |
| immilib.com/NBBI-Apply | |
| Official Program Guide: | |
| immilib.com/NBBI-Guide | |
| NBPNP Application Fee: | |
| $2,000 | |
| Processing Time: | |
| Not Available | |
| Document Checklist: | |
| Contact: | |
|
506-453-3981 |
|
Your Business Performance Agreement is your legal agreement with the Province of New Brunswick. It will state the amount you will invest in your business and the business sector where you will operate your business. The Business Performance Agreement will also list any other information relevant to your application including but not limited to: job creation, business succession, and business location. This is based upon the information you supplied in your Business Establishment Plan.
Step 6: Apply for Work permit
Upon receipt of your signed and dated Business Performance Agreement, NBPNP will issue you with an Entrepreneur Approval Letter and instructions on how to apply for a Work Permit. A work permit allows you to settle in New Brunswick and operate your business.
You must then provide the letter of support, your business plan and your signed Business Performance Agreement to the Government of Canada with an application for a temporary work permit (➨Page).
Step 7: Business Establishment in New Brunswick
After receiving your Work Permit, you are now permitted to work on establishing your approved business plan.
Within one (1) month following your arrival date in Canada, you must report your arrival. Within the first nine (9) months following your arrival date in Canada, you must report that your business is open. Within two (2) years following your arrival date in Canada, you must have operated your business for one (1) year according to the terms and conditions set out in the signed and dated Business Performance Agreement (BPA).
Step 8: Request for Nomination
In order to be eligible for nomination you and your dependents must be living in New Brunswick and you must have fulfilled the terms outlined in the Business Performance Agreement including transferring the required funds to Canada, and maintaining legal status in Canada.
Once you have operated the business for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months and have met the conditions outlined in the Business Performance Agreement, you may submit a Request For Nomination form using the email address bis-vie@gnb.ca You have one (1) month to prepare all documents in the 13th month after 12 months business operation.
Step 9: Apply for Permanent Residence
If you are nominated by the Province of New Brunswick, then your next step is to submit a complete application for a permanent resident visa within six (6) months (➨Page).
You must submit your application using the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal (PR Portal) (➨ immilib.com/PR-Portal).
If your application is complete, you will receive a letter or an email confirming that your file has been received and accepted for processing. This letter is called the Acknowledge of Receipt (AOR) and will include your IRCC file number.
Once you have received your acknowledgement of receipt, you can create an online account and link your application to it. By creating an account, you will be able to receive email updates and a more detailed case status.
Step 10: Landing in Canada
If your application is approved, you will be asked to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven't already done so. You will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) and if you are from a country that requires a visa you will also be issued a permanent resident visa.
You will only become a Permanent Resident of Canada when you cross a Canadian port of entry. This is referred to as ‘landing in Canada' (➨Page).
You must land in Canada before the expiry date, which appears on your Canada Immigration Visa. Usually, the expiry date is one (1) year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as the Canada Immigration Visa is received.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
NB-WSYTA
WELCOME TO NEW BRUNSWICK!
GWA
NB-WA