Maple News reports that New Brunswick has officially begun reopening its immigration programs following a temporary pause prompted by a significant reduction in federal immigration allocations. For 2025, the Canadian province has been granted just 2,750 nomination spaces, a sharp constraint compared to previous years.
These nominations will be distributed across two key programs: the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), which receives 1,500 spaces, and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), receiving the remaining 1,250. Jean-Claude D’Amours, New Brunswick’s Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, confirmed in a statement on February 5 that the revised allocation has forced the province to make “difficult decisions” about which sectors to prioritize.
“We expect this cap will limit our ability to support economic growth and meet the labor demands of our industries,” D’Amours stated. As a result, immigration efforts will now primarily focus on critical sectors, including healthcare, education, and construction. Workers in other sectors may face restrictions as the province targets its limited nominations toward areas with urgent labor shortages.
Maple News has learned that among the reopened programs, the New Brunswick Express Entry stream is set to soon accept new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under two specific categories: the Employment in New Brunswick pathway and the New Brunswick Interests pathway. However, the Strategic Initiative stream is currently on hold, with officials citing a sufficient inventory of applications already under review.
Other programs currently accepting EOIs or applications include:
– Private Career College Graduate Program (open, but will conclude in autumn 2025)
– New Brunswick Skilled Worker Program (now accepting EOIs via three sub-streams)
– Business Immigration Stream (available to operators of qualifying businesses for over six months)
– New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (open)
– Atlantic Immigration Program (open)
Maple News notes these measures reflect a broader shift in immigration strategy, where provinces must align their programs with federal targets while addressing local workforce shortages. Future changes in the federal allocation may offer New Brunswick more flexibility to expand immigration pathways. In the meantime, the province will continue adapting its selection criteria to ensure resources are directed toward sectors most in need.
As the province prepares to re-engage with new applicants, prospective immigrants with skills in the prioritized sectors are encouraged to monitor updates and assess their eligibility accordingly.