Maple News reports that the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has issued its first set of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for 2026, welcoming a total of 379 candidates across three streams during a series of draws held from January 13 to 15. This marks the province’s ongoing commitment to targeted immigration aligned with local labor market and community needs.
The January draw focused on candidates with established ties to New Brunswick and invited applicants under the following immigration streams: Express Entry, Skilled Worker, and Strategic Initiative. To be considered, candidates had to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOIs) no later than January 12, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time.
The majority of invitations—244 of 379, or approximately 64%—were issued under the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream. This stream targets foreign nationals who either currently work in New Brunswick or have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution within the province, and who have the support of a local employer.
Within the Skilled Worker Stream, draws focused specifically on two pathways: New Brunswick Experience and New Brunswick Graduates. Both pathways are designed to retain talent that is already contributing to the provincial economy or has the potential to do so shortly after graduation. All occupational sectors were considered for selection in this round.
Candidates under the NB Experience pathway must have been living in New Brunswick for at least six months before applying, be employed full-time in a non-seasonal job by a local employer, and have at least six months of work experience with the same employer.
Meanwhile, the NB Graduates pathway is tailored for recent international graduates from eligible New Brunswick institutions who also have job offers from provincial employers willing to support their PNP applications.
New Brunswick’s Express Entry Stream and Strategic Initiative Stream also contributed to the overall pool of selected candidates, though specific numbers for these categories were not disclosed in this update.
The Express Entry Stream complements the federal Express Entry system and enables the province to nominate high-scoring candidates who meet New Brunswick’s economic and labor needs. The Strategic Initiative Stream typically targets francophone and bilingual candidates with plans to settle in the region.
These early 2026 draws reflect New Brunswick’s strategic use of its immigration streams to attract and retain individuals who already demonstrate a strong commitment to the province through work, education, or community ties.