Dear future neighbour,
New Brunswick has been on a hiring spree. Between July 16 and July 22, 2026, the province ran several immigration selection rounds and handed out 750 invitations across four different pathways.
For anyone hoping to build a life in Atlantic Canada, this is the kind of news worth paying close attention to. It shows the province is still actively recruiting, and it gives a clear picture of exactly who New Brunswick wants right now.
Here’s a full breakdown of the draws, who qualified, and what it could mean for your own application.
Where the invitations came from
The 750 invitations were split between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Under the NBPNP, candidates were selected through three separate streams:
- the Skilled Worker Stream,
- the Strategic Initiative Stream, and
- the Express Entry Stream
Anyone invited through the NBPNP can move ahead by applying for a provincial nomination, which puts them on the path to Canadian permanent residence. Those invited under the AIP instead apply for a certificate of endorsement, which they can then use to apply directly to the federal government for permanent residence.
One thing stood out across every single round: health care workers were invited every time. If you work in health care, New Brunswick’s doors are wide open right now.
Skilled Worker Stream – 267 invitations
This stream ran two selection rounds between July 16 and July 18, pulling candidates from all three of its pathways.
| Date of draw | Pathway(s) | Occupational categories selected | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 16–July 18 | – New Brunswick Experience – New Brunswick Priorities | – Construction trades – Health care | 58 |
| July 18 | New Brunswick Graduates | – Construction trades – Education, social and community services – Health care – Manufacturing – Other trades – Professional and IT – Sales and services – Transportation | 209 |
A quick look at who each pathway is for:
- New Brunswick Experience is built for people already living and working in the province, holding a full-time job with an eligible employer for at least six months.
- New Brunswick Priorities targets foreign nationals who landed a full-time job offer through a provincial recruitment mission, in a role classified under a priority occupation, with at least a year of related experience.
- New Brunswick Graduates is for international students who finished a post-secondary program in New Brunswick that qualifies for a post-graduation work permit, and who are either working full-time for an eligible employer or holding a confirmed job offer.
Strategic Initiative Stream – 254 invitations
New Brunswick ran one draw here on July 16, focused on French-speaking candidates.
| Pathway(s) | Occupational categories selected | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|
| – Francophone workers in New Brunswick – New Brunswick Francophone priorities | – Education, social and community services – Food and accommodation – Health care – Manufacturing – Professional and IT – Sales and services – Transportation | 254 |
Both pathways favour French speakers with a real connection to the province:
- Francophone Workers in New Brunswick is for those working full-time for an eligible employer (or holding an offer), who have either lived in the province for six months or secured their job through a special recruitment mission.
- New Brunswick Francophone Priorities covers francophone graduates of provincial post-secondary programs lasting a year or more, or people who received a direct invitation from Immigration New Brunswick.
Express Entry Stream – 115 invitations
This round, held July 16, brought in the smallest number of invitations of the week.
| Pathway(s) | Occupational categories selected | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|
| Employment in New Brunswick | – Education, social and community services – Health care – Manufacturing – Professional and IT – Sales and services – Transportation | 115 |
This one’s aimed at Express Entry candidates who’ve already spent 12 months living in New Brunswick, working full-time in a skilled occupation (TEER 0–3) for a New Brunswick employer.
Atlantic Immigration Program – 114 invitations
On July 22, the province ran its third-largest AIP-specific draw of the year, casting a wide net across several occupations.
| Occupational categories selected | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| – Construction trades – Education, social and community services – Health care – Manufacturing – Other trades – Professional and IT – Sales and services – Transportation | 114 |
The AIP works a bit differently from the NBPNP. It’s employer-driven, meaning you need a genuine job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island. That offer has to be endorsed by the relevant province, and you’ll still need to meet the program’s standards for language ability, work experience, education, and proof of settlement funds.
What this tells us
Four active pathways, 750 invitations, and health care candidates selected in every single round; New Brunswick isn’t slowing down. If your occupation falls into any of the categories above, or if you already have ties to the province through work, study, or language, this is a strong signal that now is a good time to get your application ready.
Provincial programs like these move fast, and eligibility rules can be detailed and easy to misread. A pathway that looks like a perfect fit on paper can fall apart over a small technicality – the wrong NOC code, an employer that isn’t designated, or a job offer that doesn’t meet the endorsement requirements.
Ready to make your move to New Brunswick?
Immigration opportunities like this don’t stay open forever, and getting it right the first time saves you months of delay. Whether you’re aiming for provincial nomination, need help figuring out your best pathway through Express Entry, or you’re exploring work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, or school admissions, our team at Ese Umoh Immigration is ready to walk you through it.
Book a one-on-one consultation with us today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s map out the fastest, safest route to your Canadian permanent residence.