Frequently Asked Questions on..

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
Application
Documents
Requirements
Working in New Brunswick

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program

What is the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program is a special agreement with the Canadian government that allows the province an active role in selecting immigrants to meet specific economic and labour market needs.

One of the benefits of the Provincial Nominee Program is that applicants are likely to see their application for immigration to Canada processed more quickly.

Nomination under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program does not constitute approval of your application for immigration to Canada. Final authority rests solely with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to issue immigrant visas.

What is a nominee?
A nominee is an individual whose application has been approved by the province of New Brunswick and forwarded to the visa post for final processing. Nominees receive a confirmation letter when their file is sent to the visa post.

Who is eligible to apply to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
To be considered under the Provincial Nominee Program, an applicant must have a guaranteed job offer in his/her intended occupation or a business plan approved by the Department of Business New Brunswick.

How are the candidates assessed?
Each applicant is measured under seven factors: age, language skills, education, work experience, adaptability, skill shortage (for job offer applicants only) and business experience (for business plan applicants only). A minimum score of 50 points is necessary for consideration under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program. You can download the Self-Assessment Guide and perform your own assessment.

How do I know if I qualify for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
Refer to the Job Offer Applicants section or Business Applicants section of this website to review the requirements and perform a self-assessment. After completing the self-assessment, if you find that New Brunswick's nominee program selection criteria do not fit your circumstances, we invite you to go to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca for other categories of application for immigration.

If I am nominated by New Brunswick, does that guarantee my immigration to Canada?
Nomination under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program does not constitute approval of your application for immigration to Canada. Final authority rests solely with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to issue immigrant visas.

I have applied for refugee status in Canada. Can I also apply to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
No. Under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, we will not process any applications for individuals who have made a refugee claim.

Will I be interviewed by a federal immigration officer?
Nomination does not automatically waive the interview at the visa post nor does the provincial interview during the exploratory visit. The decision to interview is at the discretion of the visa post.

When do I know if I am nominated?
Nomination is never guaranteed until the review process is completed. Nominees will receive a confirmation letter upon nomination.

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Application

How much time does it take to process a Provincial Nominee's application?

Business evaluations	5-6 weeks
Lead time for exploratory visits (Business Applicants only)	10-12 weeks
Permanent Immigration application processing (Provincial)	4-6 months
Permanent Immigration application processing (Federal)	Approx. 9-12 months time varies by visa post

Above processing times are valid for well prepared files and are subject to change.

Certain things can delay processing of your application: incomplete or unsigned application forms, missing documents, insufficient postage, missing fees, unclear photocopies, documents not accompanied by a certified English or French translation. YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE PROCESSED FASTER IF YOU AVOID THESE PROBLEMS.

How long does it take for Citizenship and Immigration Canada to process a Provincial Nominee Candidate?
The assessment of candidates by Citizenship and Immigration Canada includes, but is not limited to, criminal, security and health checks. The processing time may vary on the country of origin where the file is being processed. Certain things can delay processing of your application: a medical condition which may require additional tests, involvement in criminal activity, family situations such as divorce, custody or maintenance issues, or failure to notify the visa office of a change of address.

Can I speed up my Nominee application by contacting your office?
No, contacting our office, whether by email or phone, will slow your application down, because limited resources are then redirected to answer your specific questions rather then process your application. We will not provide information on the status of your application until the assessment process is complete.

Is there a fee to apply to the PNP?
While there is no fee for applying to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you will have to pay the government of Canada Application Fee and Right of Permanent Residence Fee.

Where can I get the information and the forms to apply to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
If you are interested in immigrating to New Brunswick and qualify for the Nominee Program, visit our application download page. It will guide you through the application process with forms and the instructions to complete them.

I cannot fit all the information on the application form and what if the information changes?
You should complete the form by printing or typing clearly and you must sign your application form. If you need more space to answer any questions, attach separate pages. When you have signed the form, it becomes a legal document and the information you have provided must be truthful, complete and correct. It is an offense under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to knowingly make a false or misleading statement. If any information changes before you arrive in Canada (even if your visa has already been issued), you must inform in writing the visa office to which you applied.

Is there a deadline to apply to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
No. However, the selection criteria may change without notice.

Where do I send my application to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program?
You may send your completed application package to:

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Documents

What do I include in my application?
Please follow the instructions on the document checklist very carefully to avoid major delays. You will find the document checklist in the Application Guide.

IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CHECKLIST, YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE DELAYED. INCOMPLETE FILES WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU.

Do my documents have to be translated by a certified translator?
All documents must be translated into English or French by a certified translator and must be stamped. You must include copies of the original documents attached to the translations.

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Requirements

If I am successful in immigrating to New Brunswick through the Nominee Program, how long do I have to stay in the province?
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program is intended only for people genuinely interested in living and working in New Brunswick.

Any immigrant who has been nominated under our Nominee Program is fully expected to reside, work and conduct business in New Brunswick and become a permanent resident of this province. We will consider any failure to comply with this Nominee Program requirement a breach of contract and a serious misrepresentation of facts in the application process. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) could revoke the permanent resident visa based on the misrepresentation of facts.

Do I need the services of a representative (lawyer or consultant) to help me complete the application?
No. The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program does not require you to have a representative.

It is your decision to pay someone to help you fill in the information or give you advice. However, this does not mean that your application will receive special attention or necessarily be approved. Note that New Brunswick and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will only deal with immigration representatives who are either a member in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) or the Canadian Law Society.

Please note:

• We do not comment on any individual representative.
  
• We do NOT have agents representing our program.
  
• We will not authorize or endorse any particular immigration consultant or lawyer.
  
• It is your responsibility to make sure that the representative you choose is ethical and competent to perform the services required. You should not be afraid to ask the representative (whether a lawyer or a consultant) for references or for other proof that he or she has the necessary skills.
  
• Beware of representatives who claim that you will get a visa, obtain citizenship or benefit from special treatment from the Canadian government by using their services. The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program or CIC is not associated with any representatives.

Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for more information on Immigration Representatives.

Do I need a passport or travel document?
You and your dependents must have passports or travel documents that are valid. If any documents are soon to expire (6 months or less), you should renew them. Diplomatic, official, service or public affairs passports cannot be used to immigrate to Canada. You must have a valid regular or private passport when you arrive. The validity of your visa may be affected by the validity of your passport.

Will I require a medical examination?
Yes. Medical examinations are required. The medical examination and background check are requirements of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Applicants approved for nomination by New Brunswick will receive further instructions regarding how and when to complete these tasks. Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for more information on Medical Examinations.

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Working in New Brunswick

How can I find a job in New Brunswick?
We do not have the resources to help you find employment. It is your responsibility to find work. However, to help you with your search, you will find information in the Job Finding Resources section of our website.

Does it help to begin the process if I send you my resume?
No. We do not have the resources to help you find employment and we do not keep a bank of resumes.

Do I need to get my trade or profession credentials recognized and licensed before applying to New Brunswick?
In Canada, approximately 20 percent of occupations are regulated to protect the health and safety of Canadians (e.g. nurses, engineers, teachers, and electricians). People who want to work in regulated occupations need to obtain a license from a provincial regulatory body. Licensing requirements often include education from a recognized school, Canadian work experience and completion of a technical exam. Fees for exams can be costly and are the responsibility of the applicant. Final assessment by the provincial authority can only be done after you are in Canada with permanent residence status.

We recommend that you visit the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for detailed information regarding employment in Canada for specific professions and trades.

Can I get a Temporary Work permit through your office?
No, we do not issue Temporary Work Permits. These permits are the responsibility of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Visit www.cic.gc.ca for instructions on how to apply for Temporary Work Permit.

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