New Brunswick has conducted a substantial wave of provincial immigration selections over the past week. Between July 16 and July 22, 2026, a series of New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw rounds—combined with a separate Atlantic Immigration Program selection—issued a total of 750 invitations across five distinct pathways.
These invitations were distributed through three streams of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP): the Skilled Worker Stream, the Strategic Initiative Stream, and the Express Entry Stream, along with a separate Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) selection targeting a wide range of occupations.
Quick Highlights : New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Draw
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw activity from July 16 to 22 issued 750 total invitations
- The Skilled Worker Stream issued 267 invitations across two selection rounds
- The Strategic Initiative Stream issued 254 invitations, its largest share of any pathway in this cycle
- The Express Entry Stream recorded the lowest total of any round at 115 invitations
- A separate AIP draw on July 22 issued 114 invitations—the province’s third-largest AIP draw of 2026
- Healthcare workers were invited in every single draw across this entire selection cycle
- NBPNP candidates apply for provincial nomination, while AIP candidates apply for a certificate of endorsement
Full Breakdown of This New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Draw Cycle
Across five separate selection rounds spanning both the NBPNP and AIP, healthcare occupations appeared in every single draw—confirming this sector as the province’s most consistent immigration priority during this cycle.
| Stream | Pathway(s) | Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | New Brunswick Experience / Priorities | 58 |
| Skilled Worker | New Brunswick Graduates | 209 |
| Strategic Initiative | Francophone Workers / Priorities | 254 |
| Express Entry | Employment in New Brunswick | 115 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Multiple occupations | 114 |
| Total | 750 |
Skilled Worker Stream: 267 Invitations Across Two Rounds
Between July 16 and 18, this New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw activity included two selection rounds under the Skilled Worker Stream, issuing a combined 267 invitations across all three pathways available under this stream.
The first round, held July 16–18, targeted the New Brunswick Experience and New Brunswick Priorities pathways, focusing on construction trades and healthcare occupations, and issued 58 invitations. Candidates needed to have submitted their profile no later than 11:59 p.m. AST on July 15, 2026.
The second round, held July 18, issued a much larger 209 invitations through the New Brunswick Graduates pathway, spanning construction trades, education and social services, healthcare, manufacturing, other trades, professional and IT roles, sales and services, and transportation. This round required profiles submitted by 11:59 p.m. AST on July 17, 2026.
New Brunswick Experience pathway targets individuals already living and working in the province who have maintained full-time employment with an eligible employer for at least six months.
New Brunswick Priorities pathway targets foreign nationals who secured a full-time job offer through a provincial recruitment mission, in a priority NOC occupation, with at least one year of related experience.
New Brunswick Graduates pathway targets international graduates of eligible New Brunswick post-secondary programs who are working full-time for, or have accepted an offer from, an eligible provincial employer.
Strategic Initiative Stream: 254 Invitations For Francophone Candidates
A single draw held July 16 under the Strategic Initiative Stream issued 254 invitations—the second-largest total of any round in this New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw cycle. This round targeted two of the three pathways under the stream, covering education and social services, food and accommodation, healthcare, manufacturing, professional and IT, sales and services, and transportation occupations. The cutoff for this draw was July 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. AST.
Francophone Workers in New Brunswick pathway targets French-speaking foreign nationals working full-time for an eligible employer (or holding such an offer) who have either lived in the province for at least six months or secured their job offer through a special recruitment mission.
New Brunswick Francophone Priorities pathway is intended for French-speaking candidates with a priority connection to New Brunswick, including francophone graduates of eligible provincial post-secondary programs lasting one year or longer, and individuals directly invited by Immigration New Brunswick.
Express Entry Stream: The Smallest Round of This Cycle
The July 16 selection under the Express Entry Stream recorded the lowest invitation total of any New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw round in this series, issuing just 115 invitations through the Employment in New Brunswick pathway. This round targeted education and social services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional and IT, sales and services, and transportation occupations, with a cutoff of July 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. AST.
Employment in New Brunswick pathway is designed specifically for Express Entry candidates who have lived in the province for at least 12 months and worked full-time for a New Brunswick employer in a TEER 0–3 occupation throughout that entire period.
Atlantic Immigration Program: A Significant Parallel Selection
Separate from the NBPNP draws, New Brunswick held an Atlantic Immigration Program selection on July 22, targeting a broad range of occupations and issuing 114 invitations—making this the province’s third-largest AIP-specific draw of 2026. Targeted occupations included construction trades, education and social services, healthcare, manufacturing, other trades, professional and IT, sales and services, and transportation. The cutoff for this round was 11:59 p.m. AST on July 21, 2026.
The AIP operates differently from the NBPNP: it is an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence available to foreign nationals with a qualifying job offer from a designated employer located in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island. The job offer must be formally endorsed by the province where the employer operates, and foreign nationals must also meet the program’s requirements covering language proficiency, work experience, education, and settlement funds.
Why Healthcare Dominated This Selection Cycle
A defining feature of this entire New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw cycle is that healthcare workers were invited in every single one of the five rounds—across the Skilled Worker Stream, Strategic Initiative Stream, Express Entry Stream, and the separate AIP selection. This consistency reflects New Brunswick’s ongoing and pressing need to address healthcare staffing shortages across the province, making it the single most reliable occupational category for candidates hoping to benefit from future draws.
What Invited Candidates Should Do Next
Candidates invited through any of the NBPNP streams covered in this New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw cycle may respond by applying for provincial nomination toward Canadian permanent residence. Those invited through the separate AIP selection may instead apply for a certificate of endorsement, which can then be used to apply to the federal government for permanent residence through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Given the distinct cutoff dates and times applied across each of these five rounds—all set at 11:59 p.m. AST on the day before the respective draw—candidates should confirm precisely which round and pathway their invitation falls under before preparing their application materials.
Key Takeaways Of New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Draw
This New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw cycle, spanning five selection rounds between July 16 and 22, demonstrates the province’s broad and simultaneous use of multiple immigration pathways to address labour market needs. With 750 total invitations issued across the Skilled Worker, Strategic Initiative, and Express Entry streams alongside a substantial AIP selection, and healthcare consistently prioritized across every single round, New Brunswick continues to position itself as an active and diverse destination for skilled workers, international graduates, and Francophone candidates pursuing Canadian permanent residence.
FAQs : New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Draw
How many total invitations were issued in this New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program draw cycle?
A combined 750 invitations were issued between July 16 and 22, 2026, across three NBPNP streams and one separate Atlantic Immigration Program selection.
Which pathway issued the most invitations?
The New Brunswick Graduates pathway under the Skilled Worker Stream issued the most invitations at 209, followed by the Strategic Initiative Stream’s combined Francophone pathways at 254.
Why were healthcare workers invited in every draw?
Healthcare consistently appeared across all five selection rounds, reflecting New Brunswick’s sustained and pressing need to address ongoing healthcare staffing shortages across the province.
What is the difference between an NBPNP invitation and an AIP invitation?
NBPNP candidates apply directly for provincial nomination toward permanent residence. AIP candidates instead apply for a certificate of endorsement, which is then used to apply to the federal government for permanent residence through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Who qualifies under the Express Entry Stream’s Employment in New Brunswick pathway?
Candidates must have lived in New Brunswick for at least 12 months and worked full-time for a New Brunswick employer in a TEER 0–3 occupation throughout that entire period.
Source : CIC News
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