NEW BRUNSWICK
Entrepreneurial Stream
The Entrepreneurial Stream is a key component of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), managed by the province of New Brunswick. This stream specifically targets experienced business owners and senior business managers who are interested in settling in New Brunswick.
Applicants accepted into this stream are required to either start a new business or acquire an existing business in New Brunswick, taking an active role in its day-to-day management. New Brunswick proactively engages with potential candidates through international events. For opportunities to join this entrepreneurial community, please check our schedule for upcoming information sessions and job fairs. Success in these events can lead to eligibility for immigration to Canada via the New Brunswick PNP or the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Program Requirements
Overview of Requirements:
- Express Entry Profile: Not required
- Connection to Province: Required
- Job Offer: Not necessary
- Language Proficiency: Minimum CLB 5
- Education Level: Post-secondary
- Work Experience: Minimum 3 years in business ownership and management
- Investment Requirement: Minimum investment of $250,000 CAD
- Personal Net Worth: Minimum of $600,000 CAD
Detailed Criteria:
Connection to New Brunswick: To apply, candidates must demonstrate a strong connection to New Brunswick. This can be established by either having visited New Brunswick for at least five business days within the past 24 months or by participating in an Entrepreneurial Stream information session within the same timeframe.
Language Proficiency: Applicants must show proficiency in English or French at a CLB level 5 to qualify for this stream.
Educational Qualifications: Applicants are required to have completed an academic degree that necessitated at least three years of full-time study or a trade diploma requiring at least two years of full-time study.
Professional Experience: Applicants should have significant managerial experience, owning and managing at least one-third of a business for three out of the past five years, and must have been in charge of supervising at least two employees during that time.
Financial Requirements: Candidates must demonstrate a personal net worth of at least $600,000 CAD, with $300,000 CAD of it being liquid and unencumbered. They are also required to invest at least $250,000 CAD into a business in New Brunswick, which they must actively manage.
Age Requirements: Applicants must be aged between 22 and 55 at the time of application submission.
Assessment Grid: Candidates need to score a minimum of 65 points on the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Assessment Grid to be considered for nomination.
Business Requirements: Candidates applying to the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream must either establish a new business or acquire an existing one within the province. Applicants are required to own at least one-third (33.3%) of the business and play an active role in its management. The business should contribute positively to the New Brunswick economy and must be a for-profit entity in the private sector. Additionally, it must create a minimum of two full-time jobs for Canadian permanent residents or citizens.
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream: Application Procedure
Application Process:
The application process for the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial stream is conducted through an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Prospective candidates need to submit an EOI along with a detailed business concept to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). It’s important to note that the NBPNP may periodically halt the intake of new EOIs and does not schedule or announce periods for accepting new applications. Candidates must achieve a minimum of 65 points on the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Assessment Grid to qualify. However, only those with the highest-ranking business concepts that promise significant economic benefits to the province will receive an invitation to apply.
Upon receiving an invitation, applicants must submit a comprehensive application for provincial nomination and pay a processing fee of $2,000 CAD. Successful candidates are then required to deposit $100,000 CAD and enter into a business performance agreement with the NBPNP. If the conditions of the agreement are met, the deposit is refundable after one year. Once the NBPNP confirms receipt of the deposit and the signed agreement, it will grant a provincial nomination.
Following the provincial nomination, applicants have six months to file a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. This application must be completed on paper and sent by mail to the designated application center. The processing time for paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence typically extends up to 18 months.
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Scoring System
To participate in the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream, candidates must achieve a minimum score of 65 points on the assessment grid. This grid is also used to rank candidates based on their qualifications and business potential. Only the highest-scoring candidates will receive an invitation to apply.
Breakdown of Scoring Factors:
- Age: Up to 10 points
- Language Proficiency: Up to 25 points
- Educational Background: Up to 25 points
- Business Ownership/Management Experience: Up to 20 points
- Business Concept Quality: Up to 15 points
- Adaptability: Up to 5 points
Total Possible Points: 100
Age Points Allocation for New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Points based on age are assigned as follows for eligibility:
- 21 years or younger: 0 points
- Ages 22 to 34: 5 points
- Ages 35 to 50: 10 points
- Ages 51 to 55: 5 points
Maximum Points Available for Age: 10 points
Language Proficiency Points for New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Points for language skills are calculated as follows:
First Language Proficiency:
- CLB 7 or higher: 5 points each for Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
- CLB 6: 4 points each for Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
- CLB 5: 3 points each for Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
- Maximum Total for First Language: 20 points
Second Language Proficiency:
- CLB 5 or higher: 5 points
- Maximum for Second Language: 5 points
Overall, candidates can earn up to a maximum of 25 points for language proficiency across both languages.
Educational Qualifications Points for New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Points based on the level of education are distributed as follows:
- Post-graduate Master’s degree or PhD: 25 points
- Post-secondary academic degree (e.g., Bachelor’s degree): 20 points
- Post-secondary diploma in a specific trade: 15 points
Maximum Points Available for Education: 25 points
Points for Work Experience in the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Points for work experience are awarded based on the role and duration of the experience:
Business Ownership:
- Owned at least one-third of a business and actively managed operations, responsible for supervising at least three people:
- 10 years within the last 10 years: 20 points
- 6 to 9 years within the last 10 years: 18 points
- 3 years within the last 5 years: 15 points
Senior Management:
- Senior manager involved in daily operations as the primary decision-maker, responsible for supervising at least two people:
- 10 years within the last 10 years: 12 points
- 6 to 9 years within the last 10 years: 10 points
- 5 years within the last 5 years: 5 points
Maximum Points for Work Experience: 20 points
Points for Business Plan Elements in the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Points are allocated based on specific elements within the candidate’s business plan:
Experience Transfer: 3 points are awarded if the candidate will transfer 10 years of business ownership or senior management experience to a similar industry and sector in New Brunswick.
Industry Sector: 3 points for establishing or purchasing a business in a key industry sector.
Business Location: 3 points if the business is located outside the major urban centers of Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton.
Investment Scale:
- Greater than $500,000 CAD in eligible expenses: 4 points
- Between $351,000 CAD and $499,000 CAD in eligible expenses: 3 points
- Between $250,000 CAD and $350,000 CAD in eligible expenses: 2 points
Market and Compliance Knowledge: 2 points if the candidate has:
- Identified target markets for the business based in New Brunswick.
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant statutes, regulations, and bylaws.
- Identified necessary business resources (candidates must meet at least two of these conditions to claim the points).
Strategic Impact: 2 points if the business will:
- Increase research, development, and technological commercialization.
- Transfer specialized knowledge and expertise to New Brunswick.
- Attract new business activities to New Brunswick.
- Link New Brunswick to global markets and value chains (candidates must meet at least two of these conditions to claim the points).
Maximum Points Available: 15 points
Adaptability Points for Spouse or Common-Law Partner in the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Points for adaptability are granted based on the qualifications and experiences of your spouse or common-law partner:
- Educational Experience in New Brunswick: 5 points if your spouse or common-law partner completed at least one year of full-time study at a recognized post-secondary institution in New Brunswick, was over the age of 17 at the time, and held a valid study permit.
- Work Experience in New Brunswick: 5 points for completing at least six months of continuous full-time employment in New Brunswick.
- Language Proficiency: 5 points if your spouse or common-law partner meets a minimum language proficiency level of CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French across all four language abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
Note: The maximum number of points available for adaptability is 5, meaning that only one of these qualifications needs to be met to achieve the full points.
