New Brunswick

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP): Entrepreneur Category

OVERVIEW

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) is administered by the NB Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL), in partnership with the federal government of Canada. The purpose of the NBPNP is to increase immigration to NB, to meet NB’s demographic and economic goals.

The NBPNP uses the Expression of Interest (EOI) model for file submission and selection. Under this points-based model, an EOI profile will first be created for each Applicant, and the Government will select Applicants from this pool. Those with the highest points and greatest potential to become economically established in NB will be selected and invited to apply to the NBPNP.”

BENEFITS

The benefits of the NBPNP include the following:

• Offers a PR visa
• Small initial payment of $10,000 (plus $10,000 to be paid upon Invitation to Apply, $15,000 to be paid prior to nomination, a $100,000 refundable deposit to be paid to the NB Government prior to nomination, and $250,000 to be invested in a business after landing)
• When the applicant family moves to NB, the children can attend public school in NB for free (kindergarten to grade 12)
• Medical care will be free for the family after receiving PR and residing in NB for 3 months
• Fast provincial processing is expected (file comments expected within 3-6 months of the NB Government receiving the full paper file)
• Fast federal processing is expected (9-12 months in most posts)

NBPNP QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Intend to settle in NB, and to manage, invest in, or own a business in NB
• Have an eligible NB connection
• Score at least 65 points in the Self-Assessment
• Present a business concept with the potential to provide economic growth to NB
• Make a minimum $250,000 investment in a NB business in accordance with Section 87 of the IRPA regulations
• Have minimum $600,000 in Net Worth ($300,000 unencumbered)
• Be able to document the source of funds for $600,000 (a Net Worth Verification Report is required from a PETL-approved professional accounting firm)
• Be between 22 and 55 years of age
• Have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary education (after high school)
• Have minimum 3 years (in the past 5 years) of ownership experience (min. 33.3% ownership), or 5 years (in the last 5 years) of senior management experience in the private, for-profit sector, directly managing at least 2 employees
• Have basic proficiency in English or French (CLB 5 or greater in all categories)
• Deposit $100,000 with the province of NB (conditionally refundable after running a business in NB for 1 year)”

PROCESS

ABOUT NB

New Brunswick is a province on the east coast of Canada, bordered on 2 sides by ocean (the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy). On land, it is bordered by Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Maine (USA), and attached to Prince Edward Island via the 12.9km Confederation Bridge. The largest cities are Moncton, Fredericton (the capital), and Saint John (a port city on the Bay of Fundy).

New Brunswick has the lowest housing prices in Canada, one of the lowest crime rates, and is the only bilingual province.

It is home to 302 public schools, 8 private schools, 10 colleges and 9 universities, including Mount Allison University, which has been ranked the top undergraduate university in Canada (by MacLean’s magazine) 21 times in the last 29 years. The universities and colleges offer programs in Business, Computer Studies, Public Relations, Criminology, Applied Sciences, Health and Community Services, Flight/Pilot, Media and Communications, Massage Therapy, Graphic Design, Paramedical and Paralegal, Sports and Leisure, and Tourism.

The province’s landscape is beautiful and varied, attracting many tourists year-round. The northern area is dominated by the Appalachian mountain range, while the interior is forested. The east is mainly flat with beautiful white sand beaches (including Kouchibouguac National Park), while the south is rugged and famous for its red soil and the Hopewell Rocks. Tourists enjoy a variety of leisure activities, such as beaches, golf courses, eco-tourism adventures, touring the countryside, and enjoying cultural events held in local communities.

New Brunswick has strategic access to global markets with efficient transportation systems and infrastructure. It is located close to key markets, such as New York, Boston, Toronto, and Montreal. Its major industries are agriculture (blueberries, potatoes, maple syrup, etc.), fishing, forestry, mining, tourism, and manufacturing. Information technology, cyber security, financial services, and innovative energy are rapidly growing industries. NB businesses enjoy the lowest operating costs in Canada, with Government incentives, and a skilled and bilingual workforce (26.1% has post-secondary education).