The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP) is a five-year immigration initiative that was initiated in late 2022 as a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.
Designed to address labor shortages in high-demand sectors, this pilot sought to attract international workers to meet persistent workforce gaps.
It is an employer-driven immigration stream that operates under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). This means that applicants must be recruited through designated employers who are actively seeking qualified foreign talent.
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New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot Selection Factors:
In order to be eligible for the NBCWP, candidates must satisfy both the program’s eligibility criteria and be chosen based on specific criteria:
Age: Applicants must be between the ages of 19 and 55 at the time of submitting a complete application.
Language Proficiency: A minimum CLB level 4 in English or French across all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) is required, as determined by an approved language test.
Education: Applicants must possess a Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent, as verified by a recognized Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) that is no older than five years.
Work Experience: A minimum of 1,560 hours of paid work experience within the past five years is required. This must be consistent with the NOC code associated with the job offer.
Employer Support: In the event that the applicant fails to satisfy a specific criterion (e.g., language or education), the employer is required to submit a signed attestation letter that confirms their endorsement of the candidate’s nomination.
Partner Employers:
Six New Brunswick employers were meticulously chosen to participate in this pilot program due to their ability to offer meaningful support services to newcomers and their positive history of immigrant hiring under the NBPNP.
The NBCWP is comprised of the following employers:
J.D. Irving Limited
McCain Foods
Cooke Aquaculture Inc
Groupe Savoie Inc.
Imperial Manufacturing
Groupe Westco:
These organizations are dependable partners that are dedicated to the long-term recruitment, training, and retention of competent foreign workers in New Brunswick.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot?
A program for foreign workers with a job offer in a critical occupation to apply for permanent residency.
What occupations are eligible?
Occupations in demand, such as truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, and industrial butchers, are eligible.
How to apply?
Secure a job offer from a New Brunswick employer, then apply for the pilot program and permanent residency through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program.
