The
New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream provides a provincial immigration pathway for eligible entrepreneurs who want to establish or purchase a business in New Brunswick and participate in its daily management.If you have been researching the
New Brunswick Entrepreneur Program, the naming has changed. The province confirms that the former Entrepreneurial Stream has been replaced by the Business Immigration Stream. Older Entrepreneurial Stream forms are reserved for existing clients.The pathway involves several stages: provincial assessment, a work permit, business establishment and operation, a nomination request, and a federal permanent residence application. Understanding that sequence is essential before making business or relocation commitments.For other provincial pathways, see our
provincial entrepreneur programs overview.
What Is the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream?
The stream is designed for entrepreneurs who will
run and actively manage a business in New Brunswick. If they fulfil the requirements, the province may nominate them for permanent residence.A suitable assessment should consider both your immigration profile and your ability to operate the proposed company. Business experience, financing, market knowledge and your intended role all deserve attention.The
official New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream page provides the current overview and access to the application guide and forms.
Eligibility Requirements
The province’s published headline requirements are:
| Requirement | Current published minimum |
|---|
| Age | 19–59 years |
| Language | CLB 4 in all four abilities |
| Education | Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent |
| Personal net worth | CAD $500,000, or $300,000 for agricultural investment |
| Eligible investment | CAD $150,000 |
| Business experience | Two qualifying years within the previous five years |
| Job creation | At least one full-time job |
| Selection score | 65 out of 100 |
Qualifying experience includes ownership of a private company at
51% or more, or senior management in a for-profit business, with daily operational management and supervision of at least two employees.
This table is an overview. The current application guide contains additional conditions concerning the applicant, proposed business, investment and nomination.Preparing Evidence of Experience
Your records should explain what you actually did in the business.Useful preparation may include:
- Ownership and company registration records.
- Employment or management records.
- Financial statements.
- Organizational charts.
- Evidence of employees supervised.
- A clear description of your responsibilities.
A job title alone may not communicate the scope of your experience. Explain the decisions you made, the operations you managed and the records that support those claims.
Language Testing
New Brunswick accepts specified English and French language tests. Test reports must be
less than two years old when a complete application is submitted to Immigration New Brunswick. It’s
important information for every candidate and explains accepted tests and other general requirements.Allow time for testing, results and any further preparation before planning an application schedule.
Personal Net Worth and Eligible Investment
Net worth and business investment measure different things.Net worth describes the value of assets after liabilities. Eligible investment concerns the spending or investment that qualifies under the program’s business rules.For example, property may contribute to someone’s overall wealth while requiring a separate plan to make funds available for business activities.Build a financial plan that identifies:
- Assets and liabilities.
- Available funds.
- The source of those funds.
- Proposed investment items.
- Additional operating expenses.
- Household and relocation expenses.
Is the Minimum Investment the Total Budget?
Treat the published minimum as one part of the financial assessment. Your company may need additional resources for staffing, operating costs, development or contingencies.Before counting an expense toward eligible investment, check its treatment under the current guide. A commercially necessary expense should not automatically be assumed to qualify for immigration-program purposes.
Starting or Buying a Business in New Brunswick
The proposed business needs a credible operating plan and must satisfy the stream’s detailed conditions.When evaluating an opportunity, consider:
- Customer demand.
- Competition and pricing.
- Location and premises.
- Staffing needs.
- Licensing and regulatory obligations.
- Start-up or acquisition costs.
- Your role in daily operations.
For an acquisition, review the company’s financial position, contracts, liabilities and operating history before committing.Our
guide to buying a business and moving to Canada provides broader background. Business incorporation and administration are covered in our
Canadian business registration guide.
Check Business Eligibility Early
The provincial guide excludes certain activities. For example, it identifies property investment intended to generate rental income or resale returns as ineligible, while distinguishing certain construction or development activities supported by verifiable contracts.Review eligibility before treating a particular opportunity as suitable for the stream.
The Application Process
The official guide describes a staged pathway from an Expression of Interest to a federal PR decision.
| Stage | Main action |
|---|
| 1. Preparation | Review the guide and gather evidence |
| 2. Expression of Interest | Submit an EOI through the INB portal |
| 3. Invitation and application | Submit a complete provincial application if invited |
| 4. Provincial assessment | If approved, sign a Business Performance Agreement |
| 5. Work permit | Receive provincial support and apply to IRCC |
| 6. Business establishment | Relocate after approval and establish the business |
| 7. Nomination request | Demonstrate qualifying business operation and fulfilment of the agreement |
| 8. Federal PR application | Apply to IRCC after nomination |
Expression of Interest and Invitation
Use the preparation stage to check that your claims can be supported. Keep your business concept, experience records and financial information consistent.The INB profile should use your own contact information. New Brunswick advises candidates to create their own profiles and maintain access to the account.
Business Performance Agreement
The agreement establishes the commitments associated with your approved business proposal.Before signing, review what must be achieved and what evidence will be needed. Maintain a working schedule for investment, establishment, operations and reporting.
Business Operation and Nomination
The guide provides for establishing the business within
nine months of arrival and requesting nomination after
at least six months of business operation.
Six months of operation is a stage in the pathway, not a promise of PR approval within six months. The business commitments, nomination assessment and federal application still matter.
What Happens After Provincial Nomination?
After nomination, the applicant proceeds through the federal immigration process.IRCC’s
Provincial Nominee Program non-Express Entry guidance explains the federal stages, including document preparation, submission and assessment.Keep these decisions separate:
| Decision | Authority |
|---|
| Provincial business application and nomination | New Brunswick |
| Work permit | IRCC |
| Permanent residence | IRCC |
Plan around the requirements of each stage rather than treating initial provincial approval as the end of the process.
Fees and Net Worth Verification
The province states that submitting an EOI is free. A
non-refundable CAD $2,000 application fee applies before submitting the complete nomination application.Other budget items may include language testing, document preparation, professional services, federal applications, relocation and business expenses.For net worth verification, New Brunswick’s
current immigration notices state that
MDD Forensic Accountants is no longer accepting new clients for this stream. Candidates are directed to
Doane Grant Thornton LLP or MNP LLP.Confirm the applicable procedure before commissioning a report.
Processing Times and Temporary Status
New Brunswick states that it cannot provide processing times for individual applications or guarantee assessment or approval before a work permit expires. Candidates remain responsible for maintaining authorization to work.Record permit expiry dates alongside application and business deadlines. Include enough flexibility in financial and family plans to accommodate a longer process.
Assess Your Suitability With CanadaPass
A useful assessment should examine your qualifying experience, language results, financial position and proposed business together.For broader provincial context, see our
New Brunswick immigration overview. To compare business pathways, read our
Business Immigration to Canada guide.Complete the
CanadaPass free assessment form to share your profile, or
book a consultation to discuss your business proposal and application planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What replaced the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream?
The province identifies the Business Immigration Stream as its replacement. Legacy forms are intended for existing Entrepreneurial Stream clients.
Can senior managers qualify?
The published criteria include qualifying senior management experience. The responsibilities and supporting evidence need individual assessment.
Is the minimum investment my complete financial requirement?
Your assessment also needs to cover net worth, actual business expenses and personal costs. Check which proposed investments qualify under the guide.
Can I buy an existing business?
The pathway includes business acquisition, subject to the detailed program conditions and an appropriate review of the proposed purchase.
Does operating the business for six months guarantee nomination?
No. The nomination request involves demonstrating that the applicable business commitments and requirements have been met.
Does provincial approval grant permanent residence?
The pathway includes separate work permit, business-operation, nomination and federal PR stages.
Where should I begin?
Start by reviewing your experience, language ability, finances and business concept through the
free assessment form.
This article provides general information. Use the current provincial guide and instructions applicable to your circumstances when planning an application.
