Program Requirements

To be eligible to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), you must meet the following criteria at the time of application and nomination:

Minimum Eligibility

• Be between 19–59 years of age

• Demonstrate language proficiency of at least CLB 4

• Possess a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or its foreign equivalent

• Have a verifiable personal net worth of at least:

  • $500,000 CAD (general applicants)

  • $300,000 CAD (agriculture sector applicants)

• Have at least 2 years of:

  • Business ownership (minimum 51% share, with daily management responsibilities and two employees supervised), or

  • Senior management experience in a for-profit company (also supervising two employees) within the past 5 years

• Submit a detailed business plan with a minimum eligible investment of $150,000 CAD

• Commit to creating at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

• Score a minimum of 65 points in the program’s selection grid

Important: Meeting these criteria does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Priority Factors

Candidates may receive priority if they or their spouse:

• Completed an exploratory business visit to NB (5 full business days within the last 12 months)

• Hold a diploma or certificate from a New Brunswick post-secondary institution

• Have recent work experience in a high-skilled occupation in NB (30 hrs/week for 6 months in the last 2 years)

• Have close family members (excluding cousins) who have been residing in NB as PRs or citizens for at least 12 months

• Operate in the agriculture sector with a letter of support from the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries

How to Apply

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Register for an account on the INB Portal and submit your EOI. EOIs are valid for 12 months from the submission date. You can submit a new one if not selected within that timeframe.

2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If selected, you will receive an ITA through your INB profile. At this point, you may submit a full application along with the required forms and supporting documents.

3. Submit a Complete Application

All application materials must be submitted online through your INB account in PDF format. You must pay a non-refundable processing fee of $250 CAD per application.

Forms Required:

• NBBIS-001 Document Checklist

• NBBIS-BP Business Plan

• NBBIS-002 Personal Net Worth Statement

• NBBIS-003 Narrative Statement of Accumulated Funds

• NBBIS-004 Report of Arrival in Canada

• NBBIS-005 Report of Business Opening

• NBBIS-006 Request for Nomination

• NBBIS-007 Request for Change in Business Plan (if applicable)

Note: All business plan and net worth documentation must be verified by an approved third-party service provider.

4. Operate Your Business

If your application is approved, you must sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) and receive a letter of support for a temporary work permit. You must then:

• Relocate to New Brunswick

• Establish your business within 9 months of arrival

• Operate your business for at least 6 months

• Submit your Request for Nomination

A site visit will be scheduled to verify your business operations and investment.