New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP: A Complete Guide for Business Immigration.

Executive Summary

New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP offers global business owners and senior managers one of the fastest pathways to Canadian permanent residence through business ownership. This program is designed for entrepreneurs who want to build a life in Canada’s only officially bilingual province while contributing to its growing economy.

Applicants begin by submitting an Expression of Interest, followed by a business application if their profile is competitive. Approved applicants sign a Business Performance Agreement and apply for a work permit, allowing them to relocate to New Brunswick with their family and establish or purchase a business. During a performance period of just 6-12 months – one of the shortest in Canada –entrepreneurs get to actively manage their business, make the required investment, create jobs, and live in the province before applying for permanent residence.

Successful applicants must demonstrate a minimum personal net worth of CAD $500,000 and be prepared to invest CAD $150,000. New Brunswick stands out for offering one of the fastest timelines to permanent residence among all Canadian provinces, combined with lower operating costs, strong community support, and access to both Atlantic and North American markets.

What is New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP?

New Brunswick’s Business Immigration Stream is designed to attract experienced business owners and senior managers who have the intent and ability to start or purchase a business in New Brunswick, operate it actively, and secure permanent residence for their families.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be between 19 and 59 years old
• Have at least 2 years of experience as an active business owner (51%+ ownership) supervising 2+ employees, OR as a senior manager in a for-profit company making primary decisions and supervising 2+ employees, within the last 5 years
• Have at least a high school diploma
• Achieve CLB 4 in an approved language test (English or French)
• Have a minimum verifiable net worth of CAD $500,000 ($300,000 for agricultural businesses)
• Be prepared to invest CAD $150,000 in your business
• Create at least 1 full-time job for Canadian citizens or permanent residents

Who is New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP Designed For?

This pathway is a strong fit for people who:

• Want permanent residence and a long-term plan for themselves and their family
• Have built real businesses or managed them at a senior level with direct operational responsibility
• Are ready to live in New Brunswick and actively run a business (not manage remotely)
• Value speed—New Brunswick offers one of the fastest nomination timelines in Canada
• Appreciate lower competition and cost of doing business compared to larger provinces

Provincial Overview: New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a Maritime province on Canada’s East Coast with a population of approximately 850,000 people. It offers entrepreneurs a strategic location, affordable operating costs, and a welcoming, bilingual business environment. The capital is Fredericton, while Saint John and Moncton serve as the province’s largest commercial hubs.

The province is known for its diverse economy, with key industries including information and communications technology (home to Canada’s first Cyber Centre), aquaculture and seafood processing, forestry and wood products, advanced manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and professional services. Operating costs—including commercial real estate, labour, and utilities—are significantly lower than in major Canadian markets like Toronto or Vancouver, allowing entrepreneurs to establish businesses with less capital while maintaining strong margins.

New Brunswick offers a high quality of life supported by affordable housing, short commute times, publicly funded healthcare, and strong bilingual education systems. The province is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, creating unique opportunities for entrepreneurs who speak French, English, or both. With access to coastal recreation, vibrant cultural communities, and strong newcomer support services, New Brunswick is well-suited for entrepreneurs and families seeking long-term stability, community integration, and a balanced lifestyle in Canada.

The province’s location provides strategic access to major North American markets—within a day’s drive of Montreal, Boston, and New York—while maintaining the lower costs and quality of life of a smaller market.

New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP Overview

What are the Steps in New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP?

Milestone One: Finding Your Business

Like other Provincial Nominee Programs, New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP allows entrepreneurs to start or buy businesses in the province. This forms the foundation of your application and your future in Canada.

What this means is that defining your business is the most critical step in the process. Successful entrepreneurs complete thorough market research, develop a comprehensive business plan with detailed financial projections, and understand the specific needs of New Brunswick communities where they plan to operate.

New Brunswick encourages (and for agricultural businesses, requires) completing a 5-day exploratory visit before submitting an Expression of Interest. This is a purposeful trip to your target community to research opportunities, meet with local economic development officers, assess business viability, and connect with potential partners, suppliers, or sellers. Whether you plan to buy a business or start your own, you need to have at least 33.33% shares in the business, and your business partners must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.

Helpful Tip: If you’re looking to buy a business, make sure to carefully review the business and make sure it meets New Brunswick’s eligibility requirements. Notably, in the last 3 years before purchase, it must have been continuously owned by the same person, have reported a net profit for at least 2 years and have never declared bankruptcy. You also need to be prepared to maintain all the existing jobs in the business and create an additional full-time job.

Milestone Two: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Once you have defined and finalized your business plans, you submit an Expression of Interest through New Brunswick’s online portal. Your EOI will be valid for 12 months, and be scored on a 100-point assessment grid covering:

• Age (10 points)
• Language ability (25 points)
• Education (20 points)
• Business ownership/management experience (15 points)
• Business plan quality (25 points)
• Adaptability factors (5 points)

Successful candidates receive an Invitation to Apply to submit a full Provincial Application.

If your EOI expires, you can submit a new one, but be careful not to have more than 1 EOI active at once, or the province may not consider any future submissions.

Helpful Tip: Your business plan accounts for 25 points – more than any other factor except language. Invest time in developing a realistic, well-researched plan that demonstrates a genuine market opportunity and your capacity to execute it. Generic or overly optimistic plans are easy to spot and will hurt your score.

Milestone Three: Provincial Application, Interview & Business Performance Agreement

When you receive your Invitation to Apply, you will have 90 days to prepare and submit your complete Provincial Application. This is a detailed submission that includes:

• Completed application forms and proof of identity
• Proof of your business ownership or senior management experience
• Proof of education with a formal Educational Credential Assessment
• Approved language test results (CLB 4 minimum)
• Your detailed business plan
• Net worth verification report prepared by one of New Brunswick’s prescribed third-party verifiers
• Evidence of exploratory visit (if completed)

Once you submit your application, the province may reach out to invite you for an interview to better understand different aspects of your application, like your business plan. This interview assesses your understanding of your business plan, your genuine intent to live in New Brunswick, and your readiness to execute your proposal.

If your interview is successful, you will be invited to sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA). This is a binding contract between you and the province that outlines your specific commitments:

1. Your pledged investment amount and timeline
2. Your job creation commitment (minimum 1 full-time job)
3. Your operational requirements and reporting obligations
4. Your residency commitment (within 100km of business, 75% of time in the province)

You have 60 days to review and sign the BPA. Once signed, you receive a Letter of Support for your work permit application.

Helpful Tip: While New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP sets a minimum investment of $150,000, your actual required investment will be based on your specific business plan. If your business realistically needs $200,000 to operate successfully, that becomes your commitment. Don’t underestimate costs just to meet the minimum—it will hurt you during the performance period.

Milestone Four: Work Permit  Performance Period

Once you have signed your Business Performance Agreement, you will receive your Work Permit Support Letter. You will have up to 12 months to submit your work permit application from the time you receive this letter.

IRCC typically issues a 2-year work permit for you, an open work permit for your spouse, and study permits for your children. The processing time for these applications is usually 1-2 months.

Once you receive your work permit, your performance period begins. While New Brunswick gives a full 2 years to meet your commitments, you can request that this period be as short as 6 months – one of the fastest in Canada – if you meet all your commitments. During this time, you must:

• Move to New Brunswick and live within 100km of your business
• Commit to spending at least 75% of your time managing your business in person
• Fulfill the terms of your Business Performance Agreement, including making your investment and creating the required jobs
• Maintain ongoing business operations and submit progress reports to the province

Milestone Five: Performance Period

Once you receive your work permit and arrive, New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP will expect you to submit 3 reports:

• Report of Arrival: A written report that needs to be submitted within 1 month of arriving in Canada.
• Report of the Business Opening: A written progress report to be submitted within the first 9 months detailing your business establishment and progress. This report will need to include your business’s financial information, and may be followed by a site visit and an interview.
• Final Report: A final report submitted within 6-12 months after business establishment, demonstrating you have met all BPA commitments and requesting your nomination.

The province does allow you to submit one Request to Change Business Plan within 3 months of arriving in Canada, in case you need to modify or make major changes to your business plan. This request is discretionary and should be used in unforeseeable circumstances. You should have your business plan thoroughly researched and feel confident in running your business before you apply.

Helpful Tip: Plan to complete your hiring within the first 3-4 months of your performance period. The province wants to see a stable employment history—not last-minute hires. Most successful applicants have employees on payroll for at least 2-3 months before submitting their final report.

Milestone Six: Request for Nomination

As you near the end of your performance period, you will prepare and submit your final report and Request for Nomination. This includes:

• Final business progress report
• Proof of ongoing business operations
• Corporate financial statements reviewed by a CPA
• Employment records proving you created the required jobs
• Evidence of your investment
• Proof of your residency in New Brunswick

If you have met all terms of your Business Performance Agreement, the province will issue you a Provincial Nominee Certificate. This certificate is valid for 6 months, during which you must submit your permanent residence application.

Helpful Tip: New Brunswick evaluates compliance with your BPA, not profitability. Your business doesn’t need to be profitable yet, but it does need to be genuinely operational and meet your commitments. Focus on execution, not just revenue.

Milestone Seven: Permanent Residence Application

The final step is submitting your permanent residence application to IRCC once you have your nomination. You can apply through the province’s portal or directly through IRCC. Processing typically takes 6-12 months.

During this waiting period, you must continue to:

• Operate your business
• Maintain your employment levels
• Reside in New Brunswick
• Meet any conditions specified in your Nomination Certificate

Once approved, you and your family become permanent residents of Canada!

How Much Does New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP Cost?

Want a personalized estimate? Check out our fee calculator!

Key Advantages of New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP

1. Fastest Performance Period in Canada

New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP is one of only two programs that accepts a performance period of just 6 months instead of the typical 12-20 months. If you can meet your investment and job creation commitments quickly, you can request your nomination in half the time required by most other provinces.

2. Expedited Processing for Entrepreneurs Already in New Brunswick

If you have already moved to New Brunswick and have been running your business for at least 6 months before applying to the PNP, the province can retroactively count qualified investments and time spent managing your business. This means you may be able to bypass much of the typical performance period and move directly toward nomination.

Helpful Tip: This retroactive consideration is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs who came to New Brunswick through other work permits (such as C11) and want to transition to the PNP pathway. If you’re already running a business in New Brunswick, this program may offer you the fastest route to PR.

3. Strategic Location with Market Access

New Brunswick’s location on the Atlantic coast provides:

• Port access for import/export businesses
• Proximity to major North American markets (Boston, New York, Montreal)
• Lower shipping costs to European markets compared to Western Canada
• Time zone advantages for businesses serving Atlantic Canada and the Eastern U.S.

Success Factors for New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP

1. Conduct a Meaningful Exploratory Visit

While not mandatory (except for agricultural businesses), an exploratory visit significantly strengthens your application and prepares you for success. Successful applicants use this visit to:

• Meet with municipal economic development officers
• Tour potential business locations
• Meet with business brokers or sellers
• Connect with local chambers of commerce
• Visit schools and neighbourhoods for family planning
• Gather market research and validate business assumptions

In our experience, applicants who complete exploratory visits have substantially smoother settlement experiences and more confidence in running their businesses successfully.

2. Plan for Quick Execution

If you want to take advantage of New Brunswick’s 6-month performance period, you need to be ready to move fast once you receive your work permit:

• Have your business location identified (lease or purchase agreement ready)
• Know exactly which equipment or inventory you need to order
• Have your hiring strategy planned (job descriptions, recruitment channels)
• Understand incorporation, business registration, and tax requirements
• Have banking relationships established or ready to establish quickly

In our experience, applicants who arrive in Canada without a clear execution plan waste months getting organized and miss the opportunity for expedited nomination.

3. Engage with Your Community

New Brunswick values entrepreneurs who become part of their communities. Successful applicants:

• Join local chambers of commerce or business associations
• Participate in community events
• Build relationships with other business owners
• Support local suppliers and service providers
• Demonstrate long-term commitment to the province

This isn’t just about immigration compliance – it’s about building a successful business and a good life for your family in New Brunswick.

New Brunswick vs. Manitoba: Which Entrepreneur PNP is Right for You?

Both New Brunswick and Manitoba offer 6-month minimum performance periods, making them the two fastest provincial entrepreneur programs in Canada. Here’s how they compare:

For many clients, the choice between New Brunswick and Manitoba often comes down to personal preferences about location, climate, and business sector fit rather than program structure. Both offer excellent pathways to permanent residence with similar timelines and requirements.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Submitting a Generic Business Plan

Many applicants use template business plans or submit plans that could apply to any Canadian province. The province can easily identify these.

How to avoid: Demonstrate specific knowledge of New Brunswick’s economy, your target community, and your competition. Reference local market data, name specific suppliers or partners, and explain why New Brunswick (not just Canada) is the right location for your business.

Mistake 2: Underestimating Startup Timelines

Applicants often assume they can arrive in Canada and have their business fully operational within weeks. In reality, incorporation, business registration, lease negotiations, equipment ordering, hiring, and regulatory compliance all take time.

How to avoid: Build a realistic timeline that accounts for at least 8-12 weeks of setup before you can open your doors. Plan your arrival and work permit timing accordingly.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Residency Requirement

Some applicants try to manage their New Brunswick business remotely while living elsewhere in Canada or making frequent extended trips outside the province.

How to avoid: Take the 75% residency requirement seriously. The province can and does verify compliance. Build your life in New Brunswick—not just your business. Enroll your children in local schools, establish healthcare, get a New Brunswick driver’s license, and become part of your community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my business idea after receiving approval?

You can submit a Request to Change Business Plan within 3 months of arriving in Canada on your work permit. The province will review your request, but may decline it if the changes are too substantial or if your new business no longer aligns with provincial priorities.

It’s far better to get your business concept right before applying rather than trying to change it later. However, minor adjustments (like changing your target market or adding complementary products/services) are usually acceptable.

Do I need to speak French?

No, French is not required. However, French language proficiency gives you additional points in the assessment grid and can be advantageous for doing business in New Brunswick’s bilingual economy. Many communities in the province have significant French-speaking populations, particularly in the northern and eastern regions.

Is the exploratory visit mandatory?

The exploratory visit is only mandatory if you plan to start or purchase an agricultural business. For all other business types, it’s recommended but not required.

That said, in our experience, applicants who skip the exploratory visit have lower approval rates and face more challenges during business establishment. The province can tell the difference between an applicant who has genuine knowledge of New Brunswick and one who is applying based solely on internet research.

Can I buy an existing business instead of starting one?

Yes, and in many cases, this might be preferable. Buying an eligible business:

• Provides immediate cash flow
• Comes with established customer relationships
• Includes trained employees (helping you meet job creation requirements)
• Demonstrates market validation
• Reduces startup risk

Helpful Tip: If you’re buying a business, make sure the current jobs count toward your BPA requirements. The province wants to see job creation and job maintenance – not job elimination. If the business currently has 3 employees and you plan to maintain and increase that, you’re in good shape. If it has 5 employees and you plan to reduce to 2, this may not satisfy your commitment.

A sample business for sale:

• New Brunswick Convenience Store for Sale | Business Immigration Opportunity | $350K

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Your spouse can get an open work permit, and your dependent children can get study permits to attend public schools tuition-free. All family members can be included in your permanent residence application once you receive your nomination.

What if my business struggles or fails?

The province evaluates your compliance with the Business Performance Agreement – not your profitability. Your business doesn’t need to be profitable to receive a nomination, but it does need to be:

• Genuinely operational
• Meeting your investment commitment
• Meeting your job creation commitment
• Being actively managed by you

If your business completely fails and closes during your performance period, you will likely not receive a nomination. However, if your business is struggling but still operating and meeting BPA terms, you can still qualify.

Helpful Tip: If you encounter serious challenges during your performance period (market changes, supply chain issues, unexpected competition), communicate proactively with the province. They may be willing to work with you if you demonstrate genuine effort and good faith.

How long do I need to operate the business before requesting nomination?

You must operate your business for at least 6 months before submitting your final report and requesting nomination. However, you can only request nomination once you have met ALL terms of your Business Performance Agreement (investment made, jobs created, residency requirement met, and business operational).

If you meet all requirements within 6 months, you can request nomination early. If it takes you up to 12 months to meet all requirements, that’s also acceptable.

Can I apply if I’m over 59 years old?

No, New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP has a strict age limit of 21-59 years old. If you’re over 59, you may want to consider:

• Other Entrepreneur PNPs like Manitoba’s (no upper age limit)
• Federal programs that don’t have age restrictions

Which business sectors does New Brunswick prioritize?

While New Brunswick doesn’t publish an official list of priority sectors, the province has indicated strong interest in:

• Information and communications technology
• Advanced manufacturing and clean technology
• Value-added food processing and agriculture
• Healthcare and life sciences
• Ocean technology and aquaculture
• Tourism and hospitality (particularly in underserved regions)
• Professional services supporting these sectors

Helpful Tip: Your business doesn’t have to be in a “priority sector” to be approved, but businesses aligned with provincial economic development goals tend to receive more favourable consideration.

Tools & Resources for New Brunswick’s Entrepreneur PNP

Assessment and Planning Tools

• New Brunswick Business Immigration Eligibility Calculator
• Immigration Fee Calculator

Official Government Resources

• New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program – Business Immigration Stream
• New Brunswick Economic Development Resources

Supporting Document Resources

• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Organizations
  • Designated agencies authorized to assess foreign education credentials for Canadian equivalency
• Approved Language Testing Providers
  • Information on accepted English and French language tests for business immigration programs

About Sobirovs Law Firm

Sobirovs Law Firm focuses exclusively on Canadian business immigration. We are a team of Licensed Immigration Lawyers and Consultants helping entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners navigate Provincial Nominee Programs and federal business immigration pathways. Our team combines legal expertise with practical business understanding to turn complex situations into successful outcomes.

We have extensive experience with New Brunswick’s Business Immigration Stream and maintain strong relationships with economic development offices throughout the province. We can help you identify viable business opportunities, complete your exploratory visit, navigate the application process, and ensure successful compliance with your Business Performance Agreement.

Learn more at sobirovs.com