New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream
New Brunswick's Expression of Interest route, which replaced the province's closed Entrepreneurial Stream. Candidates are scored and invited.
The NBBIS replaced the province’s former Entrepreneurial Stream, which is closed. It runs on an Expression of Interest and invitation model with a 100-point selection grid and a minimum qualifying score of 65.
It is work-permit-first. Successful candidates receive provincial support for a temporary work permit, then complete a Business Establishment Period during which they must set up and operate the business and spend at least 75% of their time in New Brunswick, before nomination for permanent residence.
Core requirements
| Requirement | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Net worth | CAD $500,000 verifiable, or CAD $300,000 for agricultural business plans. Legally accumulated and verified by an approved third-party accounting service. |
| Investment | CAD $150,000 minimum before tax, to establish or purchase a New Brunswick business. |
| Equity and management | At least one-third of the business’s equity, with active day-to-day management from within the province. |
| Business experience | Two years of business ownership or senior management in a for-profit business within the past five years. |
| Job creation | At least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, excluding the owner and relatives. |
| Language | CLB or NCLC 4 or higher in English or French, by the time of nomination. |
| Business plan | A researched plan covering concept, market analysis, financial projections, and benefit to the provincial economy. Agriculture plans require a Letter of Support from the Department of Agriculture. |
The 100-point grid and the exploratory visit
EOIs are scored across age, language, education, business experience with ownership scoring above senior management, net worth, investment, the business plan, and adaptability. Adaptability recognises New Brunswick connections: prior study in the province, six months of high-skilled work by you or your spouse, and close family in the province.
A business exploratory visit of five days or more within the 12 months before the EOI is a priority factor worth meaningful points rather than a strict precondition. In practice, competitive files almost always include one.
The Business Establishment Period
After the work permit is issued and you arrive, the establishment period is where the commitments are performed: making the investment, launching or acquiring the business, creating the employment, and residing in the province. The 75% physical presence expectation is monitored. The period’s length follows the milestones in your accepted business plan, typically one to two years, and nomination follows only when ImmigrationNB is satisfied the commitments have been met.
Practical considerations
- New Brunswick’s 2026 nomination allocation was reduced, which sharpens competition. Verify current intake and grid details before committing.
- The province actively targets agri-food, technology, tourism, and manufacturing, and offers the reduced net worth threshold for agricultural plans.
- The 75% presence expectation is a real constraint on anyone intending to maintain business interests elsewhere during the establishment period.
Not sure which program fits your situation?
Every program rewards a different profile. Net worth, experience, sector, and where you want to live all shape the right strategy. Book a consultation and we will assess your options across all of them.