The most recent draw conducted on February 11, 2026, targeted applicants in the Skilled Worker Stream and provided them with an opportunity to obtain permanent residency in Canada.
The province selects individuals who suit the labour market and have the skills and experience needed to contribute to the province's economy. New Brunswick targets in-demand professionals to strengthen key areas and facilitate long-term population growth.
The round on February 11 was conducted under the Skilled Worker Stream, one of the province's main immigration programs. Candidates had to have received their Expression of Interest (EOI) not later than the middle of the Atlantic Standard Time on February 10, 2026.
The choice was largely based on people who had worked in priority areas, specifically healthcare. With ongoing medical and support gaps in New Brunswick, immigration has been a critical way to fill them.
As a result of this draw, 196 candidates were asked to proceed with their provincial nomination applications. Upon nomination, these people can seek permanent residence through the federal immigration system.
The Skilled Worker Stream includes several groups aimed at welcoming providers who are already connected to the province or who have skills that match employer requirements in the area.
One of the main categories targeted by the draw was the New Brunswick Experience category. This is a career track for individuals already working in the province who have acquired employment experience.
The applicants in this group are usually already part and parcel of the local workforce and society. They are good candidates for permanent settlement because they know the province's labour market.
Graduates who have post-secondary training in New Brunswick and have acquired experience working in the province were also eligible for the draw. International graduates who learn locally and are employed are perceived as useful members of the labour force.
These people are already adjusted to life in Canada and understand the local culture and employment patterns. Graduates' retention is beneficial to the province in that it allows the province to develop a sustainable, long-term workforce.
The New Brunswick provincial nominee program is a program where the province will be able to choose the immigrants who can satisfy the economic needs of the province. Candidates get assistance to apply to the federal government to obtain permanent residence through provincial nomination.
For those aligned with the federal Express Entry system, provincial nomination gives a major advantage. Nomination provides a candidate with 600 points in his or her Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which in effect ensures an Invitation to Apply in a later federal Express Entry draw.
Non-Express Entry Applicants may continue their permanent residence application outside Express Entry.
New Brunswick is a province facing the same demographic issues as many provinces in the Atlantic region. Such as an ageing population and a shortage of the labour force. Immigration has been an important factor in ensuring economic stability and in providing necessary services.
The healthcare sector is one of the most pressing areas that needs skilled specialists. The province ensures hospitals and care facilities remain operational by recruiting experienced staff.
Other areas that have benefited from targeted immigration include the trades and skilled technical positions outside healthcare.
The draw on February 11 is preceded by invitation rounds held this year. The province had, in the past few draws, made hundreds of invitations on several streams that included Express Entry-linked streams and strategic streams.
The regularity of draw timing indicates that New Brunswick is aggressively administering its immigration quotas and fully utilising its nomination capacity by 2026.
The province offers predictability and opportunity to skilled workers who may want to settle in Atlantic Canada by conducting its invitation rounds regularly.
In this round, the invited candidates must submit a complete provincial nomination application by the deadline. This involves the documents of the work experience, education, language skills and other qualifications that are necessary towards eligibility.
Upon the province's approval of the nomination, the applicants can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. If their application is approved, they will be granted permanent resident status.
The permanent residents are entitled to live and work anywhere in Canada, have access to public healthcare and may apply to be a Canadian citizen after a period, provided they are qualified.
The emission of 196 invitations shows New Brunswick's continued determination to attract skilled immigrants who can add to its economic and social growth.
To the experienced healthcare professionals and other high-demand employers, the province is still a good choice among Canadian immigration destinations. The targeted draws and various paths are beneficial because they offer real opportunities to people who want to settle in the long run.
With the development of 2026, new draws are planned, which will give qualified people more opportunities to be nominated and make the next step on the way to permanent residence in Canada.
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