The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream is an easy route for seasoned entrepreneurs to establish, operate, and actively oversee a business, to settle permanently in New Brunswick. This stream is designed to attract international entrepreneurs who wish to invest their capital in the province. When candidates receive a nomination under the NB BIS stream, they can subsequently apply for permanent residence through the federal government of Canada. In this article, we will dive into the details of this stream and talk about the eligibility criteria, selection process and scoring factors.
Table of Contents
- New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream Eligibility Criteria
- NB Business Immigration Stream Selection Factors
- NB PNP Business Immigration Stream Roadmap
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream
New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream Eligibility Criteria
Meeting the eligibility criteria is crucial for a successful application under the New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream. Aspiring entrepreneurs should thoroughly understand the requirements and prepare a strong application to enhance their chances of nomination and permanent residence in Canada. Here are the eligibility criteria in detail.
Requirements for Your Business
Your business must meet certain requirements as stated below.
- Provide economic benefit to the province;
- Be established as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation (partnerships require at least one partner to be a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen);
- Operate an existing business or establish a new one;
- Be a private-sector, for-profit entity primarily focused on earning profits through goods and/or services sales;
- Be deemed a “permanent establishment” under section 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985.
Priority processing may be given to applications with business plans showing the potential for significant economic benefit by:
- Increasing value-added manufacturing or processing for the province’s exports;
- Enhancing research and development;
- Developing new products and/or services;
- Introducing innovative approaches to traditional businesses;
- Developing and/or improving new technologies;
- Transferring technology and specialized knowledge to New Brunswick;
- Providing products and/or services to a local or regional market not served properly;
- Addressing immediate needs in specific regions or communities;
- Other factors, as determined by GNB.
Requirements for Investing in a Business
If you are investing in a business, you must abide by the following rules:
- Make an eligible investment of at least CAD 150,000 before tax, excluding items for personal use such as your primary residence and motor vehicles;
- Hold at least 33.3% equity in the business.
- Eligible equity investments must come from your net worth and can include:
- Business premises: Up to 25% of your total eligible investment or actual cost for building, land, and property improvements.
- Office equipment: Such as computers, desks, chairs, and communication devices.
- Equipment for production and manufacturing: Including machinery, tools, and installation costs.
- Initial inventory: Up to 50% of your total eligible investment or actual cost.
- Professional services: For marketing and business establishment, up to 4% of your total eligible investment or CAD 10,000, whichever is lower.
- Vehicles: Up to 5% of your total eligible investment or CAD 15,000, amortized based on business use.
Criteria for Purchasing a Business
If you are purchasing an existing New Brunswick business, you must show GNB that the business:
- Has been continuously operated by the same owner, who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, for the three years preceding the purchase;
- Can be taken over at a fair market value;
- Has shown a net profit for at least two of the previous three years, evidenced by audited financial statements and tax assessments from the Canada Revenue Agency;
- Will maintain existing staff under similar terms;
- Has not undergone receivership or bankruptcy within the three years prior to the purchase date;
- Goodwill should not exceed 10% of the net book value when purchasing a profitable business.
Other Requirements for the Business
The business must meet other requirements as well in NB to be eligible. It must generate at minimum one full-time job for a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in the province. That person cannot be you, your spouse, dependents, or other family members.
Business operations in New Brunswick must:
- Ensure the business pays income tax on provincial earnings.
- Adhere to provincial legislation including the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Follow all Canadian laws in business establishment and maintenance.
- Obtain necessary licenses/permits from municipal, provincial, and federal authorities.
Criteria for the Owners
As the owners of the business, you are required to abide by the following criteria. One of them is active involvement in business management. It is mandatory, requiring:
- Taking risks and guiding the business direction.
- Providing ongoing management from within New Brunswick.
- A regular presence at the business premises.
Upon receiving an ITA, engage a designated accounting service provider to conduct a Net Worth Verification Report, evaluating your net worth and funds accumulation, including
- Total verifiable personal net worth.
- Details on fund accumulation.
- Identification of any concerns needing further investigation.
During business establishment:
- You must reside in New Brunswick for 75% of your Business Establishment Period (BEP).
- You must live within 100 kilometres of your business location.
Before obtaining a nomination certificate, GNB will conduct a site visit and interview at your business premises to ensure adherence to the terms of the signed Business Performance Agreement (BPA).
Exploratory visits to New Brunswick are encouraged for those planning to live and operate a business there, lasting a minimum of five full business days, with longer stays recommended, excluding travel days, holidays, and weekends from the five-day requirement.
You must demonstrate a genuine intent to reside in New Brunswick.
Eligible Seasonal Businesses
There are several businesses eligible for the stream. Since they are seasonal in nature, GNB has categorized them in the following way:
- Agriculture: Businesses must operate a minimum of 9 out of 12 months in a year, with a minimum farm size of 100 hectares. Agricultural business plans are reviewed by an authority committee before issuing an ITA.
- Tourism: Businesses must operate a minimum of 9 out of 12 months, or 6 out of 12 months if eligible equity investment exceeds CAD 1 million. Tourism business plans are evaluated by an authority committee before issuing an ITA.
There are some key sectors (which may change by the Government of NB) such as manufacturing, ICT, cybersecurity, value-added wood, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, digital health, food and beverage, contact/call centers, energy innovation, and aerospace and defence.
There are some ineligible businesses such as adult services related to pornographic materials, sexually explicit products, or services; bed and breakfast accommodations; and coin-operated businesses. This list again is not exhaustive and may change from time to time.
New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream Selection Factors
The New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream invites global entrepreneurs and senior managers to establish businesses in New Brunswick permanently, assessing applicants on various criteria as stated below. A minimum score of 65 out of 100 points is required for a nomination.
1. Age
Use this table to calculate your score. You must be between the ages of 21 to 59 to qualify for this stream.
| Age | Points |
| 21-29 | 5 |
| 30-49 | 10 |
| 50-59 | 5 |
2. Language
You can get at most 25 points from language scores. At least, you must have CLB 5 for English and NCLC 5 for French to be qualified for this stream. Here is the detailed table on the same.
| First official language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | Max points |
| CLB 7+ | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
| CLB 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| CLB 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Second official language | |||||
| CLB 5+ in all four language abilities | 5 | ||||
3. Education
Education, with a maximum of 20 points, requires at least a Canadian secondary (high school) diploma or an equivalent foreign credential on par with a Canadian diploma. Check the other details below.
| Education – Canadian, or equivalent | Points |
| Post-Graduate Master’s degree or Ph.D.: Granted by a college or university’s graduate school after finishing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. | 20 |
| Post-Secondary Academic degree: Granted by a college or university upon completion of an undergraduate program requiring a minimum of three years of full-time study. | 16 |
| Post-Secondary diploma: Granted in a specific trade after at least two years of full-time study following high school. | 13 |
| High School diploma: Granted by a secondary school. | 10 |
4. Business Ownership / Work Experience
You can earn at most 15 points if you meet the following work experience or own requirements
| Details | Years of experience | Points |
| Business ownership a) You’ve owned at least 51% of the business for three out of the last five years; and b) You’ve supervised at least two employees. | 10 years in the last 10 years | 15 |
| 6-9 years in the last 10 years | 12 | |
| 3 years in the last 5 years | 8 | |
| Senior management experience a) You manage an organization, department, or essential function; b) You’ve been a senior manager for three out of the last five years; c) You supervise at least two employees; d) You have authority over hiring, termination, and other personnel actions; e) You’re actively involved in day-to-day operations as a primary decision-maker; f) You’ve been involved in a for-profit company not owned or operated by the government or voluntary sector. | 10 years in the last 10 years | 9 |
| 6-9 years in the last 10 years | 7 | |
| 3 years in the last 5 years | 5 | |
| Shareholder- Ownership of shares in businesses but lacking active managerial involvement. | Any | 0 |
5. Business Plan
The economic benefit to New Brunswick might get you a maximum of 5 points in the following manner.
| Details | Points |
| Candidate visited NB for at least 5 business days within the year before applying and provided a trip report with the EOI | 5 |
| The candidate must have at least 5 years of business ownership experience in the same industry and sector, which they will transfer to the province’s industry and sector. | 4 |
| Businesses located outside of the greater Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton regions (more than 20 km from the city center) | 5 |
| Eligible investment exceeds CAD 500,000 Or investment between CAD 150,000 and CAD 499,999 | 3 or 2 |
| Candidate included relevant statutes, regulations, by-laws, and accreditation requirements related to their business plan | 3 |
| Candidate included detailed market research related to the business plan | 5 |
6. Adaptability
This might get you a maximum of 5 points if your spouse or common-law partner satisfies one of these conditions.
| Details | Points |
| Completion of a minimum of one academic year of full-time study (in a program lasting at least two years) at a recognized post-secondary institution in New Brunswick | 5 |
| Has a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in NB with a valid work permit or authorization to work in Canada. | 5 |
| Meets the minimum CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all language abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) | 5 |
New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream Roadmap
The New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream offers a clear and structured pathway for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in the province. This roadmap outlines the essential steps to navigate the process successfully. Here is the roadmap in detail.
Step 1. Get used to living and working in New Brunswick.
Step 2. Gather all necessary documents.
Step 3. Create a profile in the New Brunswick INB system and submit an Expression of Interest.
Step 4. Await an Invitation to Apply from the Government of New Brunswick.
Step 5. Upon receiving an ITA, apply for the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream.
Step 6. Wait for the decision by the provincial government on the same.
Step 7. If accepted, apply to IRCC for a work permit.
Step 8. When you arrive, relocate to the province to establish and operate your business.
Step 9. After a year of operating your business, you can apply to the Government of New Brunswick for provincial nomination.
Step 10. Wait for the decision by the provincial government on the same.
Step 11. If nominated, apply to IRCC for Canadian permanent residence.
Step 12. Receive a decision from IRCC regarding the same.
To summarize, the Business Immigration Stream of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program provides a straightforward route for entrepreneurs to establish themselves in the province. With well-defined eligibility criteria and a clear pathway to permanent residency in Canada, applicants can secure their future by investing in the local economy and demonstrating their commitment to New Brunswick.
This program is a win-win for both the applicants and the province, as it promotes economic growth and opens up new opportunities for all parties involved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream
1. What are the eligibility criteria for the New Brunswick PNP Business Immigration Stream?
A. To qualify, your business must provide economic benefit to the province, operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, and meet specific criteria regarding investment, equity ownership, and business operations.
2. How can I prioritize my application for the NB Business Immigration stream?
A. Priority processing may be given to applications demonstrating significant economic benefit through various factors such as value-added manufacturing, research and development, innovation, technology transfer, and addressing specific regional needs.
3. What are the investment requirements for establishing or purchasing a business in New Brunswick?
A. Applicants must make an eligible investment of at least CAD 150,000 before tax and hold at least 33.3% equity in the business. Eligible investments include business premises, office equipment, production equipment, inventory, professional services, and vehicles.
4. What factors are considered when purchasing an existing business in New Brunswick?
A. Applicants must ensure that the business has been continuously operated, can be taken over at a fair market value, has shown a net profit for at least two of the previous three years, and meets other specific criteria regarding staff retention and financial stability.
5. How many jobs must the business create to meet the requirements of the Business Immigration Stream?
A. The business must generate at least one full-time job for a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in New Brunswick, excluding the applicant, their spouse, dependents, or other family members.
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