New Brunswick has moved 203 Atlantic Immigration Program candidates forward in three October selection rounds, giving approved workers a path toward permanent residence and, in many cases, access to a temporary employer-specific work permit. The update also confirms which occupations remain accepted under the province’s AIP system and which ones are currently excluded.
New Brunswick advances 203 workers under the Atlantic Immigration Program
New Brunswick has selected 203 workers for processing under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), an important regional pathway that helps employers in Atlantic Canada hire and retain foreign talent. The province made these selections through three draws held on October 2, October 9, and October 29.
These draws do not work in the same way as many other Canadian immigration programmes. Instead of sending invitations to create a new application, New Brunswick uses its AIP rounds to decide which already-submitted endorsement applications will move ahead for assessment. For workers and employers, that means the province is choosing which files will proceed to the next stage.
If a worker receives provincial endorsement, that person may then apply to IRCC for permanent residence in Canada. In some cases, endorsement can also support a temporary work permit so the worker can continue or begin working in New Brunswick while the permanent residence file is being processed.
This is especially relevant for people already living and working in the province. Many applicants use regional immigration streams like AIP alongside broader Canadian immigration pathways when planning their long-term future in Canada. For those comparing options, New Brunswick’s AIP can be a practical route where there is a genuine job offer from a designated employer.
Occupational groups chosen in the latest rounds
The province said the October selections covered workers in a range of sectors facing labour needs. The chosen applications came from the following occupational groups:
- Construction
- Education, social and community services
- Health care
- Manufacturing
- Other trades
- Professional and IT
- Sales and services
- Transportation
These categories show that New Brunswick continues to use the AIP as a targeted economic immigration tool. Rather than opening the programme equally to every occupation, the province is focusing on jobs tied to current labour shortages and regional priorities.
What endorsement means for permanent residence and work permits
The next step after provincial selection
Being selected for processing is not the same as becoming a permanent resident right away. First, the endorsement application must be approved by the province. If that happens, the worker receives an endorsement certificate. That certificate is a key document used to submit a federal permanent residence application to IRCC.
In simple terms, the process usually works like this:
- A worker gets a job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick.
- An endorsement application is submitted under the AIP.
- The province selects the file for processing and reviews it.
- If approved, the worker receives endorsement.
- The worker can then apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
This makes the AIP different from systems such as Express Entry, where candidates first enter a pool and may later receive an invitation to apply. In contrast, the AIP is employer-driven and depends heavily on a real job offer and provincial endorsement.
Access to a temporary AIP work permit
Provincial endorsement may also help a worker qualify for a two-year employer-specific work permit. This permit is issued by IRCC and allows the person to work for the employer connected to the AIP application while waiting for a permanent residence decision.
For many families, this is one of the most useful features of the programme. It can create stability, allow continued income, and reduce the pressure of leaving Canada while a permanent residence application is still in progress. If you want to better understand temporary status and Canadian work permit options, it is wise to review the rules carefully before filing.
Maintained status matters
The province also highlighted an important point for workers whose current permit is about to expire. If they apply for the AIP-related work permit before their existing status ends, they may continue working under maintained status, as long as they stay in Canada and keep following the conditions of their previous permit until IRCC makes a decision.
That detail can make a major difference for applicants already employed in New Brunswick. Missing a deadline or misunderstanding status rules can create serious complications, so many people choose to assess their immigration options with professional guidance before submitting documents.
New Brunswick’s 2026 AIP activity so far
With these three October draws completed, New Brunswick has now selected 898 AIP candidates for processing across nine announced rounds in 2026. That gives a clearer picture of how active the province has been this year.
| Date of draw(s) | Applications selected for processing |
|---|---|
| October 2, October 9, and October 29 | 203 |
| September 25 and October 2 | 63 |
| September 10 | 60 |
| August 10 and August 20 | 68 |
| July 22 | 114 |
| June 3 | 97 |
| May 1 | 50 |
| April 1 | 118 |
| March 3 to 6 | 125 |
The latest three-draw total of 203 is one of the larger combined outcomes seen this year. It suggests the province is still actively using the AIP to respond to employer demand, particularly in sectors where hiring remains difficult.
For people exploring regional immigration, this is a reminder that Atlantic Canada continues to offer meaningful opportunities outside the largest provinces. New Brunswick may be a strong fit for workers who have experience in in-demand occupations and who are open to settling in a smaller labour market. Those comparing regional and federal systems may also want to explore Canadian immigration options beyond AIP, including provincial nominee streams and economic pathways linked to work experience, education, and language ability.
Which AIP applications New Brunswick is accepting now
Occupations currently excluded
In an update issued on October 14, New Brunswick confirmed that AIP endorsement applications can be submitted for eligible occupations in general, but with some clear exceptions. At this time, the province is not accepting endorsement applications in these occupations:
- Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
- Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
- Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
- Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)
This kind of restriction is common in provincial and regional immigration systems. Provinces regularly adjust intake based on labour market demand, application volume, and settlement priorities. A job that was eligible a few months ago may later be paused, capped, or excluded.
Limits for applicants outside Canada
New Brunswick also repeated that applications based on job offers to foreign nationals living outside Canada remain limited to government-led recruitment initiatives in health care, education, and construction. That means overseas candidates generally need to fit within those organised recruitment efforts rather than applying freely across all sectors.
For applicants abroad, this is an important distinction. Not every job offer automatically leads to an AIP opportunity, even if the employer is interested. The employer must be designated, the occupation must be accepted, and the province must be willing to process that type of application at the time of submission.
Practical planning for applicants
Anyone considering New Brunswick under the AIP should review several factors early: job offer validity, employer designation, occupation eligibility, language test results such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF where required, and educational documents, including an ECA when applicable. These details can affect not only AIP eligibility but also a person’s broader immigration strategy.
Some workers may qualify under more than one route, including the New Brunswick provincial nominee programme or federal economic streams. Others may wish to compare regional pathways with systems like Express Entry draws, especially if they have strong language scores, skilled work experience, and competitive profiles. If you are unsure which route makes the most sense, a professional immigration evaluation can help you choose a realistic plan.
Immigration rules, occupation lists, and programme requirements can change quickly, so readers should always confirm the latest details with IRCC or the province, or speak with a licensed immigration professional before making decisions. EverNorth Immigration is here to help with experienced, compassionate support at every stage of your journey to a new life in Canada—if you are ready, you can book your free immigration assessment today.
