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Canadian entrepreneur immigration
New Brunswick NB Business Immigration
Start or buy a business in New Brunswick and run it yourself, then apply for Canadian permanent residence once nominated by the province.
Reviewed by Oscar Yip · Updated October 2026
Programme overview
The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream replaced the province’s former entrepreneur stream and uses an expression-of-interest and invitation system. You start or buy a business in New Brunswick and take part in its day-to-day management; once you meet the requirements you can be nominated by the province and apply for permanent residence.
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InvestmentCAD 150,000
Net worthCAD 500,000 (agriculture CAD 300,000)
LanguageCLB 4 or above
FamilySpouse and dependent children
Summary
The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream requires a personal net worth of at least CAD 500,000 (CAD 300,000 for agriculture). Your business plan must include a qualifying investment of at least CAD 150,000 and create at least one full-time job. You need two years of relevant experience, CLB 4 language ability and at least secondary-school education.
Key benefits of NB Business Immigration
- Nomination after 6 monthsOperate the business for at least 6 consecutive months under your agreement, complete the investment, then request nomination.
- Clear thresholdsPersonal net worth of CAD 500,000 (CAD 300,000 for agriculture) and an eligible investment from CAD 150,000.
- Open to ages 19 to 59The age limit goes up to 59, so older business owners can apply.
- Basic language and educationCLB 4 language ability and a high-school diploma or equivalent are enough.
- Start a business or buy oneStart a new business or, subject to conditions, buy an existing local one; a one-third stake is enough.
- Bring your familyYour spouse and dependent children under 22 are included; the province charges no extra fee per family member.
- Children can go to schoolWhile a parent holds a work permit, children can attend primary and secondary school without a study permit.
- Canada's only officially bilingual provinceEnglish and French are both official languages, so children grow up in a bilingual setting.
- A faster route to citizenshipDays in Canada on a work permit count as half days towards the 1,095 needed for citizenship, up to 365.
Why Global Immigrate for NB Business Immigration
- families approved
- 12+
- approval rate
- 96%
- offering this programme since
- 2019
Canada team support
Our Canada team helps with site visits, opening the business and compliance while you operate it, with regular performance check-ins.
Business plan and performance agreement
We prepare your business plan against the official scoring criteria and make sure your performance targets are realistic.
Planning beyond immigration
GI Group’s teams can handle pre-immigration tax, asset allocation, your children’s education and overseas property at the same time, so the arrangements never conflict.
Requirements
Applicants generally need to meet the following:
- Aged 19 to 59
- Personal net worth of at least CAD 500,000 (CAD 300,000 for agriculture)
- A qualifying investment of at least CAD 150,000, creating at least one full-time job
- At least two years in the past five as an owner of 51% or more of a business, or as a senior manager
- Language at CLB 4 or above
- At least secondary-school education
- A selection score of at least 65 out of 100
Investment rules
Investment requirements in detail
The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream requires a personal net worth of at least CAD 500,000 (CAD 300,000 for agriculture), a business plan with at least CAD 150,000 (pre-tax) of eligible investment, and ownership of at least 33.3% of the business. The investment, job and operating conditions go into a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) and must be met within the 24-month Business Establishment Period after arrival.
Business premises (land / building)
Counts up to25% of total eligible investment or actual cost, whichever is lower
Notes
Buying existing property as a property investment does not count
Leasehold improvements
Counts up to25%
Notes
—
Production and manufacturing equipment
Counts up to100%
Notes
Office equipment also counts
Initial inventory
Counts up to50%
Notes
Must be bought before opening day
First six months' operating costs
Counts up toIn full
Notes
Rent, utilities and staff wages
Professional services
Counts up to4% or CAD 10,000, whichever is lower
Notes
Must be provided by North American firms
Vehicle
Counts up to5% or CAD 15,000, whichever is lower
Notes
Amortised for business use, with a log like that kept for tax purposes
Net worth
- Net worth is total assets minus total liabilities, and may include your spouse's or common-law partner's assets
- Assets include current and fixed deposits, pensions, listed shares, bonds, mutual funds, property and business investments; mortgages, personal debts and other encumbrances are deducted
- Funds must be lawfully obtained and fully disclosed; gifts or inheritances received less than six months before the application are not counted
- Within 90 days of the invitation, a designated verifier must issue a net worth report, valid for 12 months. The guide lists Doane Grant Thornton, MDD Forensic Accountants and MNP, but the province has announced MDD no longer takes new clients, so use Doane Grant Thornton or MNP; if a designated verifier helps with your business plan, the application will be refused
What does not count, and limits
- Purchases for personal use, such as your principal residence and motor vehicles, do not count towards the investment
- Property investment, landlord and rental management businesses are ineligible
- Also ineligible: consultancy, e-commerce or online businesses, brokerage, home-based businesses, B&Bs, coin-operated businesses, financial services, co-operatives, not-for-profits, passive investment schemes and businesses run remotely from outside New Brunswick
- Tourism businesses must operate at least 9 months a year (6 months if the eligible equity investment exceeds CAD 1,000,000), and agricultural businesses at least 9 months a year
Buying an existing business
- The business must have had the same owner for the three years before purchase, and that owner must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- It must be bought at proven fair market value and have made a net profit in at least two of the last three years (audited statements and CRA assessments)
- Existing staff must be kept on similar terms, and the business must not have been in receivership or bankruptcy in the last three years
- Goodwill may not exceed 10% of net book value for a profitable business
Jobs, operation and timing
- Create at least one full-time job (at least 30 hours a week) for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in New Brunswick; it cannot be filled by you or your spouse or common-law partner
- Return the signed BPA within 60 days of the work permit support letter; file an arrival report within one month of arriving and open the business within nine months
- The Business Establishment Period is 24 months from arrival; live in New Brunswick at least 75% of that time, within 100 km of the business (farmers on the farm or within 10 km)
- You can request nomination after at least six consecutive months of operation once the conditions and approved investment amount are met; the guide also says the BPA requires one year of operation on its terms, so confirm the timing with the province
Based on the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream guide (March 2025) and the provincial website as of November 2026; details may change, so check the latest official information.
Our three guarantees
Full service-fee refund if refused
Guaranteed in your service agreement: if your application is refused, we refund the service fees you have paid in full — or you can switch to another suitable programme at no extra charge.
No extra charge for further documents or resubmission
If the authorities request further documents, or an application must be resubmitted, we handle it at no additional service fee.
Handled by professionals, fee fixed at signing
Every application is prepared and reviewed by our professional immigration team. Your service fee is fixed when you sign, with no additional charges afterwards.
Service fees exclude investment amounts, government fees and third-party costs. Refusals caused by false or incomplete information, or by the applicant not cooperating as required, are not eligible for a refund. Full terms are set out in the service agreement.
Free NB Business Immigration brochure
Covers the requirements, process and timeline, a fee overview and FAQs. Leave your details and we’ll send it to you.
Thank you — the brochure is on its way to your inbox
If you can’t see it, please check your spam folder. A consultant may also contact you to answer any questions about the programme.
Application process
- Assessment and business plan1–3 monthsWe assess your eligibility and prepare your business plan.
- Expression of interest and invitationBy invitationSubmit an expression of interest and, once invited, a full application.
- Work permit and running the businessDepends on the businessStart or buy a business in New Brunswick on a work permit.
- Nomination and permanent residenceDepends on progressOnce you meet the requirements you are nominated by the province and apply for permanent residence.
Pathway to PR and citizenship
- Work permitAfter the invitation and signing the performance agreement
Move to Canada on a work permit to start or buy the business; an eligible spouse can get an open work permit (since 21 January 2025 you must work in a TEER 0/1 or selected TEER 2/3 job with at least 16 months left on your permit, and dependent children no longer qualify for one), and children can study locally.
While on this statusWhile on the work permit you must actively manage the business, live within 100 km of it, and be in New Brunswick for at least 75% of the establishment period
- Permanent residenceFederal PR after provincial nomination
After about 6 months of operation under the performance agreement, you are nominated and apply for federal PR; your family receives Canadian permanent residence.
Keeping permanent statusAt least 730 days (2 years) physically in Canada in any 5-year period; the days need not be continuous
- Canadian citizenshipAbout 3 years after PR
Apply to become a Canadian citizen and get a Canadian passport; ages 18–54 must show English or French and pass the citizenship test. Canada allows dual citizenship.
Residence for citizenshipAt least 1,095 days (3 years) physically in Canada in the 5 years before applying, filing taxes for 3 of those years
General information only; requirements follow each country’s latest rules and can vary with your circumstances.
NB Business Immigration client stories
Client storyRunning a business in New Brunswick, then provincial nomination and Canadian PR
Ms Suen’s NB Business Immigration experience. She wanted the family to settle somewhere with a slower pace of life.
Read the full storyClient storyRewriting the business plan for New Brunswick’s new rules, then invitation and a work permitMr Yip’s NB Business Immigration experience. He wanted to move his family to Canada through New Brunswick’s business stream.
Read the full storyClient storyPreparing early for the job-creation requirement, then provincial nominationMr Ma’s NB Business Immigration experience. He wanted to move to Canada with a relatively low investment threshold.
Read the full storyCompared with other options: Canada
See the Canada overview| Programme | Investment | Status | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration | From CAD 200,000 (Regional CAD 100,000) | Permanent resident | About 4 years from registration to PR | Running a business in British Columbia, including around Vancouver |
| Alberta AAIP Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | CAD 100,000 (CAD 50,000 outside Calgary/Edmonton) | Permanent resident | Nomination after at least 12 months of operation | Graduates with a degree from outside Canada launching an innovative business |
| New Brunswick NB Business ImmigrationThis programme | CAD 150,000 | Permanent resident | Depends on invitation and business progress | A lower cost of living and a slower pace of life |
| Canada Federal Start-up Visa (SUV) | No investment requirement | Permanent resident | Paused for new applications | Clients who have already filed and need support with work permits and requests for information |
NB Business Immigration FAQ
Can I still apply under the former entrepreneur stream?
No. It has been replaced by the Business Immigration Stream, and the new stream’s requirements apply.
Do I have to run the business myself?
Yes. You must live in New Brunswick and take part in the business’s day-to-day management.
Can my whole family move with me?
Yes. Your spouse and dependent children can be included in the application.
Sources
GI GroupAfter your new status: tax, succession, education and overseas property
Explore group services
Your tax residency, asset structure and succession arrangements matter most before you move. GI Group can handle tax planning, asset management and wealth succession, your children’s education overseas, and buying a home or investment property in your new country.
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