New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream (Closed): What Replaced It

The Entrepreneurial stream was part of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). It let experienced business owners and managers move to New Brunswick, open or buy a business, and later be nominated for permanent residence once the business met the terms of an agreement with the province.

Like most provincial entrepreneur streams, it used a work permit first and nominated the entrepreneur only after the business was running. The basic idea continues in the new stream, but the rules are different.

No. The Government of New Brunswick's current business page says the Entrepreneurial stream has been replaced by the New Brunswick Business Immigration stream. The old stream's guide and forms are still posted, but only for existing clients. They are not valid for the new stream.

Some older articles describe the Entrepreneurial stream as paused, or list investment amounts and job-creation rules from earlier years. That information is out of date. As of September 2026, the province lists these as its current streams: Skilled Worker, Express Entry, Strategic Initiative and Business Immigration, plus two pilots. A former Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream for local graduates is also not on the current list.

If you are an existing Entrepreneurial stream client, your file continues under the rules and forms of that stream. In general:

• Use the Entrepreneurial stream forms and guide that Immigration New Brunswick (INB) still posts for existing clients, not the new stream's forms.
• Keep meeting the terms of your business agreement and reporting deadlines.
• Contact INB if your business plan, ownership or circumstances change.

Because business files can be complex, consider speaking with a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) if you are unsure how the change affects you. See how to verify a lawyer or consultant.

The Business Immigration stream is for entrepreneurs who want to start or buy a business in New Brunswick and manage it every day. The main rules as of September 2026:

You submit a free expression of interest (EOI), wait for an invitation, get a work permit, open the business, and ask for nomination after six months of operations. After you arrive, you must report your arrival within one month and your business opening within nine months. CLB means Canadian Language Benchmarks.

The Business Immigration stream is not part of INB's scheduled draws, so invitations depend on the province's priorities and the nomination spaces it has left in the year.

If you want to run a business in Atlantic Canada, compare these open routes:

• New Brunswick Business Immigration stream: the direct replacement.
• Nova Scotia Entrepreneur stream.
• Newfoundland and Labrador International Entrepreneur.
• Prince Edward Island Business Work Permit stream.

Federal business programs are harder to use right now. The Start-Up Visa closed at the end of 2025, and the Self-Employed Persons Program is paused. If you have a job offer instead, the New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream may be faster.

Business immigration rules change often. Before you pay anyone or move money:

• Check the official INB stream page and its important notices.
• Be careful with agents who quote old Entrepreneurial stream rules or promise a nomination.
• Remember that paying a consultant does not get you priority with INB.

Read immigration scam protection and the New Brunswick overview for the full picture.