New Brunswick Halts AIP Endorsements for Key Occupations in 2025 Amid Immigration Allocation Cuts

New Brunswick Ceases Endorsements for Some Occupations for the AIP

In a significant move, New Brunswick has halted endorsements for several occupations under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) effective February 2025. This change impacts foreign workers and employers relying on AIP for Canadian permanent residency.

Key Changes to the Program

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has stopped endorsing AIP applications for specific jobs. This affects roles like cooks, bakers, and administrative assistants, which are no longer eligible for AIP endorsement.

Affected Occupations

• Accounting Technicians and Bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
• Administrative Assistants (NOC 13110)
• Shippers and Receivers (NOC 14400)
• Restaurant and Food Service Managers (NOC 60030)
• Food Service Supervisors (NOC 62020)
• Cooks (NOC 63200)
• Bakers (NOC 63202)
• Bartenders (NOC 64301)
• Other Customer Representatives (NOC 64409)
• Process Control and Machine Operators – Food and Beverage (NOC 94140)
• Fish and Seafood Plant Workers (NOC 94142)

Grandfather Clause

Applications for occupations like retail sales supervisors (NOC 62010) or hotel front desk clerks (NOC 64314) submitted before February 18, 2025, will still be processed. New applications for these roles are no longer eligible.

Reasons Behind the Changes

The primary reason is Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which reduced provincial nominee allocations by 50%. New Brunswick’s quota dropped to 2,750 spots, split between NBPNP (1,500) and AIP (1,250).

Prioritizing Critical Sectors

The province is now focusing on healthcare, education, and construction due to urgent talent shortages. Sectors like food and beverage, along with many service and processing jobs, are no longer eligible for AIP endorsements.

Immediate Impacts

For Employers

Businesses in affected sectors can no longer use AIP to sponsor foreign workers. They must explore alternative immigration streams, such as NBPNP or federal pathways like Express Entry.

For Foreign Workers

Foreign workers in excluded occupations must seek other immigration options, including federal Express Entry streams, NBPNP Express Entry, or the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot.

Additional Context

Only applications for restricted occupations submitted before February 18, 2025, are being processed. Despite a later federal decision increasing New Brunswick’s allocation by 1,500 spaces, priority remains with health, education, and construction trades.

This policy shift reflects New Brunswick’s strategy to address labor shortages in essential sectors while adapting to reduced federal quotas.

Immediate Impacts on Employers and Foreign Workers

For Employers

Employers in the affected sectors face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining foreign workers through the AIP. The endorsement freeze means businesses can no longer sponsor foreign workers in excluded occupations, forcing them to explore alternative immigration pathways. These include:

• New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
• Federal Express Entry streams

For Foreign Workers

Foreign workers in the excluded occupations must now seek alternative immigration options to pursue Canadian permanent residency. Available pathways include:

• Federal Express Entry streams (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades)
• NBPNP Express Entry stream
• New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (limited to certain employers)

Additional Context and Application Deadlines

Only applications for restricted occupations submitted before February 18, 2025, are being processed. This deadline marks a critical cutoff point for eligibility under the previous AIP framework.

Overall Immigration Picture

While a subsequent federal decision increased New Brunswick’s immigration allocations by 1,500 spaces, the focus remains on healthcare, education, and construction trades. Other industries, including food service and retail, have limited or no access to provincial economic immigration streams under the current framework.

This policy adjustment reflects a strategic shift in New Brunswick’s immigration strategy for 2025–2027, aiming to address labor shortages in essential sectors while adapting to reduced federal quota allocations.

Conclusion

New Brunswick’s decision to cease endorsements for certain occupations under the AIP marks a strategic shift in addressing labor shortages in critical sectors like healthcare, education, and construction. This change, effective February 2025, impacts various roles, prompting employers and foreign workers to explore alternative immigration pathways. The grandfather clause ensures applications submitted before February 18, 2025, are still processed, providing some relief. This policy reflects NB’s adaptation to federal quota reductions and focuses on aligning immigration with provincial labor needs.

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