New Brunswick AIP occupation restrictions now cover only four jobs. From October 14, 2026, Immigration New Brunswick (INB) accepts Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) endorsement applications for every eligible occupation except shippers and receivers, restaurant and food service managers, food service supervisors, and fish and seafood plant workers. Four retail occupations are back in, according to INB’s important notices page.
The AIP is a permanent residence program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with the four Atlantic provinces. A worker needs a job offer from a designated employer and an endorsement from the province. Our New Brunswick immigration page covers the province’s other routes.
What are the New Brunswick AIP occupation restrictions now?
From October 14, 2026, New Brunswick will not consider AIP endorsement applications for four National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes. Every other occupation can apply, as long as it is not in Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 5. INB says TEER 5 jobs are not eligible under the program.
The four excluded occupations are:
- NOC 14400: shippers and receivers
- NOC 60030: restaurant and food service managers
- NOC 62020: food service supervisors
- NOC 94142: fish and seafood plant workers
Which occupations came off the list on October 14?
Four retail occupations came off the list. The September 14, 2026 notice excluded eight NOC codes. The October 14 notice keeps four of them and drops the rest. If you work in one of these jobs for a designated New Brunswick employer, you can now be put forward for endorsement again.
- NOC 60020: retail and wholesale trade managers
- NOC 62010: retail sales supervisors
- NOC 62101: retail and wholesale buyers
- NOC 64100: retail salespersons and visual merchandisers
Occupation titles are from the NOC 2021 structure list published by Employment and Social Development Canada.
How have New Brunswick AIP occupation restrictions changed in 2026?
The New Brunswick AIP occupation restrictions have changed three times in 2026. In February, INB blocked a whole sector plus six occupations. In September it lifted the sector rule. In October it cut the occupation list to four. The dates below come from INB’s current notices and its archive of past notices.
- February 3, 2026: no endorsements for 10 food and accommodation occupations when the employer was in accommodation and food services (North American Industry Classification System code 72), and none in any sector for NOC 14400, 60020, 62010, 62101, 64100 and 94142.
- September 14, 2026: sector restriction removed. Eight codes stayed excluded: 14400, 60020, 60030, 62010, 62020, 62101, 64100 and 94142.
- October 14, 2026: only 14400, 60030, 62020 and 94142 remain excluded.
Can workers outside Canada benefit from this change?
Mostly no. INB says endorsement applications for jobs offered to people living outside Canada remain limited to recruitment led by the Government of New Brunswick in health care, education and construction. The October change mainly helps workers who are already in New Brunswick on a work permit with a designated employer.
There is a second limit. INB paused new employer designation applications from September 14, 2026, for the rest of 2026. So the job offer has to come from an employer that is already designated.
Does an eligible occupation guarantee an endorsement?
No. INB places endorsement applications in a pool and selects them from a limited allocation, not first come, first served. Its notice says meeting the requirements does not guarantee selection. INB gives priority to time worked in New Brunswick, ties to the province, and jobs in health care, education and construction.
Selection is small. INB’s rounds page shows 63 AIP applications selected in the rounds of September 25 and October 2, 2026. Our post on New Brunswick PNP draws from September 11 to October 2, 2026 breaks those rounds down, and our Newfoundland and Labrador draw report shows how thin AIP numbers are next door.
What should retail workers in New Brunswick do now?
Retail workers in New Brunswick should first confirm two things: that their employer is AIP designated, and that their job’s NOC code is one of the four reopened codes. Then the employer can file the endorsement application. Check your work permit expiry date too, since a pooled application can wait months.
Our Atlantic Immigration Program guide explains the job offer, language and education rules. You can read the notice itself on the Immigration New Brunswick important notices page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a retail salesperson get an AIP endorsement in New Brunswick?
Yes, from October 14, 2026, NOC 64100 is no longer excluded. Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers can be put forward again, if the employer is AIP designated and the job is not TEER 5. Selection is not guaranteed, because INB picks applications from a limited allocation based on its priorities.
Are restaurant managers eligible for the AIP in New Brunswick?
No, restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030) are still excluded. The October 14, 2026 notice keeps them on the list with food service supervisors, shippers and receivers, and fish and seafood plant workers. These four codes cannot be endorsed under the AIP in New Brunswick for now.
Can a new employer get AIP designation in New Brunswick in 2026?
No, INB paused new employer designation applications from September 14, 2026. Its notice says intake stays paused for the rest of 2026. I cannot confirm when it will reopen, because INB has not published a date. Workers need an offer from an employer that already holds designation.
If you are weighing the AIP against the New Brunswick PNP or Express Entry, Book Your Strategy Consultation. For federal program updates, see the IRCC website.
