NB AIP Lifts Food Services Sector Ban

What Changed on September 14, 2026

Immigration New Brunswick removed the sector-wide restriction under the Atlantic Immigration Program for candidates working in accommodation and food services, identified by the North American Industry Classification System code NAICS 72. Before September 14, 2026, the province did not accept AIP endorsement applications from candidates in that sector, regardless of the specific occupation or the candidate's qualifications. The notice states that occupations within NAICS 72 that do not appear on the province's NOC restriction list are now eligible for AIP endorsement application.

The practical implication: a foreign national working as a hotel front desk associate, a line cook in a restaurant, or a banquet server in a conference center can now pursue endorsement under the AIP, provided the occupation code does not match one of the eight NOCs the province continues to restrict. The province did not state why it removed the sector ban or how long the new eligibility window will remain open. Provincial Nominee Programs adjust restrictions based on labor market conditions, and New Brunswick may reinstate the sector exclusion or add new NOC restrictions without advance notice.

The Eight NOCs That Remain Ineligible

Immigration New Brunswick published a list of eight National Occupational Classification codes that remain restricted under the AIP, even after the sector ban was lifted. The province will not accept endorsement applications for job offers in these occupations:

• NOC 14400 – Shippers and receivers
• NOC 60020 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
• NOC 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers
• NOC 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
• NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors
• NOC 64100 – Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers
• NOC 62101 – Retail and wholesale buyers
• NOC 94142 – Fish and seafood plant workers

These restrictions cut across multiple sectors. NOC 60030 (restaurant and food service managers) and NOC 62020 (food service supervisors) fall within the accommodation and food services sector the province just reopened, which means the sector ban is lifted but management and supervisory roles in food services remain ineligible. The notice does not explain why the province continues to restrict these eight codes. Candidates holding job offers classified under any of these NOCs cannot apply for AIP endorsement in New Brunswick, regardless of where they currently reside or how long they have worked in the province.

Offshore Recruitment Remains Limited to Three Sectors

The September 14, 2026 notice includes a separate restriction that applies only to candidates residing outside Canada. Immigration New Brunswick states that endorsement applications for positions offered to foreign nationals residing outside Canada are limited to recruitment initiatives led by the Government of New Brunswick in three sectors: health care, education, and construction. The notice does not define "recruitment initiatives led by the Government of New Brunswick," and the province has not published a list of approved offshore recruitment campaigns or employer partners participating in those initiatives.

The practical consequence: if you are a foreign national residing outside Canada and you receive a job offer from a New Brunswick employer in the accommodation and food services sector (or any other sector outside health care, education, and construction), the province will not accept your AIP endorsement application, even if the occupation is not on the restricted NOC list. The offshore recruitment restriction does not apply to candidates already in Canada. A foreign national in New Brunswick on a work permit or a study permit, or holding temporary resident status in another province, can apply for endorsement in an eligible occupation without needing to participate in a government-led recruitment initiative.

What the Notice Does Not Specify

The September 14, 2026 update left several questions unanswered. The province did not state:

• Whether applications submitted before September 14, 2026 under the old sector restriction will be reconsidered or returned
• How long the newly opened eligibility for accommodation and food services will remain in effect
• What defines a "recruitment initiative led by the Government of New Brunswick" for offshore candidates, or how employers and candidates can identify approved initiatives
• Whether the province has set a cap on the number of endorsement applications it will accept from the accommodation and food services sector
• Whether additional NOC codes may be added to the restriction list in future updates

Candidates and employers planning to submit endorsement applications should monitor the Government of New Brunswick immigration notices page for further updates. The province has modified AIP eligibility criteria multiple times in the past two years, and the current policy may change again without a transition period for pending applications.

How the Restriction Change Affects Different Applicant Profiles

The practical impact of the September 14 change varies significantly depending on where the candidate currently resides and which occupation the job offer covers. The table below outlines four common profiles and the eligibility outcome under the new policy:

What This Means for Employers in the Hospitality Sector

New Brunswick employers in the accommodation and food services sector who have been unable to support AIP applications for their foreign workers can now designate eligible candidates, provided the position does not fall under one of the eight restricted NOC codes and the candidate is in Canada. The Atlantic Immigration Program requires the employer to be designated by the province before submitting an endorsement application on behalf of a candidate. Employers who have not yet completed the designation process should verify that their business is eligible and that the position they intend to offer meets the program's wage, skill level, and permanence requirements.

Employers recruiting from outside Canada face a narrower path. The province states that offshore recruitment is limited to government-led initiatives in health care, education, and construction. Employers in other sectors, including accommodation and food services, cannot sponsor candidates residing outside Canada under the current policy, even if the occupation is not on the restricted NOC list. The notice does not provide contact information or application instructions for employers who wish to participate in government-led offshore recruitment. Employers seeking clarity on what constitutes an approved initiative should contact Immigration New Brunswick directly before extending job offers to candidates outside Canada.

Next Steps for Candidates Who May Now Be Eligible

If you are a foreign national working in New Brunswick in the accommodation and food services sector, or if you hold a job offer in that sector, follow these steps to determine whether you can now apply for AIP endorsement:

1. 1

   Confirm your current location

   The offshore recruitment restriction applies only to candidates residing outside Canada. If you are in New Brunswick or elsewhere in Canada on valid temporary resident status, you are not subject to the offshore limitation.

2. 2

   Identify the NOC code for your job offer

   Review the National Occupational Classification 2021 profiles and match your main duties to the correct NOC code. Do not rely solely on the job title your employer uses.

3. 3

   Check the NOC code against the restriction list

   Cross-reference your NOC code with the eight codes Immigration New Brunswick published in the September 14, 2026 notice. If your code appears on that list, you are not eligible for AIP endorsement in New Brunswick.

4. 4

   Confirm your employer is designated

   The Atlantic Immigration Program requires the employer to be designated by the province before you can apply for endorsement. Ask your employer whether they have completed the designation process.

5. 5

   Prepare the endorsement application

   If your occupation is eligible, your employer is designated, and you meet all other AIP criteria, you can proceed with the endorsement application. The province has not published a cap on the number of applications it will accept from the newly opened sector.

6. 6

   Monitor for further updates

   New Brunswick may modify the NOC restriction list or reinstate the sector ban without advance notice. Check the Government of New Brunswick immigration notices page regularly for changes.

If you are uncertain whether your occupation qualifies under the new policy, or if your previous endorsement application was refused under the old sector restriction, book a consultation to review your eligibility and discuss next steps. The province has not clarified how it will treat applications submitted shortly before or after the September 14 effective date, and individual circumstances may require additional documentation or employer coordination.