Situated on the eastern coast of Canada, Nova Scotia is one of the most sought after provinces of Canada, known for its quality of life, breathtaking landscapes, and abundant career opportunities. From modern cities to beautiful long coast, Nova Scotia offers an ideal environment to skilled professionals, international students, and young entrepreneurs who seek permanent residency in Canada. 

Over the years, Canada and its respective provinces have been facing shortage of skilled professionals, and to address labour shortage needs, the provinces introduced their respective provincial nomination programs. Similarly, Nova Scotia has been facing shortage of skilled and competent professionals across various industries, and to curb the issue, the province also introduced its provincial nomination program known as Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). This immigration program allows the province to nominate skilled workers, international students and entrepreneurs who possess skills, education, work experience required to contribute to the province’s economic needs. With this PNP program, prospective immigrants can immigrate to the province and become permanent residents of Canada. 

What is the Nova Scotia PNP Program?

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is a dedicated pathway for prospective immigrants seeking better career opportunities and permanent residency in Canada. Through this program eligible professionals with required skills, education and work experience can settle in the province and contribute to the accelerating economy while enjoying the benefits of living in Canada as citizens. 

Why Immigrate to Nova Scotia?

Nova Scotia, the province with abundant job opportunities, world class schools and universities, modern medical facilities provide numerous reasons why over the years it has become a preferred destination among other provinces of Canada. The reasons are: 

1.   Economic Opportunities

Nova Scotia, one of Canada's fastest growing provinces, provides numerous economic and business opportunities to professionals seeking higher paying job opportunities. With its ever expanding economy, strong labour market and growing demand of professionals across various industries, Nova Scotia attracts professionals all across the world. 

2.   Multicultural Environment

Due to immigrants coming to the province from across the globe, Nova Scotia has become home to a multicultural environment. Because of different ethnicities residing at one place, the province offers a welcoming environment to skilled professionals who wish to settle in the province. 

3.   World-Class Education System

Undoubtedly, Canada has the best education system in the world and Nova Scotia is no exception. The province is a home to excellent schools with modern infrastructure, globally ranked universities and diverse academic programs. The province over the years has remained the most preferred destination for international students who wish to pursue higher education in the province.  

4.   Focus on Sustainable Development

Nova Scotia is one of the provinces which has already laid its foundation for sustainable development as they are focusing on renewable energy resources for the development of the nation.

Nova Scotia, a beautiful province surrounded by a long coast and breathtaking landscapes offers multiple pathways to skilled professionals, international students, entrepreneurs and families seeking a better future in Canada. Some of the dedicated pathways for skilled professionals who want to immigrate to Nova Scotia are: 

1.   Skilled Worker

One of the most sought after reliable pathways to immigrate to Nova Scotia is the skilled worker pathway which helps employers of Nova Scotia to hire foreign professionals who possess skills and work experience required in the province's labour market. 

To be eligible to apply for the NSNP program applicants are required to submit an EOI (Expression of Interest). Applicants must have certain requirements to be fulfilled before submitting an EOI for the NSNP application process. Nova Scotia PNP eligibility requirements for skilled workers are as follows: 

❖  have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer

❖  have 1 year of work experience related to the job (workers in the TEER 4 or 5 of the National Occupation Classification must have already have six months experience with the employer)

❖  be 21 to 55 years old

❖  have a high school diploma

❖  have the appropriate training, skills, or accreditation for the job

❖  language proficiency of at least CLB of 5 (either English or French)

❖  have sufficient financial funds 

Under the skilled worker list, the province has laid down some of the eligibility requirements for Construction workers and Physicians which are as follows: 

Requirements for Construction Workers 

❖  Have a full time permanent job from a Nova Scotia employer in the construction sector in one of these listed NOC occupations: 

❖  Have one year of work experience related to the job

❖  Have a high school diploma or proof that the applicant has completed a construction specific industry training

❖  Be 21 to 55 years of age

❖  Language proficiency of CLB 5 for NOC TEER (0,1,2,3) and CLB 4 for NOC TEER  (4 and 5)

❖  Proof of funds to successfully settle in Nova Scotia 

Requirements for Physicians

Eligible applicants from the healthcare sector especially Physicians who aspire to settle in Nova Scotia require fulfilment of requirements. The immigration department of the province generally requires general practitioners, family physicians (NOC 31102), and specialist physicians (NOC 31100 and NOC 31101) to immigrate and work in Nova Scotia.

To be eligible under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, applicants must have: 

❖  educational qualifications according to the job opportunity

❖  a duly signed letter with job opportunity to be mentioned on official NSHA (Nova Scotia Health Authority) and IWK (Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre) letter head

❖  the letter which has eligibility for licensure with the college of Physicians and Surgeons in Nova Scotia 

2.   Nova Scotia Graduate

Graduate stream under Nova Scotia Nominee Program is a pathway which enables recent international graduates whose skills and education match specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) job categories.

Nova Scotia PNP program Requirements for Graduates

To be eligible under this program recent graduates are required to have: 

❖  full time permanent job offer from Nova Scotia employer in a job category mentioned below that corresponds with the applicant’s field of study

the list of eligible occupations are: 

 ❖  be 19 to 55 years of age

❖  have a high school diploma

❖  have met requirements for completing a program of study at an eligible Nova Scotia designated learning institution within three years of application. The program must be at least 30 weeks in length or 24 weeks for NOC 33102 (Nurse aids and continuing care).

❖  are required to complete 50 % of their program in Nova Scotia

❖  have a diploma if applying under NOC 33102 or 32124

❖  have a certificate, diploma or degree if applying under NOC 33102

❖  have a diploma or degree if applying under NOC 42202 

3.   Entrepreneur

Prospective immigrants who possess skills and competency of an entrepreneur can settle in Nova Scotia through the Entrepreneur stream Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Experienced business owners and senior managers who want to settle in Nova Scotia can apply through this stream. Under this pathway, eligible applicants must start a new business or buy an existing business and must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business. Eligible immigrants who stay and operate day-to-day management of the business for at least a year, then they become eligible to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

Nova Scotia PNP Program Requirements for Entrepreneurs

To be eligible under this stream young entrepreneurs are required to have certain eligibility criteria mentioned by the immigration department of the province.

To be eligible under NSNP program, young and competent entrepreneurs must have:

❖  be 21 years of age or old

❖  want to live in Nova Scotia permanently while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business

❖  have a net worth of at least $ 600,000 CAD ($ 400,000 CAD if the business is outside Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM))

❖  be able to invest at least $ 150,000 CAD of your own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia ($ 100,000 CAD if outside HRM)

❖  have at least 3 years of experience actively managing and owning a business (⅓ ownership minimum) OR 5 years experience in a senior business management role

❖  have a score of CLB 5 in language proficiency in all of the four modules (either English or French)

❖  have completed an online EOI (Expression of Interest)

❖  have received an invitation to apply from Labour, Skills and Immigration

The Entrepreneur stream also has a sub criteria known as International Graduate Entrepreneur stream which allows recent graduates from Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College to settle in Nova Scotia and become residents of the province. Recent graduates are only eligible to apply under this stream when they already have started or bought a Nova Scotia business and operated it for at least a year. According to this pathway, if the recent graduate – the applicant intends to settle in Nova Scotia, they may be nominated for permanent resident status.

Nova Scotia PNP Requirements for International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

To be eligible for the International graduate entrepreneurs streams applicants must have:

❖  want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business

❖  have at least one year’s continuous experience actively managing and owning a current Nova Scotia business (33.33% ownership minimum)

❖  have completed a degree or diploma after at least 2 academic years of full-time, in-person study at university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia community college

❖  have a valid post-graduation work permit

❖  have a score of at least CLB 7 in all of the four modules (either English or French)

❖  receive an invitation to apply from Labour, Skills and Immigration 

4.   Nova Scotia Express Entry

Apart from other immigration streams, Nova Scotia Express Entry stream is also one of the pathways through which prospective immigrants can immigrate to the province and reside as permanent residents of Canada. This stream allows highly skilled individuals to settle and live in Nova Scotia permanently. One of the most prominent features of the Nova Scotia Express Entry Stream is that it provides an additional 600 points to the point assessment grid also known as Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The CRS scores are evaluated on certain factors such as:

➔  age

➔  educational qualifications

➔  work experience

➔  language proficiency

➔  arranged employment

➔  adaptability 

These factors are also known as six selection factors which help the Canadian immigration department assess foreign nationals to be eligible to immigrate and settle in Canada. 

Nova Scotia PNP Requirements under the Express Entry Stream

To be eligible under this stream highly skilled individuals are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the application. To submit an EOI, the applicants must have: 

❖  have at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in an occupation at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification

❖  be 21 to 55 years of age

❖  have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent

❖  have language proficiency in either English or French and have CLB 7 for the NOC TEER 0 and 1 whereas CLB NOC TEER 2 and 3

❖  have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry System

❖  applicants claiming work experience that was gained on a Post-graduation work permit must have graduated from an educational institution located in Nova Scotia 

However, the province also holds sub criteria for physicians, applicable to physicians who wish to settle in Nova Scotia. This stream selects eligible physicians who wish to apply for nomination through the Federal Express Entry system.

Candidates with an approved offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre who receive a letter of interest from Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) may apply. Certain eligible applicants will receive a letter of Interest once LSI is notified of the candidate’s Express Entry profile number and a signed assigned approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre. 

Nova Scotia PNP Eligibility Requirements for the Physicians under the Express Entry Stream

To be eligible under Nova Scotia PNP program, applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) before filling the application. To submit an EOI, applicants must have: 

❖  have an approved opportunity from the NSHA or IWK as either a general practitioner and family physician (NOC 31100) or a specialist physician (NOC 31100 and NOC 31101)

❖  provide a copy of signed Return for Service Agreement with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness indicating commitment to live and work in Nova Scotia for a minimum period of 2 years

❖  receive a letter of interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry system

❖  Submit EOI within the 30 calendar days of the date on which the applicant’s Letter of Interest is issued

❖  Meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream for which the applicant is qualified

❖  Demonstrate sufficient funds to successfully establish applicant and its family members is capable enough to manage the immigration cost and travel expenses

❖  Have legal status in the current country of residence 

5.   Nova Scotia Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

Nova Scotia Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is also one of the pathways through which eligible professionals, international students or young entrepreneurs can immigrate to the province and settle as permanent residents. This program is a federal program that helps local employers hire skilled workers and international students from Canadian institutions against a job they haven’t been able to recruit locally. 

Nova Scotia PNP Requirements for Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

To be eligible under this program, eligible prospective immigrants require certain essential requirements which are as follows: 

❖  job offer letter from a designated employer in Nova Scotia

❖  have a valid endorsement certificate issued by the province

❖  have a valid work permit referral letter issued by the province