Nova Scotia Nominee Program
Nova Scotia PNP (NSNP)
Nova Scotia is an Atlantic Province on the Eastern end of Canada. The province launched its immigration program in 2003 to address its labor needs through economic immigration. The province gained immense popularity after the launch of the Atlantic immigration program in 2017.
NSNP is inviting people who have the skills and expertise in targeted occupations to be nominated by the province.
The province has different streams:
1. Nova Scotia Labor Market Priorities
Nova Scotia priority stream selects candidates from the Federal express entry pool who meet the provincial labor market needs to apply for nomination. Only candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria are invited to apply for the PNP.
To be eligible for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry system, you must:
1. Receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
2. Submit your application within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of your Letter of Interest.
3. Meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream you qualify for.
4. Demonstrate sufficient funds to establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia and to cover your immigration and travel expenses.
5. Have legal status in your current country of residence.
6. Meet the eligibility criteria in place at the time your Letter of Interest is issued.
7. Have a valid Express Entry number and fulfill all IRCC criteria for the Express Entry pool.
2. Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
This stream is for Physicians who have shown interest in living in the province. Individuals are selected from the Federal Express Entry system. Only candidates who have an approved job offer from Nova Scotia or IWK Health Centre received a letter of interest from Labour, Skills, and Immigration.
To apply, you must:
1. Have an approved opportunity from the NSHA or IWK as either a general practitioner and family physician (NOC 31102) or a specialist physician (NOC 31100 and NOC 31101).
2. Provide a copy of a signed Return for Service Agreement with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, indicating a commitment to live and work in Nova Scotia for a minimum of two years.
3. Receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry system.
4. Submit your application within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of your Letter of Interest.
5. Meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream for which you qualify.
6. Demonstrate sufficient funds to establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia and cover your immigration and travel expenses.
7. Have legal status in your current country of residence.
3. Entrepreneur stream
The entrepreneur stream is for Experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Nova Scotia. Either they start a new business or invest in the existing business and must participate in the day-to-day function of the management of the business. After successfully running a business for a year the candidate is eligible to apply for the Provincial nominee program.
To apply, you must:
1. Be 21 years of age or older.
2. Intend to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.
3. Have a net worth of at least $600,000 CAD (or $400,000 CAD if your business is outside the Halifax Regional Municipality).
4. Be able to invest at least $150,000 CAD of your own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia (or $100,000 CAD if your business is outside HRM).
5. Have at least 3 years of experience in actively managing and owning a business (with a minimum of 1/3 ownership) OR more than 5 years of experience in a senior business management role.
6. Have a score of at least 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English or French.
7. Complete an online Expression of Interest.
8. Receive an Invitation to Apply from Labour, Skills, and Immigration.
4. International Graduate Entrepreneur stream
The International Graduate Entrepreneur stream is for recent graduates of Nova Scotia who have started their own business or bought an already established business and operated it for at least a year. If they are looking to settle in the province they must submit an application. If they meet the minimum eligibility criteria the province will nominate them for the provincial nomination.
To live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a business, you must meet the following criteria:
– Own and actively manage a business in Nova Scotia with at least 33.33% ownership for a continuous period of at least one year.
– Have completed a degree or diploma after at least two academic years of full-time, in-person study at a university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College.
– Hold a valid post-graduation work permit.
– Achieve a minimum score of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English or French.
– Submit an online Expression of Interest.
– Receive an Invitation to Apply from Labor, Skills, and Immigration.
5. International Graduates in Demand
The international graduates in Demand stream is for those international graduates who have specific skill set and have job in high-demand occupations. this stream is open for particular NOC which are in high demand.
NOC 32102: Paramedical occupations
NOC 32124: Pharmacy technicians
NOC 33102: nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
NOC 42202: early childhood educators and assistants
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
– Have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in a relevant job category that corresponds with your recent field of study.
– Be between 19 and 55 years old.
– Have a high school diploma.
– Have completed a program of study at an eligible Nova Scotia-designated learning institution within three years of your application. The program must have been at least 30 weeks long, with at least 50% completed in Nova Scotia.
– If applying under NOC 32102 or 32124, the program must grant a diploma.
– If applying under NOC 33102, the program must grant a certificate, diploma, or degree.
– If applying under NOC 42202, the program must grant a diploma or degree.
– Possess certifications issued by Nova Scotia regulatory bodies required for the job.
– Prove language ability at a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5.
– Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
6. Skilled Worker Stream
The skilled worker stream helps business owners hire foreign workers or recent graduates whose skills are needed by the employer. An employer can only hire a foreign worker if he is unable to find a person for that position in Canada.
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
– Have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer.
– Have at least one year of work experience related to the job. Workers in TEER category 4 or 5 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) must have six months experience with the employer.
– Be between 21 and 55 years old.
– Have a high school diploma.
– Have the appropriate training, skills, and/or accreditation for the job.
– Prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 if you are in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. If your first language is English or French, this serves as sufficient proof. Workers in a NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupations must provide test results proving they meet CLB Level 4, even if their first language is English or French.
– Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
7. Occupations in Demand
The Occupations in Demand stream targets specific TEER categories 3,4 or 5 or the National Occupation Classification that are high in demand in Nova Scotia. There are particular NOCs which are eligible under this program and these NOCs are subjected to change from time to time.
To Apply under this you must have
have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in either
NOC 33102 (Nurse Aides)
NOC 65310 (Light duty cleaners)
NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers)
NOC 73400 (Heavy equipment operators)
NOC 75110 (Construction trades helpers and labourers)
have 1 year of work experience related to the job;
be 21 to 55 years old;
have a high school diploma;
have the appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job;
prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 even if your first language is English or French;
show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
8. Critical Construction Worker
The Construction Worker Pilot program is for those individuals who have a permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in the construction sector. The job offer must be listed in the approved list of NOCs.
To apply you must:
have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in the construction sector (NAICS 23) in one of these NOCs:
70010 – Construction managers
70011 – Home building and renovation managers
72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers, and services
72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
72106 – Welders and related machine operators
72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 – Industrial electricians
72310 – Carpenters
72320 – Bricklayers
72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402 – Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics
72500 – Crane operators
73100 – Concrete finishers
73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers, and lathers
73110 – Roofers and shinglers
73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
73400 – Heavy equipment operators
75101 – Material handlers
75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
75119 – Other trades helpers and labourers
have 1 year of work experience related to the job;
have a high school diploma OR proof you have completed a construction-specific industry training program;
be 21 to 55 years old;
prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3) or CLB Level 4 (NOC TEER 4 and 5) even if your first language is English or French;
show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
8. Nova Scotia Express Entry Stream
This stream is for those individuals who have a connection with the province and are interested in settling. For this, the applicant must have one year of work experience in Nova Scotia in an occupation in TEER Category 0,1,2 or 3 of the national occupational Classification.
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
– Have at least one year of work experience in Nova Scotia.
– Be between 21 and 55 years old.
– Hold a Canadian high school credential or equivalent.
– Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB):
– CLB 7 is required for skilled work in NOC categories 0 and 1.
– CLB 5 is required for positions in NOC categories 2 and 3.
– Have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system.