Nova Scotia Nominee Program [ NSNP ]
Nova Scotia offers skilled immigrants an opportunity to work and live there through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). It offers a faster way into Canada for qualified workers and experienced entrepreneurs who wish to stay in Nova Scotia and become permanent residents of Canada.
NSNP involves a two-step application procedure for Permanent resident status in Canada.
- Apply to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
- Apply to Citizenship & Immigration Canada visa office
Apply to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
When an applicant determines that he meets the criteria in any of the categories he qualifies in he must complete the required application forms, attach all supporting documents and forward the completed application package to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration for assessment and review.
A prospective Nominee if approved as meeting the NSNP selection criteria will receive a “Letter of Nomination”. A Certificate of Nomination will be sent directly to the appropriate CIC visa office. A nomination by the province does not assure that you will be granted permanent residency and the final decision rests exclusively with CIC.
Apply to Citizenship & Immigration Canada visa office
When an applicant receives a Certificate of Nomination, he then submits his federal immigration application package directly to the appropriate CIC visa office within 90 days of receiving the nominee certificate.
CIC will conduct criminal, security and health checks and may also request an interview or additional information. CIC will make the final selection decision on whether the Nominee be issued a Permanent resident visa or not.
The NSNP supports various types of categories/ streams of potential nominees:
Physician Stream
This Physician stream is meant to hire General Practioners, family physicians and specialist physicians to work in Nova Scotia. This helps Nova Scotia Public Health Authorities to recruit and retain physicians with the required skills for positions that they have been unable to fill with a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen.
It is open to General Practioners & family physicians (NOC 31102) and specialist physicians (NOC 31100 & NOC 31101) with signed approved opportunities with Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre.
In order to qualify, the Physicians have to have a Job Offer in place, and go through the Licensing process with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.
Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
Minimum Requirements:
- You must have a valid Express Entry profile
- You must receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) on your Express Entry profile
- You must have a job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or IWK Health Centre as a general practitioner, family physician or a specialist physician (NOC 3111 or NOC 3112);
- You must meet the work experience requirements for your Express Entry program (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class)
- You must have the required supporting documents to demonstrate work experience
- You must commit to stay in the province for two years, by sending a signed Return for Service Agreement to the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
- You must have enough money to settle permanently in Nova Scotia
Entrepreneur Stream
The NSNP Entrepreneur stream is for individuals who wish to start or acquire a business and settle down permanently in Nova Scotia.
The eligibility Criteria for an Entrepreneur are:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Possess a net worth of at least CAD$ 600000 through legal means & verified by a third party
- Be able to invest atleast CAD$ 150000 of own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia
- Have a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent foreign credential verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Minimum work experience of three years actively managing and owning a business or 5 years experience in a senior management role
- Have a score of atleast 5 on Canadian Language benchmark in English or French
- Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a business
- Have and demonstrate a Business Establishment Plan
- Complete an Online Expression of Interest
- Receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
The NSNP International Graduate Entrepreneur stream is for individuals who have completed at least two years of study, running their own business for at least one year and intend to settle down permanently in Nova Scotia.
The eligibility Criteria for an International Graduate Entrepreneur are:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Has completed a degree / diploma after at least 2 academic years of full time study at Nova Scotia University or College
- Has a valid Post graduation work permit
- Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a business
- Has at least one years continous experience actively managing and owning Nova Scotia business prior to submission of EOI
- Owns 33.33% – 100% of the equity of the eligible business
- Has a score of atleast 7 on Canadian Language benchmark in English or French
- Complete an Online Expression of Interest (EOI) which awards points based on a number of criteria
- Receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
- Submit Application package within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter
Skilled Worker Stream:
This program is geared to assist employers in hiring workers whose skills may be in limited supply in the province. As a result it helps employers recruit and/or retain foreign workers with the essential skills for positions that may have been incapable to be filled with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
The applicant must have a guaranteed, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer before submitting an application to the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
Skilled worker stream comprises of 3 categories: skilled workers (NOC O, A or B), semi- skilled workers (NOC C) , and low- skilled workers (NOC D).
The eligibility Criteria for a Skilled worker are:
- Be 21 to 55 years old
- Have a high school diploma of 12 years of study
- Must have a permanent full time job offer from an established Nova Scotia employer
- Minimum work experience of One year related to the position & skills of the job
- Have qualifications, training, work experience & appropriate licensing required
- Has a score of at least 5 on Canadian Language benchmark in English or French
- Sufficient settlement funds to pay immigration fees & for living expenses while you are establishing yourself in your job or business
- Convince NS office of Immigration of a genuine intention and ability to settle down successfully in Nova Scotia
- Complete the Online Application form with supporting documentation
Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
This NSNP uses the Federal Government’s Express Entry Immigration Selection System in order to select candidates for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream.
The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently. This is subject to certain types of occupations for nomination based on current labour market needs.
There are 2 categories:
Category A: This is for applicants with a Job offer
Category B: This is for applicants with experience in an Opportunity occupation.
Category A
The eligibility Criteria to apply under Category A are:
- Have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system
- Score 67 points or more on the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry points Grid
- Must have a permanent Full time job offer from an established Nova Scotia employer with an LMIA
- Minimum work experience of One year related to the position & skills of the job in NOC Skill Type O, A or B occupation
- Have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent and its educational credential equivalency assessed by a designated body
- Has a score of at least 7 on Canadian Language benchmark in English or French
- Demonstrate financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia
- Complete the Online Application form with supporting documentation
Category B:
The eligibility Criteria to apply under Category B are:
- Have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system
- Score 67 points or more on the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry points Grid
- Minimum of One year Full time work experience related to the “Opportunity” Target Occupations
- A Job offer is not required
- Have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent and its educational credential equivalency assessed by a designated body
- Has a score of at least 7 on Canadian Language benchmark in English or French
- Have their foreign education credentials assessed
- Demonstrate financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia
- Complete the Online Application form with supporting documentation
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
This NSNP uses the Federal Government’s Express Entry Immigration Selection System in order to select candidates for the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry who have worked for a Nova Scotia Employer for atleast one year.
The eligibility Criteria for the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry are:
- Have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system
- Be 21 to 55 years old
- Have a Minimum of One year skilled work experience in Nova Scotia in NOC O,A or B occupations
- Have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent and its educational credential equivalency assessed by a designated body
- Has a score of at least 7 on Canadian Language benchmark in English or French for NOC O & A or CLB 5 for NOC B
- Demonstrate that they intend to live permanently and become economically established in Nova Scotia
- Complete the Online Application form with supporting documentation
Nova Scotia’s Labor Market Priorities
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program recommends a set number of economic immigration applicants for Permanent Residence every year through various streams, including three that are linked to the Federal Express Entry system.
Nova Scotia’s Labor Market Priorities Stream uses the Express Entry pool to search for eligible candidates with work experience in select occupations that are facing labor shortages in the province.
In Labor Market Priorities Stream a candidates CRS score is not a section factor but specific occupations could vary from draw to draw depending on Nova Scotia’s Labor market needs.
To apply an Applicant must:
- Have a valid Express Entry Number and meet all IRCC eligibility criteria for the Express Entry pool
- Receive a Letter of Interest from Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry System
Occupations In Demand:
This stream targets occupations of the NOC 2021 that are in high labour market demand in Nova Scotia.
- Applicants must have a full time permanent job offer from a NS Employer in any of high demand Occupations
- Have 1 year of work experience related to the job
- Be 21 to 55 years old
- Have a high school diploma
- Have the training, skills or accreditation for the job
- Prove language ability to CLB Level 4
- Show financial rsources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413);
- Food and beverage servers (NOC 6513);
- Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 6711);
- Light duty cleaners (NOC 6731);
- Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511);
- Heavy equipment operators, except crane (NOC 7521);
- Construction trades helpers and labourers (NOC 7611).
International Graduates in Demand Stream
This stream is for recent International students whose skills & education match specific NOC job categories which are in high demand in Nova Scotia. This stream is currently open to workers in the following categories:
- NOC 32102: Paramedical occupations
- NOC 32124: Pharmacy technicians
- NOC 33102: nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- NOC 42202: early childhood educators and assistants
An applicant must have a full time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia Employer in one of the above NOC job categories. Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria including completing a Certificate/ Diploma/ or Degree study program relevant to the categories listed.
A New Beginning
Canada wants to attract new immigrants on an annual basis with the emphasis firmly focused on immigrants with economic and professional skills from every part of the world.
In Canada you can start a new life, with never-ending opportunities ahead of you. We will help you plan your transition to the new way of life in Canada carefully, patiently and knowledgably.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility to immigrate to Canada as a Provincial Nominee, we suggest you complete our Free PNP Assessment form for respective categories.
