Nova Scotia, located on Canada’s east coast on Atlantic Ocean, is surrounded by the natural beauty of the rolling sea, lush green forests, lakes, and farmland. A diverse history of aboriginal, Celtic, Acadian, and African cultures that dates back hundreds of years and, in the case of the Mi’kmaw, thousands of years, makes Nova Scotia home to more than 100 cultures and ethnicities from all over the globe.
With the scenic splendor, disparate cultural history, and enormous natural resources, the province offers quality and affordable living in addition to the growing demand for more highly skilled workers. The five key regions (Halifx, Annapolis Valley, Northern & Southern Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton) have numerous opportunities across various industries and businesses in the provincial labor market.
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program targets prospective immigrants with the desired skills and experience for nomination.
NSNP Streams
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
Candidates in the federal Express Entry system, who meet provincial labour market needs, are selected by the Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream to apply for nomination. To apply candidate must:
Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
This stream selects physicians to apply for nomination through the federal Express Entry system. To apply candidate must:
Physician
Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) is assisted by the Physician Stream to hire general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians to work in Nova Scotia. The NSHA and IWK can recruit and retain physicians with the desired skills for positions that could not be filled with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen under this stream. To apply candidate must:
Entrepreneur
The Entrepreneur Stream is for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Nova Scotia and want to either start a new business or buy an existing business and actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business. The entrepreneur may be nominated for permanent resident status after operating the business for a year. To apply candidate must:
International Graduate Entrepreneur
Recent graduates of a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College may apply under the International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream. If the graduate intends to settle in Nova Scotia, the graduate may be nominated for permanent resident status if they have already started or purchased a Nova Scotia business and operated it for at least a year. To apply candidate must:
Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker stream assists employers to recruit foreign workers and recently graduated international students with specific skills needed in Nova Scotia for the positions they could not fill with permanent residents or Canadian citizens. To apply candidate must:
Occupations in Demand
The Occupations in Demand stream targets specific NOC C, intermediate-skilled occupations that are in high labour market demand in Nova Scotia. The eligible occupations are subject to change based on labour market demand. To apply candidate must:
Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
The highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently and have a high probability of quickly finding a job in Nova Scotia’s labour market can apply under The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream. This stream is divided into two separate categories as follows:
Category A (for applicants with job offer) that remains open
Category B (for applicants with experience in an opportunity occupation) which is expected to open and close throughout the year.
To apply under Category A, applicant must
To apply under Category B, applicant must
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
This stream selects applicants with at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in a high skilled occupation. To apply candidate must:
International Graduates in Demand
This stream is for recent international graduates whose skills and education match specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) job categories as follows: