Applicants who would like to settle down in Nova Scotia may like to apply to a NSNP stream.
Through the NSNP< prospective immigrants who have the skills and experience targeted by
the province may be nominated to immigrate.
Different NSNP streams are:
1. Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
The Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream selects candidates in the federal Express
Entry system who meet provincial labour market needs to apply for nomination. Only
candidates who receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
may apply.
Eligibility:
Application Process:
It is your responsibility to submit all requested documents outlined in this guide and on
the website. If documents are missing, unsigned, not translated by a certified translator,
or not clear, your application may be closed.
2. Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
The Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream for Physicians selects physicians to
apply for nomination through the federal Express Entry system. Only candidates with an
approved offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre who
receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) may apply.
General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 3112) and Specialist physicians (NOC
3111) will receive a Letter of Interest once NSOI is notified of the candidate’s Express
Entry profile number and a signed approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health
Authority or the IWK Health Centre.
Eligibility:
Application Process:
Step 1: Notify NSOI of your Express Entry Profile Number:
The Labour Market Priorities stream uses IRCC’s Express Entry system to select
candidates who meet the stream criteria. Before you can apply for the Labour Market
Priorities stream, you must first create an Express Entry profile and notify NSOI of your
Express Entry profile number. If you qualify for this stream, a Letter of Interest will be
sent to your IRCC online account indicating that Nova Scotia is inviting you to apply under
the NSNP.
Letters of Interest will only be offered to physicians who have:
Step 2: Apply to NSNP under the Labour Market Priorities Stream
3. Physician
The Physician Stream assists Nova Scotia’s public health authorities – the Nova Scotia
Health Authority (NSHA) and the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) – to hire
general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians to work in Nova Scotia.
The stream helps the NSHA and IWK 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.
Eligibility:
The Physician Stream is only open to general practitioners and family physicians (NOC
3112) and specialist physicians (NOC 3111) with signed approved opportunities with the
Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre.
The approved opportunity must be on official NSHA or IWK letterhead and must:
Application Process:
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can prepare and submit an application to the Nova
Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Your application must include all required
documentation to be considered complete. You must notify the NSNP of any changes in
your status or eligibility criteria for this stream.
Step 1: Prepare and NSNP Application
Gather and prepare all your application materials and supporting documents as required
by NSOI
Step 2: Submit your NSNP Application
Apply through Nova Scotia’s online service, where you can:
Step 3: Assessment by NSOI
After submission, the office of immigration will review your application to ensure it
completely meets the eligibility criteria before it is assessed. If your application is not
complete or if you do not meet basic eligibility requirements your application will be
closed and not fully assessed.
Completed application that meets the eligibility criteria, will be evaluated and assessed. If
an application is assessed, the office of immigration will communicate the decision in
writing to the applicant or their representative. If nominated by the Province of Nova
Scotia:
4. Entrepreneur
The Entrepreneur Stream is for experienced business owners or senior business
managers who want to live in Nova Scotia. They must start a new business or buy an
existing business and must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the
business. After operating the business for a year, the entrepreneur may be nominated
for permanent resident status. Application to the stream is by invitation only.
Eligibility:
Application Process:
If you want to immigrate to Nova Scotia under the Entrepreneur Stream of the Nova
Scotia Nominee Program, you must:
1. Complete this Expression of Interest. Once started, it cannot be saved and
completed later.
2. After you submit the Expression of Interest, your score will be sent to you in a
confirmation email.
3. You will be contacted again if you are selected to apply to the nominee program.
Selection is based on nominee program targets and an assessment of your
Expression of Interest. Submitting an Expression of Interest does not guarantee an
invitation to apply to the nominee program.
4. Apply to the nominee program. If you are asked to apply AND you are nominated,
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will decide if you can be a permanent resident.
5. International Graduate Entrepreneur
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for recent graduates of a Nova Scotia
university or the Nova Scotia Community College. They must have already started or
bought a Nova Scotia business and operated it for at least a year. If they intend to settle
in Nova Scotia, the graduate may be nominated for permanent resident status.
Application to the stream is by invitation only.
Eligibility:
Application process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
6. Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker stream helps employers recruit foreign workers and recently
graduated international students whose skills are needed in Nova Scotia. An employer
can only hire foreign workers for positions they have been unable to fill with permanent
residents or Canadian citizens.
Eligibility:
Application Process:
To apply, you must submit your application through Nova Scotia’s online service under
the Skilled Worker Stream (novascotia.ca/ensnp) and ensure that you include all the
required supporting documents.
All supporting documents must be provided as portable document format (PDF) files. You
will have to scan paper documents into PDF files and convert electronic documents into
PDF files. Note that all documents must be clear enough to read and:
When documents are not in English or in French, you must submit a copy of the original
document and a copy of the certified translation. NSOI will only accept translations
prepared by certified translators. Translators must be certified by a regulatory body and
cannot be a family member of the applicant or spouse, or common-law partner, or work
for a paid consultant or representative who is preparing the application. The applicant
must also supply proof from the translator describing their translation ability or
certification.
It is your responsibility to submit all documents outlined in this guide and set out in the
online application, including the signed NSNP 200 Employer form and all supporting
documents. If documents are missing, unsigned, not translated by a certified translator,
or not clear, your application may be closed.
If you meet the Skilled Worker stream criteria, NSOI will communicate the decision and
provide the nomination certificate to you or your representative via email. The certificate
expires six months after the date of nomination. NSOI will also send proof of nomination
directly to IRCC.
7. 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 Office of
Immigration identifies occupations in demand based on labour market information and
eligible occupations are subject to change.
Eligibility:
Application Process:
To apply, you must submit your application through Nova Scotia’s online service under
the Occupations in Demand Stream (novascotia.ca/ensnp) and ensure that you include all
the required supporting documents.
All supporting documents must be provided as portable document format (PDF) files. You
will have to scan paper documents into PDF files and convert electronic documents into
PDF files. Note that all documents must be clear enough to read and:
When documents are not in English or in French, you must submit a copy of the original
document and a copy of the certified translation. NSOI will only accept translations
prepared by certified translators. Translators must be certified by a regulatory body and
cannot be a family member of the applicant or spouse, or common-law partner, or work
for a paid consultant or representative who is preparing the application. The applicant
must also supply proof from the translator describing their translation ability or
certification.
It is your responsibility to submit all documents outlined in this guide and set out in the
online application, including the signed NSNP 200 Employer form and all supporting
documents. If documents are missing, unsigned, not translated by a certified translator,
or not clear, your application may be closed.
If you meet the Skilled Worker stream criteria, NSOI will communicate the decision and
provide the nomination certificate to you or your representative via email. The certificate
expires six months after the date of nomination. NSOI will also send proof of nomination
directly to IRCC.
8. Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish
to live in Nova Scotia permanently. Applicants must have a good chance of quickly finding
a job in Nova Scotia’s labour market.
The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration reserves the right to consider only certain types of
occupations for nomination, depending on current labour market needs.
Applications will only be accepted online.
Category A (for applicants with a job offer) will remain open.
Category B (for applicants with experience in an opportunity occupation) is expected to
open and close throughout the year. Controlling intake will allow us to process
applications more efficiently. It is currently closed.
Eligibility:
Category A:
Category B:
Application Process:
Step 1: Create an Express Entry Profile:
You must create an Express Entry profile within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Canada’s online Express Entry system before you apply to the Nova Scotia Nominee
Program. Your Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code are
necessary for your application. If you do not have a valid Express Entry Profile number
and Job Seeker Validation Code at time of application and assessment your application
will be refused and closed.
Step 2: Prepare and submit your NSNP application online:
Apply through Nova Scotia’s online service, where you can:
Step 3: Application Assessment and Evaluation:
After submission, the office of immigration will review your application to ensure it
completely meets the eligibility criteria before it is assessed. If your application is not
complete or if you do not meet basic eligibility requirements your application will be
closed and not fully assessed.
Completed application that meets the eligibility criteria, will be evaluated and assessed. If
an application is assessed, the office of immigration will communicate the decision in
writing to the applicant or their representative. If nominated by the Province of Nova
Scotia:
NOI will communicate the decision in writing to you or your representative via email. The
decision will be either that you have been nominated or that you have been refused,
Step 4: Once you are nominated, you will have 30 days to accept the nomination within
the Express Entry System.
Following acceptance of the nomination with the Express Entry system, you will receive
an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence by IRCC. You will have 90 days to submit
an electronic application for permanent residence. You will need to upload your
application and supporting documents via your MyCIC account.
If approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, you, your spouse and
dependents will be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
When you are granted permanent residence, you must contact the NSOI within 30 days
of your arrival in Nova Scotia. You must provide NSOI with a copy of the Confirmation of
Permanent Residence, a copy of your passport and your Nova Scotia contact information
such as current address, phone number(s) and email. You must advise NSOI of any
changes in your application or your status.
9. Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
The Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who
wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently. Applicants must have at least one year of
experience working in Nova Scotia in a high skilled occupation.
Eligibility:
Application Process:
Step 1: Create an Express Entry Profile:
You must create an Express Entry profile within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Canada’s online Express Entry system before you apply to the Nova Scotia Nominee
Program. A job seeker validation code may also be required.
Step 2: Prepare and submit your NSNP application online:
Apply through Nova Scotia’s online service, where you can:
Step 3: Application Assessment and Evaluation:
After submission, the office of immigration will review your application to ensure it
completely meets the eligibility criteria before it is assessed. If your application is not
complete or if you do not meet basic eligibility requirements your application will be
closed and not fully assessed.
Completed application that meets the eligibility criteria, will be evaluated and assessed. If
an application is assessed, the office of immigration will communicate the decision in
writing to the applicant or their representative. If nominated by the Province of Nova
Scotia:
NOI will communicate the decision in writing to you or your representative via email. The
decision will be either that you have been nominated or that you have been refused,
Step 4: Once you are nominated, you will have 30 days to accept the nomination within
the Express Entry System.
Following acceptance of the nomination with the Express Entry system, you will receive
an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence by IRCC. You will have 90 days to submit
an electronic application for permanent residence. You will need to upload your
application and supporting documents via your MyCIC account.
If approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, you, your spouse and
dependents will be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
When you are granted permanent residence, you must contact the NSOI within 30 days
of your arrival in Nova Scotia. You must provide NSOI with a copy of the Confirmation of
Permanent Residence, a copy of your passport and your Nova Scotia contact information
such as current address, phone number(s) and email. You must advise NSOI of any
changes in your application or your status.
If you would like to settle down in Nova Scotia and become a permanent residence under
the NSNP, please get in touch with our team of professional to help you with the
application.