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Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

Immigration

Overview of the Nova Scotia PNP

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) launched in 2003.

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It launched to help address economic and labour market needs through immigration to the province.

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Immigration to Nova Scotia has tripled over the last 20 years because of the introduction and continuous development of the NSNP, as well as the introduction of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) in 2017.

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Nova Scotia is now welcoming over 7,000 new immigrants every year.

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The province has a retention rate of over 70 per cent. The province’s retention rate has improved because the Nova Scotia PNP and the AIP are looking to match newcomers with job opportunities. Both the PNP and AIP also help make it easier for international graduates and temporary workers to transition to permanent residence.

 

Nova Scotia Immigration Streams:

 

Nova Scotia has enhanced streams and base streams. The following streams are enhanced

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Enhanced means that the sub-category is aligned with the Express Entry system. The federal government uses the Express Entry system to manage permanent residence applications through Canada’s main economic class immigration programs.

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Candidates in the Express Entry system are given a point score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Canada regularly holds Express Entry draws, where they invite the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence.

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If you get a nomination from an enhanced provincial program, you get an extra 600 CRS points, practically guaranteeing getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. You also get your nomination through your Express Entry profile.

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The majority Nova Scotia’s immigration streams are base streams. This means that they are not aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates who get a provincial nomination are required to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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For many NSNP streams, you must meet the minimum language requirements. This will be according to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). This is a scale between 1 and 12, that measures your language ability.

 

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

 

Needs job offer? No

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • You must have an Express Entry profile;

  • You must be between 21 and 55 years old;

  • You must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience in Nova Scotia in the last three years;

  • You must have had proper authorization during their time in Nova Scotia, such as a work permit;

  • You must have a high school diploma/credential or higher;

  • You must have the language skills required to carry out their jobs:

    • NOC 0 and A – CLB 7

    • NOC B – CLB 5

  • You must intend to live in Nova Scotia permanently.

 

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities

 

Needs job offer? No

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • 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 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 have enough money to settle permanently in Nova Scotia;

  • You must meet the draw specific eligibility requirements. Each draw may have additional requirements.

 

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians

 

Needs job offer? Yes

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • 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.

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Skilled Worker Stream

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Needs job offer? Yes

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • You must be between 21 and 55 years old;

  • You must have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer;

  • You must have at least a high school education;

  • You must have the education, training, licensing or certification required to carry out your job duties;

  • You must have at least 12 months of relevant work experience in the last five years;

  • You must meet language requirements:

    • NOC 0, A or B – CLB 5 in English or French;

    • NOC C or D – CLB 4 in English or French;

  • You must intend to settle in Nova Scotia;

  • You must have enough money to settle permanently in Nova Scotia;

  • Employer must also meet additional requirements.

 

Occupation In-Demand Stream

 

Needs job offer? Yes

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Occupations:

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  • 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).

 

Minimum Requirements:

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  • You must be between 21 and 55 years old;

  • You must have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in one of the occupations outlined above;

  • You must have one year of relevant work experience;

  • You must have at least a high school education;

  • You must have the appropriate training or education required for the job;

  • You must meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 4;

  • You must have enough money to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.

 

International Graduates In-Demand Stream

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Needs job offer? Yes

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Occupations:

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  • Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates (NOC 3413);

  • Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214).

 

Minimum Requirements:

  • You must have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in an occupation listed above;

  • You must be between 21 and 55 years old;

  • You must have at least a high school education;

  • You must have completed a course of study that is at least 30 weeks long, in the last three years. At least half of the program must have been completed in Nova Scotia;

  • You must have the certifications required for the job;

  • You must meet the language requirement of CLB 5;

  • You must have enough money to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.

 

Entrepreneur Stream

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Needs job offer? No

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • You must be at least 21 years old;

  • You must have a minimum of CAD $600,000 in Net Business and Personal Assets;

  • You must have accumulated your net worth through legal means;

  • You must have a minimum of three years of business ownership experience (at least a third ownership), or more than five years in a senior business manager role in the last 10 years;

  • You must agree to make a minimum capital investment of CAD $150,000 in Nova Scotia to establish or purchase your business;

  • You must meet the language requirements of CLB 5 in English or French;

  • You must have at least a high school education;

  • You must have a Business Establishment Plan;

  • You must agree to live in Nova Scotia.

 

International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

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Needs job offer? No

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • You must have a full-time Nova Scotia post-secondary diploma or degree that is at least two years long;

  • You must have lived in Nova Scotia full time during your academic program;

  • You must intend to live in Nova Scotia permanently;

  • You must have already owned and operated a business in Nova Scotia for at least one year before submitting your EOI;

  • You must meet the language requirement of CLB 7;

  • You must be at least 21 years old;

  • You must have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit;

  • You must own a third of the equity of the eligible business;

  • You must have participated in the daily management of the business;

  • You must show that you are receiving compensation from the business, as a salary.

 

Physician Stream

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Needs job offer? No

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Minimum Requirements:

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  • You must be a general practitioner, family physician or specialist physician (NOC 3111 or 3112);

  • You must have a signed approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre;

  • Must have the education or training required for licensure in Nova Scotia.

 

Want to know about Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)? Click here!

To apply for the program or to learn more:

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