Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) focuses on bringing in prospective immigrants who possess the right skills and experience to contribute to the economic growth of the province and tackle demographic challenges.

Nova Scotia accepts applications in nine different streams and candidates who qualify for one of the nine streams can receive a nomination from the province to apply for PR through PNP with a processing time of 3 months. The nine streams of NSNP are listed below along with their criteria.

1. Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

This stream is for applicants with a legit express entry profile and work experience in Nova Scotia. To meet the criteria for this stream you should:

• Have pursued education corresponding to the Canadian high school diploma.
• Be between 21 to 55 years old.
• Have a legit profile in the Express Entry system.
• Score a minimum of CLB 7 for NOC 0 to A positions and CLB 5 for NOC B positions on a valid language test.
• Have at least a year of work experience in Nova Scotia within the past 3 years under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations.

2. Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Labor Market Priorities stream picks applicants from the Express Entry pool based on their work history. If you’re an applicant who has work experience in an occupation that is in demand in Nova Scotia and desires to reside in Nova Scotia with your Express Entry profile, you will receive a letter of interest in your Express Entry account.

Once you receive it, you need to apply for Provincial Nomination within 30 days and state your settlement funds according to your family’s size. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program determines to issue invitations based on the categories of occupations.

3. Skilled Worker

This stream allows for efficient workers and graduates permanent job offers in Nova Scotia will be nominated. You are eligible to apply if your job comes under NOC 0, A, B, C, or D. If you’re a post-graduate work permit holder, you cannot apply under NOC D. This stream follows criteria for both the applicant and the business.

The criteria you should meet if you’re an applicant for this stream are as follows:

• You must have pursued an education that is corresponding to the Canadian High school diploma of any specification required for your job.
• You should have at least a year of paid work experience within the past 5 years relevant to the position of your job offer.
• You should score at least 5 as your CLB on a legit language test for NOC 0, A, and B positions and a minimum of CLB 4 for NOC C and D positions.
• You must state your financial resources to settle in Nova Scotia.
• You should be a full-time employee with a permanent job in Nova Scotia. If your job comes under NOC TEER 4 or 5, you must have worked in the position for at least 6 months under the same employer during your application.

If you’re an employer applying through this stream, give read about the criteria for business mentioned below;

• Your business should have been functioning for at least 2 years, performing well under provincial and federal authorities.
• You should promote the positions of each program based on the requirements or obtain an LMIA.
• You must possess a Foreign Worker Employer Registration Certificate from Labour Standards.
• You must confer settlement support to the worker.

4.Physician

The Physician stream contains 2 categories for physicians who desire to immigrate to Nova Scotia.

1. Physician Stream

This Nova Scotia Physician stream helps the public health authorities to hire physicians to work in Nova Scotia. This stream is exclusively for specialist physicians (NOC 31100), general practitioners, and family physicians (NOC 31102) who have accepted the job offer from the public health authorities.

You must be qualified for licensing through the NS College of Physicians and Surgeons and contain a signed job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK health center.

2. Labor Market Priorities for Physicians

This stream allows physicians to apply for NS nomination who have a profile in the Express Entry pool. You can apply if you have:

• An approved offer from the NS health authorities.
• received a letter of interest from the NS Office of Immigration.

The eligibility criteria for this stream are:

• You should possess a legit profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
• You should provide a copy of a signed Return for Service Agreement of Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness assuring your dedication to live and work in Nova Scotia for a minimum period of 2 years.
• You should have a sanctioned opportunity from one of the health authorities either as a general practitioner, a family physician (NOC 31102), or a specialist physician (NOC 31100).
• You should illustrate that you are financially independent and you can support your family in Nova Scotia.

5. Occupations In Demand

The Occupations in Demand stream focuses on discrete semi-skilled occupations in Nova Scotia under NOC C that are in demand. Efficient occupations are recognized now and again by the immigration office based on labor market information and are liable to change. To meet the demands of this stream you should:

• Be between 21 to 55 years old.
• Score at least 4 as your CLB on a valid language test
• Possess relevant skills and training that are required for your job.
• Have a Canadian High School credential or pursued education corresponding to a Canadian High School diploma.
• Have a year of experience relevant to your job.
• Be a full-time employee in an occupation under the demand list with a long-term job offered by an NS employer.
• You must state your financial resources to settle in Nova Scotia.

If you’re an employer, you should:

• promote the positions of each program based on the requirements or obtain an LMIA.
• Breach any existing bargaining unit agreements, or labor standards, or engage in any employment controversy.

6. International Graduates in Demand

The International Graduates in Demand stream is for fresh graduates who possess skills and qualification that is relevant to the NOC job categories. This stream is for workers under 2 NOC categories they are:

• NOC 33102 – patient service associates, nurse aides, and orderlies.
• NOC 42202 – early childhood educators and assistants

To meet the following criteria, you should:

• have a high school diploma.
• Be between 21 to 55 years old.
• At least score CLB 5 if your first language is English or French.
• Have certifications issued by the NS regulatory bodies needed for your job.
• Be a full-time employee in an occupation under the demand list relevant to your field of study with a long-term job offered by an NS employer.

Have met the requirements of graduating from a course within 3 years of your application. The program that you graduated from should be at least 30 weeks.

• If you’re applying under NOC 33102, your program must issue a degree, certificate, or diploma.
• If you’re applying under NOC 42202, your program must issue a degree or a diploma.
• You must state your financial resources to settle in Nova Scotia.

7. Entrepreneur

This stream is for entrepreneurs and senior managers who want to establish a business in Nova Scotia. Those who wish to apply through this stream must make sure to start a new business or take over an existing business and actively engage in activities of the business daily. Your business should have operated for at least a year to be nominated for permanent residence. You will be invited to apply based on this stream’s expression of interest points grid.

If you’re applying for this stream, you should:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have scored at least 5 as your CLB on a valid language test.
• Have pursued education corresponding to the Canadian high school diploma.
• Have received an invitation to apply for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program based on the Expression of Interest points grid.
• Invest at least CAD 150,000 to establish the business.
• Have a minimum net worth of CAD 600,000 possessed legitimately.
• Have at least 3 years of experience in actively engaging and owning at least ⅓ of the business or more than 5 years of work experience as a senior manager.
• You desire to reside permanently in Nova Scotia.

To meet the criteria of the business you should:

• Own at least ⅓ of the business.
• Actively engage in day-to-day activities of the business in Nova Scotia.
• Your business should result in profit and must have the ability to create economic benefit for Nova Scotia.
• You must offer at least 1 full-time employment to a Canadian or a permanent resident in Nova Scotia who is not related to you.
• If you’re taking ownership of an existing business, it must be purchased at a fair market value.
• The business you purchased must have been functioning for at least 5 years by the same owner.
• You must offer employment to the staff on similar terms and conditions.

8. International Graduate Entrepreneur

This stream is for applicants who recently graduated from a college or university in Nova Scotia. You are also open to applying if you’re a fresh graduate who plans to start a new business or take over an existing business in Nova Scotia. You will be invited to apply based on this stream’s expression of interest points grid. The applicant criteria are as follows;

• You should have a valid post-graduate work permit.
• Your score should be at least CLB 7 on a valid language test.
• You must have a year of experience in actively engaging and owning a business in Nova Scotia.
• You should receive a salary from the business that meets LICO.
• You must have graduated from Nova Scotia with a degree or a diploma that requires at least 2 years of full-time study.

To meet the criteria of the business you should:

• You should assure that you have a financial backup for your business.
• Your business should result in profit and must have the ability to create economic benefit for Nova Scotia.
• Your business cannot be ineligible.
• You must offer at least 1 full-time employment to a Canadian or a permanent resident in Nova Scotia who is not related to you.
• The business you purchased must have been functioning for at least 5 years by the same owner.
• You must offer employment to the staff on similar terms and conditions.
• While these streams operate at the provincial level, there is the Atlantic Immigration Program which is run by the provincial government jointly with the federal government.

Nova Scotia is known for its stunning lighthouses, ocean, vineyards, and elegant dine-ins. To be living and working in a place like that sounds fascinating. If you wish to make Nova Scotia your dream place to settle in, CanApprove is right here to make your wish come true. The CanApprove team has been consistent in delivering reliable immigration and legal services for the past 25 years. We guarantee our clients a hassle-free experience by being there to answer questions and provide solutions every step of the way. For more information on Nova Scotia PNP and Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs, get in touch with our team of qualified experts!