Nova Scotia Nominee Program
(NSNP)
Under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), the government of Nova Scotia nominates suitable candidates who have the skills and experience targeted by Nova Scotia. The processing time for eligible applications can be upwards of 3 months.
Within 6 months of receiving your nominee certificate, applicants must apply to IRCC (Government of Canada) for your Permanent Resident (PR) visa. You and your family (spouse and dependents) must meet all requirements for medical, security and criminal admissibility. In some cases, you may be asked to attend an interview. Note that the final approval of your PR application rests with IRCC.
There are several NSNP streams, as described below.
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream
The Nova Scotia Labour Markets 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.
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream 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 may apply.
Physician Stream
The Physician Stream assists Nova Scotia public health authorities – Nova Scotia health authority (NSHA) and the Izzak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) – to hire general practitioners, family physicians and specialist physicians to work in Nova Scotia.
This stream helps 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.
Skilled Worker Stream
The Skilled Worker Stream helps employees recruit foreign workers and recently graduated international students who skills are required in Nova Scotia.
An employer can only hire foreign workers for positions they have been unable to fill with Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Occupations in Demand Stream
The Occupations in Demand Stream targets specific NOC C and NOC D occupations that are in high demand in Nova scotia’s labour market. The Office of Immigration identifies occupations in demand based on labour market information.
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry Stream
The Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry Stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently.
Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience working in Nova Scotia in a high skilled occupation.
Entrepreneur Stream
The Entrepreneur Stream is for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Nova Scotia.
They must start 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 PR status.
Application to the stream is by invitation only.
International Graduate Entrepreneur
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for recent graduates of a university or Community College in Nova Scotia. They must have already started or bought a business in Nova Scotia and operated it for at least one year.
If they intend to settle in Nova Scotia, the graduate may be nominated for PR status.
Application to this stream is by invitation only.
International Graduates in Demand
The International Graduates in Demand Stream is for recent international graduates who skills and education match specific NOC job categories.
This stream is currently open to workers in job categories in NOC 3413 (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), and NOC 4214 (early childhood educators and assistants).
