Nova Scotia
Canada is a land of opportunities and stunning beauty. It won’t take you five minutes in the wonderful province of Nova Scotia to know this is true. Let’s begin by learning a bit more about what makes this province so great for the many residents that live here in Canada.
Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s four Atlantic Provinces, primarily consisting of the peninsula but also with many offshore islands. Nova Scotia is popular for water sports in the summer, such as kayaking and paddleboarding, and is home to many cute puffins and seals.
The province also boasts the incredibly unique Bay of Fundy, which is one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations, famous for its drastic high and low tides as well as whale watching. The capital city of Halifax is known for its lively waterfront, star-shaped Citadel, and legendary ice hockey team, the Mooseheads.
A low cost of living and high quality of life make Nova Scotia an enjoyable and affordable place to live. The Nova Scotian government introduced organizations with a mandate to help new immigrants find jobs, improve their language skills, and enroll in university, making their integration easier.
The people of Nova Scotia are friendly, welcoming, and live in safe communities. Their healthcare system puts people first, based on need and not financial status. There are also numerous opportunities across various industries in the provincial labour market. Here’s what you need to know about Nova Scotia’s PNP.
Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
Through the Nova Scotia PNP, prospective immigrants to Nova Scotia, who have the skills and experience targeted by the province, may be nominated for immigration. Candidates, who receive a Nova Scotia Nomination certificate, may have their application fast-tracked, speeding up the immigration process.
There are several routes you can take to get a Provincial Nomination. Discover which of these programs is the right one for you below.
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream
To be selected for this stream, you must first be entered into the federal Express Entry pool. The province will choose you from this pool if you meet the labour market needs of Nova Scotia at a particular time. You can only apply if you receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotian Office of Immigration.
| You also need to meet the following requirements: |
|---|
| Issued a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program; |
| You must meet the work experience requirements of the Express Entry you qualified for; |
| You must have enough funds to successfully support and establish you and your dependents in the province; |
| You must have legal status in your country of residence; and |
| The last requirement will change depending on the needs of the province, for example, the last round targeted registered and psychiatric nurses and you had to have work experience in that occupation to qualify. |
Physicians stream
This stream was created to hire health professionals like general practitioners, family physicians, and specialists to work in the province. The Physician Stream enables trained medical professionals to become permanent residents of Nova Scotia, with the help of two medical authorities, the:
- Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA); and the
- Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK)
The stream was created to help the province deal with its shortage of skilled and experienced medical practitioners.
What NOC (National Occupational Classification) Do You Need
| To apply for the Physicians Stream you must have a: |
|---|
| NOC 3112 as either a general practitioner or family physician; or a |
| NOC 3111 as a specialist physician |
Please note that you must have a signed Approved Opportunities with the province’s IWK or NSHA. An Approved Opportunity must :
- Be signed and dated by you and by the person who has authorized it, from either the NSHA or IWK;
- Show that you can apply for a license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the province; and
- Show that you can apply for credentials through the NSHA and IWK
Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
This new stream selects physicians to apply through the Express Entry system. The biggest benefit of this stream is that you could have permanent residency in approximately 6 months, whereas there is a processing time of 18-24 months for the Physicians stream. The downside to the Express Entry stream is that it is a lot more administratively intensive.
Entrepreneur stream
The Entrepreneur Stream is made for experienced business owners and managers who want to live in Nova Scotia. You can start a business or buy an existing one and after you have continued to actively manage your company for longer than one year, you may be nominated for permanent residence in the province.
| To qualify you must: |
|---|
| Be 21 years of age or older; |
| Be interested in living permanently in Nova Scotia, while owning and actively running a business in the province; |
| Have a net worth of at least $600,000; |
| Be able to invest at least $150,000 of their own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia |
| Have at least three years of experience in actively managing and owning a business or five years experience in a senior management position; |
| Have at least a score of 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, and writing for English or French; |
| Have completed a diploma from a Canadian high school or have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), which is not older than five years; |
| Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI); and |
| Receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotian Office of Immigration |
International Graduate Entrepreneur stream
This stream is for international graduate entrepreneurs who have graduated from either a college or university in Nova Scotia. You must have already either bought or started your own business that has been operating for at least one business year.
You must intend to settle in the province and spend most of your time in Nova Scotia while operating your business. This stream allows successful candidates to apply for permanent residence when they get a nomination from the province.
| To Apply You Must: |
|---|
| Be interested in living permanently in Nova Scotia, while owning and directly running a business in the province; |
| Have at least one year of experience in owning and managing your current Nova Scotian business; |
| Have completed a degree or diploma after at least two academic years of full-time study at a university or community college in Nova Scotia; |
| Have a valid post-graduation work permit; |
| Have at least a score of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in speaking, listening, reading, and writing for English or French |
| Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI); and |
| Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration |
International Graduate In Demand Stream
The International Graduates in Demand stream is a new program designed to help recent graduates who have obtained their qualification in one of the following job categories:
- (NOC 3413) Nurses aides; and
- (NOC 4214) Early Childhood educators and assistants
To be eligible for this program you will need to meet the following requirements:
| You Must: |
|---|
| Have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotian employer; |
| Have at least one year of work experience related to the job; |
| Be 21 to 55 years old; |
| Have a high school diploma; |
| Have a certificate, diploma or degree (NOC3413) or diploma or degree (NOC4214); |
| Have met the requirements for completing a course of study within three years of your application. The program must’ve been at least 30 weeks in length and you must have completed at least 50 percent of the program in Nova Scotia.; |
| Score at least a 5 for the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for English or French if you are a skilled worker; or |
| Hve certifications issued by NS regulatory bodies required for job; and |
| Prove you have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents in Nova Scotia. Applicants must have at least CAD$11,000 and an additional CAD$2,000 per dependent |
Skilled Worker stream
This stream helps employers find and employ foreign workers and recent graduates. This stream was created to deal with a shortage of skilled workers, where local Canadians did not have the required skills to deal with these jobs. You can apply for permanent residency through this stream as a skilled (NOC 0,A or B), semi-skilled (NOC C) or low skilled worker (NOC D) as long as you meet the following requirements:
| You Must: |
|---|
| Have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotian employer; |
| Have at least one year of work experience related to the job; |
| Be 21 to 55 years old; |
| Have a high school diploma; |
| Have the right training, skills, and accreditation for the job; |
| Score at least a 5 for the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for English or French if you are a skilled worker; or |
| Score at least a 4 for the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for English or French if you are a semi-skilled or low skilled worker; and |
| Prove you have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents in Nova Scotia. Applicants must have at least CAD$11,000 and an additional CAD$2,000 per dependent |
The Occupations in Demand stream
This stream is targeted specifically at semi-skilled (NOC C) positions that are in high-demand in Nova Scotia. These occupations are subject to change depending on the labour demands of the province. At present the occupations eligible for this stream are:
- Nurse aids, orderlies, and patient service associates (NOC 3413); and
- Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511)
| To be considered eligible you must: |
|---|
| Have a full-time offer of employment in one of the occupations listed above; |
| have at least one years of experience in the same field; |
| be between the ages of 21 and 55; |
| have the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma; and |
| Have the appropriate training or experience for the job offered; |
| Achieve at least a 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark test; |
| Have the minimum specified balance to move and settle in Nova Scotia |
Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry program was made for highly skilled workers to apply to work and live in the province with the chance to gain permanent residence later on. There are two sub-categories for this program, called Category A and Category B. Category A is for applicants with a job offer. Currently, this category is still open. Category B is for applicants who have experience in an opportunity occupation. Please note that this program opens and closes throughout the year, depending on the needs of the province’s labour markets.
| For Applications Under Category A, You Must: |
|---|
| Have a profile that is registered with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Express Entry system; |
| Score at least 67 points based on the six selection factors; |
| Have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotian employer; |
| Have one year of skilled work experience related to the job; |
| Have a Canadian high school degree or a foreign degree that meets the same standards; |
| Show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia; and |
| Score at least a 7 on the CLB for both French and English |
What Is A Valid Job Offer
To qualify for a valid job offer in category A, the job offer must:
- Be made by a legal employer in Nova Scotia;
- Be for a full-time job, with working hours of at least 30 hours a week;
- Be offered at least one year after you get permanent residence in Canada;
- Be for a job that is skill type 0, A, or B
Please note that some jobs do not require an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).
| For Applications Under Category B, You Must: |
|---|
| Have a profile that is registered with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Express Entry system; |
| Score a minimum of 67 points on the six selection factors; |
| Score at least a 7 on the CLB for English and French for CELPIP and IELTS General Test; |
| Have one year of skilled work experience in one of the required occupations; |
| Have a Canadian high school degree or a degree that meets the same standards; |
| Show you can support yourself and your dependents with enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia |
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
This stream chooses applicants who have at least one year of work experience in a skilled occupation in the province. This stream lets you become a permanent resident of Nova Scotia. Please note that this stream is a pilot program and may be changed by the government of Nova Scotia.
| To Apply You Must: |
|---|
| Have at least one year of full time/part-time work experience in Nova Scotia for a skilled job three years before you apply; |
| Have gained legal work experience in the province through for example, a work permit; |
| Be 21 to 55 years old; |
| Have completed a Canadian high school degree or have a degree that is equal to this qualification; or |
| Have completed an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) and have a degree that is acknowledged by a recognized institution; |
| Have the funds needed to support yourself and your dependents in the province; |
| Have the intention to live in the province permanently; |
| Prove your language ability in English or French with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 for NOC 0 and A, or score a CLB of 5 for NOC B. Please note that acceptance tests are the CELPIP and IELTS General Test and TEF; and |
| Have a profile that is registered with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Express Entry system |
Experience
You need the following work experience to qualify. You must have:
- Worked for a Nova Scotian employer;
- Applied within three years of your application with the NSOI and IRCC;
- Worked at least one year or 1,560 hours as either a full-time or part-time worker;
- Worked a job that belongs to Skill Type 0, A, or B; and
- Proved that you meet all the main duties of the above Skill Type you applied with
Be aware that work experience gained by self-employment, volunteer work, unpaid internship and co-op programs do not count towards valid work experience.
So, what now?
If you like what you have read about the fantastic province and the Nova Scotia PNP and want to start your application for a MW Agents, sign up right here and we will call you about the application process. Get great Canadian immigration advice from our professionals.
Immigration FAQ’s
Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is based on the following factors:
- Provincial Nomination;
- Offer of employment;
- Core capital factors;
- Your common-law partner or spouse;
- Skill transferability;
- Previous Canadian study experience;
- Siblings in Canada; and
- French and English Ability
Provincial Nomination (600 Points)
600 points are awarded for an enhanced Nominee certificate from a province in Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Job Offers (50-600 Points)
A Canadian job offer will also earn you points; the number of points is based on the NOC level of the particular job.
Core Human Capital Factors (600 Points)
These take into account your level of education, for example:
- Certificate;
- Diploma; or
- Degree
If you intend to gain higher qualifications, your score will increase. This same point system applies to your legal partner or spouse if you applied together.
Language (150 Points)
Improving your language skills in either English or French through a recognized Canadian institution can also raise your CRS score.
Work Experience
The more experience you have, the more points you earn. This also applies to your legal partner or spouse.
You must:
- Meet all the requirements of the:
- Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC);
- Federal Skilled Trades Class; or
- Canadian Experience Class
You must register with the Canadian Job Bank within 30 days unless:
- You have arranged employment from a Canadian employer; or
- You have received a nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program
You must have a Labour Market Impact Assessment in order to earn Comprehensive Ranking System points, unless you:
- Have worked full time for an employer with a work permit for a least one year (or a part-time job for an equal amount of time);
- Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer that is for at least one year in duration; or
- Have a valid employer specific temporary work permit exempt under code R204 (a), (c) or R205
If you qualify for any of the Federal Programs, you have 30 days from when you submit your profile to complete the rest of the requirements like registering with the Job Bank. If you do not, your Express Entry profile cannot be activated.
There are three programs to apply for under Express Entry:
- Skilled Federal Worker Program (SFWP);
- Skilled Federal Trades Program (SFTP); or
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The following factors affect your eligibility:
Work Experience
You must:
- Have gained relevant work experience for a job listed in the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Note: Work experience gained in another occupation you have not applied for does not apply;
- Have gained work experience in the past 10 years;
- Have received payment for your work;
- Have a job at skill level 0, A or B;
- Have a year’s worth of work experience (minimum 1,560 hours); and
- Prove that your work experience fits the requirements of the NOC
Language Ability
You must:
- Meet the minimum language level set by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB);
- Take a language proficiency test That is approved by IRCC;
- You must meet the language requirements for either French or English; and
- Your language test results must not be more than two years old when you apply
Education
You must:
- Have completed canadian secondary education; and a tertiary certificate, diploma or degree;
- Have completed foreign credentials; or
- Have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by IRCC
Proof of Funds
You must prove you can support yourself and your family financially, unless:
- You are working in Canada; or
- You have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
Additional Factors to Be Considered
- Age;
- Valid job offers; and
- Adaptability
This program is aimed at people who wish to become permanent residents (PR) of Canada. This only applies to people who qualify in a skilled trade.
Minimum Requirements
You must:
- Plan to live outside of Quebec (The province has its own Quebec Skilled Worker Program);
- Meet the language requirements for English and French;
- Have two years’ work experience in a skilled trade (or equal amount of experience in a part time position;
- Have work experience within the past 5 years;
- Meet the job requirements in the National Occupational Classifications;
- Have a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer for a minimum of one year; or
- A certificate of qualification for that skilled trade that is confirmed from the Canadian provincial or territorial government authority
Skilled Work Experience
These skilled trades are involved in the Federal Skilled Trades Program as ranked by the National Occupational Classification.
| Group Number | Job Description |
|---|---|
| 72 | Industrial, construction or electrical trades |
| 73 | Equipment operation and maintenance |
| 82 | Technical and supervisors in:
|
| 92 | Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisor Central control operators |
| 632 | Cooks and chefs |
| 633 | Bakers and butchers |
Education
You do not need a specific qualification for this program, but you can earn more CRS points if you have:
- Foreign qualifications;
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by IRCC;or
- A Canadian certificate, diploma or degree
Language Ability
- Pass the Canadian Language Benchmark test at minimum language level;
- The language test must be approved by IRCC; and
- Your test results must not be older than two years when you apply.
Be assessed by the province or territory
Each of the provinces or territories have different requirements for the skilled trade industry.
Minimum Requirements
Minimum Requirements
You must:
- Have skilled work experience for at least 12 months (either full time or part time for the same amount of time) within three years before you apply;
- Have the required language skills needed for your job;
- Have gained experience in Canada with proper authorization;
- Have the language proficiency needed for your job; and
- Have plans to live outside of Quebec
Skilled Work Experience
Work experience must be gained in the following job levels based on the National Occupational Classifications.
| Job Description | Skill Type |
|---|---|
| Technical jobs | B |
| Skilled trades | B |
| Professional jobs | A |
| Managerial jobs | 0 |
Education
You do not need an education to apply for this program, but you can score higher if you:
- Have a high school diploma, tertiary diploma or degree;
- Have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by IRCC; or
- Have completed foreign credentials
Language Ability
To qualify you must score well in the various language tests determined by the CEC.
| Canadian Language Benchmark Score Needed | Job Level (NOC) |
|---|---|
| 7 | 0 |
| 7 | A |
| 5 | B |
The language test must be approved by IRCC and must not be older than two years when you apply.
- Have skilled work experience for at least 12 months (either full time or part time for the same amount of time) within three years before you apply;
- Have the required language skills needed for your job;
- Have gained experience in Canada with proper authorization;
- Have language levels need for your job; and
- Have plans to live outside of Quebec
Note:work experience gained as a student or a self-employed individual does not count.
Skilled Work Experience
Work experience must be within three years of applying for the Canadian Experience Class. Work experience must be gained in the following job levels as based on National Occupational Classifications.
| Job description | Skill Type |
|---|---|
| Technical jobs | B |
| Skilled trades | B |
| Professional jobs | A |
| Managerial jobs | 0 |
Education
You do not need an education to apply for this program, but you can score higher if:
- have a high school diploma and/or tertiary diploma or degree;
- have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; or have
- completed foreign credentials
Note: Only apply for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your foreign education is either equal to, or higher than the Canadian education standard.
Language Ability
To qualify you must score well in:
- the Canadian Language Benchmark; and
- the language tests
| Canadian Language Benchmark score needed | Job level (NOC) |
|---|---|
| 7 | 0 |
| 7 | A |
| 5 | B |
The Language Test must be approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada .These tests are based off your French and English ability to:
- Read;
- Speak;
- Listen; and
- Write
Your test results must be included if you are applying for this program through the Express Entry program. Note: these tests must not be older than two years when you apply.
Principal Applicant
When you apply for the Express Entry, and want to immigrate with your common law partner, you must choose who will be the principal applicant.
Note: a common law partner is a person who has been married to you for one year. This applies for same sex and opposite sex partners.
Choose the principal applicant by looking at who will score the highest points under the Express Entry program.
Inadmissibility
You may be inadmissible if you are:
- Considered a security risk;
- Lied about information in your application or interview;
- Have ties to organised crime;
- Can’t support yourself financially;
- Have terrible financial health;
- Committed a crime outside of Canada;
- Do not qualify under Canada’s immigration laws; and
- Have a family member that is not allowed in the country
Choosing Where To Live
Note:under the Express Entry you can apply to live in other provinces/territories in Canada, except Quebec. This province has its own set of requirements needed for you to enter.
These are the factors that are used to calculate CRS Points
- Age (max 110 points);
- Education (max 150 points);
- Language proficiency (max 160 points);
- Canadian Work Experience (max 80 points);
- Skills Transferability (max 100 points); and
- Additional Factors (max 600 points)
A legal agent is an authorized representative that must be:
- A paralegal or lawyer who has a good relationship with the provincial or territorial legal societies of Canada;
- A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) who has a good relationship with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council; or
- A notary who has a good relationship with the Chambre des notaires du Québec
Note: An unauthorized agent will not be able to help you with your application.
If you want to ensure that your Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is an authorized consultant, you can check with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).
The ICCRC’s website has a register of all the persons that are qualified to be Canadian Immigration Consultants. Any individual who claims to be a legal consultant will have a RCIC code. If there are no results for a person’s RCIC code, then they are not a legal Canadian Immigration Consultant.
