Nova Scotia Immigration Programs

Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces, with close to 1 million inhabitants. Halifax, Nova Scotia’s capital, is a port city and major business centre. It is home to over 431,000 residents. Nova Scotia is known for its friendly atmosphere, and its views of the ocean are second to none.

If you are interested in immigrating to Nova Scotia, you must learn about the province’s immigration system, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).

If you have the right skills, education, and experience to contribute to Nova Scotia’s economy, you can apply to the NSNP for a nomination to become a permanent resident.

Individuals from both within and outside of Canada are eligible to apply for the NSNP. To qualify, an individual must fit into one of the following streams:

• Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream: For individuals who have an active profile in the Federal Express Entry program who meet the needs of Nova Scotia’s labour market. You must have also received a Letter of Interest (LOI) from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.
• Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Physician stream: For individuals who have an active profile in the Federal Express Entry program and an approved offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre. You must have also received a Letter of Interest (LOI) from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.
• Skilled Worker stream: For individuals who have an offer of a full-time, permanent job from an employer in Nova Scotia.
  • Skilled workers must have at least one year of job-related work experience
  • Semi-skilled and low-skilled workers must have at least six months of experience with the employer
  • Individuals must be 21 to 55 years of age, have at least a high school education, and must possess any required training, skills, and/or accreditation for the position
• Occupations in Demand stream: For individuals who have an offer of a full-time, permanent job from an employer in Nova Scotia in either NOC 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) or NOC 7511 (Transport truck drivers)
  • Skilled workers must have at least one year of job-related work experience
  • Individuals must be 21 to 55 years of age, have at least a high school education, and must possess any required training, skills, and/or accreditation for the position
• Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream: For individuals who are highly skilled and willing to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.
  • Individuals must be 21 to 55 years of age, have a Canadian high school education or equivalent, and at least one year of work experience within Nova Scotia
  • Individuals must have an active profile in the Federal Express Entry program

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP) is a partnership between the Canadian federal government and the four Atlantic provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The program allows employers in Atlantic Canada to hire qualified candidates for positions they are unable to staff locally.

Individuals from both within and outside of Canada can be considered for the AIP. To apply for the AIP, an individual must:

• Have a job offer from a designated employer,
• Have graduated from a publicly funded institution in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces, OR
• Be a skilled worker who meets the program’s requirements.

There are three programs within the AIP, with the following criteria:

Atlantic International Graduate Program: For individuals who have a degree, diploma, or other appropriate credentials from a publicly funded institution in an Atlantic province. To qualify, an individual must have lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the two years before obtaining the degree, diploma, or other credentials.

Atlantic High-Skilled Program: For individuals who have worked in a management, professional, or technical/skilled job for at least one year. In terms of education, the individual must have at minimum a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program: For individuals who have worked in a job that required high school or on-the-job training for at least one year. In terms of education, the individual must have at minimum a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

For all programs, an individual must pass an appropriate language test, and demonstrate financial stability so they can support themselves and any family upon arrival in Canada.

Once you know which category and stream you meet the requirements for, you must apply online through the Government of Nova Scotia’s website. Please note that the application may take one hour or more to complete. Application processing times may vary.