The province of Nova Scotia is a small Canadian province with many smaller islands. The province is famous for its attractive seaside and divine culinary.
The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program offers nomination for the applicants with skills and experience required by the province. The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program(NSNP) started in the year 2003 to provide the economic and labor market needs for the province. In the past two decades the immigration in Nova Scotia has been on the rise especially since the year 2017 with the launch of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP).
There are different immigration streams under which an applicant may get nominated by the Nova Scotia province:-
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Occupation In-Demand Stream
- International Graduates In-Demand
- Entrepreneur Stream
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Physician Stream
This stream is for the skilled applicants having at least one year of work experience with an employer in Nova Scotia and an active Express Entry profile with the federal government. To submit an application, the applicant needs to prepare the required information and documents and upload on the Nova Scotia website. Once the application is processed and if the applicant is nominated, they will receive an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points which will enhance the possibility of receiving an invitation to apply for Permanent Residence in the Express Entry upcoming draw.
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
The applicants with an existing and active Express Entry profile, meeting the specific labor market needs in a skilled occupation, will have an opportunity to apply under this stream. However, the skilled occupations are a subject to change with each invitation round. In order to apply under this stream, the applicant first needs to receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI). Only after receiving the Letter of Interest, the applicant will be able to apply and upload their documents to the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program website. The nomination will be sent to the applicant’s email address as well as Express Entry profile. After receiving and accepting the extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, the applicant will be eligible to apply for Permanent Residence in the Express Entry upcoming draw.
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
The stream is created for general practitioners, specialist and family physicians having a valid job offer in Nova Scotia and an active Express Entry profile. To start the application process, the applicant must send an Express Entry profile number to NSOI and wait for the issuance of the Letter of Interest. If the letter is issued, the applicant may proceed to apply for a nomination to the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program and send all supporting documents. If the applicant is nominated, he or she will receive the additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. An invitation to apply for Permanent Residence will be sent to the applicant, in the next Express Entry draw.
Skilled Worker Stream
The Skilled Worker stream is for all skilled, semi-skilled and low-skilled workers holding a valid job offer from an employer based in Nova Scotia. All documents required for receiving a nomination, must be uploaded by the applicant on the Nova Scotia website. If the applicant qualifies, the nomination will be sent to the applicant’s email and the IRCC. Further, the applicant needs to apply for Permanent Residence to the IRCC in the following 6 months after nomination. Also, the applicant may submit a request to the NSOI for a Letter of Support to receive a temporary work permit, which allows the applicant to remain in Nova Scotia and wait for the processing of their permanent residence application.
Occupation In-Demand Stream
The stream is created to focus on specific occupations in NOC Skill Level C related jobs which are in high demand in Nova Scotia. After the applicant reviews the eligibility requirements, prepares the supporting documents and submits the application on Nova Scotia website, if successful, the applicant will receive a nomination to their email address. Same nomination will be sent to the IRCC. Further, the applicant needs to apply for Permanent Residence to the IRCC in the following 6 months after nomination. Also, the applicant may submit a request to the NSOI for a Letter of Support to receive a temporary work permit, which allows the applicant to remain in Nova Scotia and wait for the processing of their permanent residence application.
International Graduates In-Demand
The stream is only for international graduates who are holding a valid job offer from the employer in Nova Scotia as orderlies, nurse aides, patient service associates or early childhood educators and assistants. The applicants meeting the eligibility requirements are encouraged to submit all the supporting documents to the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program(NSNP) website and apply for nomination. If the nomination is issued, the applicant will receive an email. Also, the IRCC will receive a nomination certificate as well. The next step is to apply for Permanent Residence directly to IRCC in the following 6 months after receiving nomination. The applicant may submit a request to the NSOI for a Letter of Support to receive a temporary work permit, which allows the applicant to remain in Nova Scotia and wait for the processing of their permanent residence application.
Entrepreneur Stream
This stream is for all applicants who have a desire to start up a business or buy a business and move to Nova Scotia on permanent basis. Firstly, the applicant must meet the required eligibility criteria to apply for an Expression of Interest to the province of Nova Scotia on their website. In regard to the answers provided, the applicant will receive points. The applicants with the highest point scores will be invited to apply (ITA). Secondly, after receiving the ITA, the applicant will need to submit an application to Nova Scotia and enclose an application form, a business establishment plan, and a net worth verification report. There are specific timelines the applicant must follow to submit all required supporting documents. Thirdly, once meeting the requirements the applicant will be invited for an in person interview. After the interview the applicant will be sent a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) to review, sign and return to the Nova Scotia. Further, the applicant will receive an Entrepreneur Approval Letter (EAL) and guidelines on how to apply for a work permit in the following two months after receiving the EAL, which will allow the applicant to remain in Nova Scotia and set up the business. The applicant must follow the instructions upon arrival to Nova Scotia and fulfil all the terms set out in the BPA (transfer funds, request for nomination, submit special reports). Finally, if all steps are verified and met with the eligibility requirements, the applicant will receive a confirmation of nomination. The same nomination will be sent to IRCC, and in the next 6 months, the applicant can apply for Permanent Residence through IRCC.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
For the applicant to be eligible to apply under International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, they first need to meet the following requirements:
- be a graduate who completed at least 2-year full-time study from a recognized Nova Scotia university or community college,
- have run their own business in Nova Scotia for at least one year, and
- would like to stay in Nova Scotia on permanent basis.
The applicant must meet the required eligibility criteria to apply for an Expression of Interest to the province of Nova Scotia on their website. In regard to the answers provided, the applicant will receive points. The applicants with the highest point scores will be invited to apply (ITA). After receiving the ITA, the applicant will need to submit an application to Nova Scotia and enclose an application form, all supporting documents, and a review engagement and special purpose report. The application must be submitted on Nova Scotia immigration website and an option of designated Financial Statement Review Service Providers must be selected to evaluate the financial statements of the applicant and provide the necessary report. If all the requirements are met, the officer will conduct an in person interview and issue a nomination certificate, if the applicant meets the requirements and satisfies the officer. The nomination will be issued to the applicant and the IRCC. In the next 6 months, the applicant can apply for Permanent Residence through IRCC.
Physician Stream
This stream is generated for internationally-trained general practitioners, specialist and family physicians who are holding a signed offer of employment from healthcare authorities of Nova Scotia. If the applicant is eligible for this stream, they can prepare and collect all the necessary documents and submit an online application on Nova Scotia immigration website. After the application is approved the nomination certificate will be issued to the applicant and the IRCC. At this point the applicant can submit the Permanent Residence application to IRCC. The IRCC may request for an interview after receiving the application. The applicant may submit a request to the NSOI for a Letter of Support to receive a temporary work permit, which allows the applicant to remain in Nova Scotia and wait for the processing of their permanent residence application. The letter of support replaced the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
To find out more about the eligibility criteria, contact us!
