Eligibility

To apply you must:

• receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry system;
• submit your application within 30 calendar days of the date on which your letter of interest was issued;
• meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream for which you have qualified;
• demonstrate sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia and to pay your immigration costs and travel expenses;
• have legal status in your current country of residence;
• meet eligibility criteria in place at the time you are issued a Letter of Interest; and
• have a valid Express Entry number and meet all IRCC criteria for the Express Entry pool.

How to apply

If you have received a Letter of Interest, complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.

Labour Market Priorities 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 Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) may apply.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• have an approved opportunity from the NSHA or IWK as either a general practitioner and family physician (NOC 31102) or a specialist physician (NOC 31100 and NOC 31101);
• provide a copy of a signed Return for Service Agreement with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness indicating commitment to live and work in Nova Scotia for a minimum period of two years;
• receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry system;
• submit your application within 30 calendar days of the date on which your Letter of Interest was issued;
• meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream for which you have qualified;
• demonstrate sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia and to pay your immigration costs and travel expenses; and
• have legal status in your current country of residence.

How to apply

• Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.

Physician

Eligibility

The Physician Stream is only open to general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) and specialist physicians (NOC 31100 and NOC 31101) with signed approved opportunities with the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre.

The approved opportunity must be on official NSHA or IWK letterhead and must:

• Be signed and dated by a person authorized to hire physicians at the NSHA or IWK
• Be signed and dated by the applicant who is accepting the opportunity
• Indicate eligibility for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NS
• Indicate that the applicant is eligible to apply for privileges and credentials with NSHA and the IWK

How to apply

  Gather all supporting documentation required for your application.

  Complete the online application form.

Entrepreneur

Eligibility

• be 21 years of age or older;
• want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business;
• have a net worth of at least $600,000 CAD;
• be able to invest at least $150,000 CAD of your own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia;
• have at least 3 years’ experience actively managing and owning a business (1/3 ownership minimum) OR more than 5 years’ experience in a senior business management role;
• have a score of at least 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French;
• complete an online Expression of Interest;
• receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration

How to apply

  Complete the Expression of Interest.

  If you are invited to apply, complete the application form and include all required information and attachments.

International Graduate Entrepreneur

The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for recent graduates of a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College. They must have already started or bought a Nova Scotia business and operated it for at least a year. If they intend to settle in Nova Scotia, the graduate may be nominated for permanent resident status. Application to the stream is by invitation only.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business;
• have at least one year’s continuous experience actively managing and owning your current Nova Scotia business (33.33% ownership minimum);
• have completed a degree or diploma after at least 2 academic years of full-time, in-person study at a university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College;
• have a valid post-graduation work permit;
• have a score of at least 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French;
• complete an online Expression of Interest;
• receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.

How to apply

• Complete the Expression of Interest.
• If you are invited to apply, complete the application form and include all required information and attachments.

International Graduates in Demand

The International Graduates in Demand stream is for recent international graduates whose skills and education match specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) job categories. This stream is currently open to workers in 2 NOC job categories:

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

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in a job category listed above that corresponds with your recent field of study;
• be 21 to 55 years old;
• have a high school diploma;
• have met requirements for completing a course of study within three years of your application. The program must have been at least 30 weeks in length. You must have completed at least 50% of the program in Nova Scotia.
  • If you are applying under NOC 33102, your program must grant a certificate, diploma, or degree.
  • If you are applying under NOC 42202, your program must grant a diploma or a degree.
• have certifications issued by NS regulatory bodies required for the job;
• prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 even if your first language is English or French;
• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

How to apply

Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.

Skilled Worker

Eligibility

• have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer;
• have 1 year of work experience related to the job. Workers in TEER category 4 or 5 of the National Occupational Classification must already have six months’ experience with the employer.);
• be 21 to 55 years old;
• have a high school diploma;
• have the appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job;
• prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 if you are in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. If your first language is English or French, that is enough proof. Workers in a NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupation must have test results to prove they meet CLB 4 even if their first language is English or French;
• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

How to apply

Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.

Occupations in Demand

The Occupations in Demand stream targets specific TEER category 3, 4 or 5 occupations of the National Occupational Classification that are in high labour market demand in Nova Scotia. Labour, Skills and Immigration identifies occupations in demand based on labour market information and eligible occupations are subject to change.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in either
  • NOC 33102 (Nurse Aides)
  • NOC 65200 (Food and beverage servers)
  • NOC 65201 (Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations)
  • NOC 65310 (Light duty cleaners)
  • NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers)
  • NOC 73400 (Heavy equipment operators)
  • NOC 75110 (Construction trades helpers and labourers)
• have 1 year of work experience related to the job;
• be 21 to 55 years old;
• have a high school diploma;
• have the appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job;
• prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 even if your first language is English or French;
• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
• prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 if you are in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. If your first language is English or French, that is enough proof. Workers in a NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupation must have test results to prove they meet CLB 4 even if their first language is English or French;
• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

How to apply

Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently. Applicants must have at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in an occupation at TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• have at least 1 year of work experience in Nova Scotia;
• be 21 to 55 years old;
• have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent;
• prove language ability in English or French on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). You need CLB 7 for skilled work in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) category 0 and 1. You need CLB 5 for NOC category 2 and 3 positions;
• have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system

How to apply

Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.