1. Nova Scotia Physician Stream
Applicants under this stream include health professionals including general practitioners, family specialists, and family physicians. The stream allows trained medical professionals to gain permanent resident status in Nova Scotia.
An applicant can file for nomination through these authorities:
- Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA); and
- Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK)
- NOC 3112 as a family physician or general practitioner, or
- NOC 3111 as a specialist.
- Demonstrate that your credentials are valid for the application,
- Demonstrate that you can apply for a license with the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, and
- Be dated and signed by you and the authorized person.
2. Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream
Applicants under this stream include business owners and senior managers who are willing to establish a new business or purchase an existing business in Nova Scotia. Business owners and managers who manage the business activity for more than a year can apply for permanent residency in Nova Scotia under this category.
To qualify for this category, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old;
- Be willing to immigrate to Nova Scotia permanently to manage the business;
- Have a personal net worth of at least CAD$600,000;
- Be able to make a personal investment of at least CAD$150,000 in a business in Nova Scotia;
- Have at least three years of experience as a business owner or five years of experience as a senior manager;
- Have completed a diploma from a Canadian institution or have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), not older for more than five years;
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5;
- Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI); and
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the immigration office of the province.
3. Nova Scotia International Graduate Entrepreneur
Applicants under this stream include international graduate entrepreneurs who graduated from any Canadian college or university, and established their business or purchased an existing business for at least one year now. Applicants must be willing to settle in Nova Scotia while managing their businesses to meet eligibility. Under this stream, eligible candidates receive a nomination for permanent residence in the province.
To qualify for this category, you must:
- Be willing to settle in Nova Scotia permanently while managing your business;
- Have at least one year of experience as a business owner or manager in Nova Scotia;
- Have completed a degree or diploma at a university or college in Nova Scotia, for at least two academic years;
- Have a valid post-graduation work permit;
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7;
- Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI); and
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the immigration office of the province.
4. Nova Scotia Skilled Worker Stream
Applicants under this stream include foreign workers and graduates who can meet the workforce requirements of employers. The purpose is to fill the job positions for which local Canadians do not have sufficient skills.
Skilled workers may be more in demand, as compared to semi-skilled and low-skilled workers.
To qualify for this stream, you must:
- Be 21 to 55 years old;
- Have a valid full-time job offer from an employer in Nova Scotia;
- Have at least one year of relevant experience;
- Have a high-school diploma;
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5, if you are a skilled worker;
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4, if you are a semi-skilled worker;
- Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself (CAD$11,000) and your family (extra CAD$2,000 per dependent).
5. Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream
Applicants under this stream have to first enter the federal Express Entry pool. The province nominates selective applicants as per the labour market needs. Candidates in this stream can create an application only if they have received a Letter of Interest from the province’s immigration office. To qualify for this stream, you must:- Receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program;
- Have relevant work experience;
- Have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family; and
- Have legal status in your residential country.
6. Nova Scotia Occupations in Demand Stream
Applicants under this stream include a few specified labour groups in the province. Immigration offices of different provinces and territories update the Occupation in Demand. However, occupations under this stream can change as per the market needs. To qualify for this stream, you must:- Be 21 to 55 years old;
- Have a full-time employment offer as a Patient service associate, Nurse Aid, or truck driver;
- Have at least one year of relevant experience;
- Have a high-school diploma;
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4;
- Have sufficient financial resources to settle in Nova Scotia.
7. Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
Applicants under this stream include highly skilled workers, who can work and live in the province and can get nominated for permanent residence later. This stream has two sub-categories, these are:
Category A includes applicants with a job offer. This category is open.
Category B includes applicants with work experience in any opportunity occupation. This category opens and closes in a year, respective to the needs of labour markets.
To qualify under Category A, you must:
- Have a registered Express Entry profile with IRCC;
- Have a minimum score of at least 67 points based on the six selection factors;
- Have a full-time job offer from an employer in Nova Scotia;
- Have at least one year of relevant work experience;
- Have a high-school degree in Canada or an equivalent foreign degree;
- Have sufficient financial resources; and
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7.
- Have a registered Express Entry profile with IRCC;
- Have a minimum score of at least 67 points based on the six selection factors;
- Have a high-school degree in Canada or an equivalent foreign degree;
- Have at least one year of relevant work experience;
- Have sufficient financial resources; and
- Have English or French language proficiency equivalent to at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7.
- Age (maximum points: 12)
- Education (maximum points: 25)
- Language proficiency in either English or French (maximum points: 28)
- Job offers (maximum points: 10)
- Work experience (maximum points: 15)
- Adaptability (maximum points: 10)
8. Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
This stream includes only those candidates who have prior work experience with any Nova Scotian employer for at least one year. To qualify for this stream, you must:- Be 21 to 55 years old;
- Have at least one year of work experience in Nova Scotia for a skilled job;
- Have completed a degree from a Canadian high school or have equivalent qualification;
- Have completed your ECA (Educational Credentials Assessment) and a degree by an accredited institution;
- Have sufficient financial resources;
- Have the will to settle permanently in the province;
- Have scored CLB level 7 for NOC 0 and A, or scored a CLB level 5 for NOC B, in either French or English;
- Have created your Express Entry profile with the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).
- Worked for an employer in Nova Scotia;
- Worked for at least one year or 1,560 hours;
- Worked for a job with NOC code 0, A, or B; and
- Applied within three years of your application with the NSOI or IRCC.
9. Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) was introduced in 2017, with a purpose to meet workforce needs in the province.
Companies have to first apply to become a part of the program. As of now, there are 62 companies associated with AIPP to welcome foreign talent in Nova Scotia. Applicants under this program can directly apply for Canadian permanent residency to the IRCC. If processing times are longer than expected, then nominated candidates can get a temporary work permit.
To qualify for AIPP, an employer must:
- Have a legal company and operating activities as per the provincial business norms;
- Have a brief list of the labour requirements in the company;
- Have a plan for the retention of the foreign workers;
- Demonstrate that the company is not able to fill the positions with local Canadians;
- Have an offer for only full-time employment; and
- Have a settlement plan signed and acknowledged by the foreign worker.
- Employers must be aware if they have to provide a positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) to demonstrate that they are not able to fill the job position;
- If applicable, employers have to apply for an LMIA with the ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) to demonstrate that job offer is legal;
- Employers have to interview the potential candidates, if selected, provide the candidate:
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- Job offer;
- A copy of the LMIA; and
- A Letter of Employment.
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- After receiving a Letter of Employment, workers can apply for a work permit to the IRCC. In a few cases, applicants may need a temporary resident visa.
