Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of the best family friendly and affordable living Canadian province. Nova scotia is surrounded by the natural beauty of the rolling sea, lush green forests, lakes, and farmland. Growing cities and low cost of living, attracts many immigrants ever year.

• Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
• Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
• Physician
• Entrepreneur
• International Graduate Entrepreneur
• International Graduates In Demand
• Skilled Worker
• Occupations in Demand
• Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: Only candidates who receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration may apply.

Minimum requirements:

• 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.

Labour Market Priorities for Physicians: This stream is for the candidates who have approved offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre who receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration may apply.

Minimum requirements:

• have an approved opportunity from the NSHA or IWK as either a general practitioner and family physician (NOC 3112) or a specialist physician (NOC 3111);
• 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.

Physician: This stream is for general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians.

The Physician Stream is only open to general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 3112) and specialist physicians (NOC 3111) 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:

Minimum requirements:

• 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

Entrepreneur: This stream is for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Nova Scotia. They must start a new business or buy an existing business and must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business.

Minimum requirements:

• 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

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.

Minimum requirements:

• 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
• receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.

International Graduate Entrepreneur: 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 3413: nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
• NOC 4214: early childhood educators and assistants

Minimum requirements:

• 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 3413, your program must grant a certificate, diploma, or degree.
• If you are applying under NOC 4214, 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.

Skilled Worker: The Skilled Worker stream is for foreign workers and recently graduated international students who have full time permanent job offer  from a Nova Scotia employer.

Minimum requirements:

• have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer
• have 1 year of work experience related to the job. (Semi-skilled and low-skilled workers 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 a skilled worker. If your first language is English or French, that is enough proof. Semi-skilled and low-skilled workers 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.

Nova Scotia Experience: This stream is for people who have one year working experience in Nova Scotia in a skilled occupation.

Minimum requirements:

• 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) 0 and A. You need CLB 5 for NOC B positions