Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
How the Nova Scotia Nominee Program works — Labour Market Priorities, Experience: Express Entry, physician and skilled worker streams, from a licensed RCIC.
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program nominates skilled workers through Express Entry-linked and employer-driven streams. Labour Market Priorities selects candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool without a job offer, while the Skilled Worker and Occupations In Demand streams are built around an offer from a Nova Scotia employer. Dedicated streams exist for physicians and for graduates working in the province.
Key facts
| Program | Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) |
|---|---|
| Main stream families | Labour Market Priorities, Experience: Express Entry, Skilled Worker, Occupations In Demand, Physician, International Graduate Entrepreneur |
| Job offer | Not required for Labour Market Priorities; required for the Skilled Worker and Occupations In Demand streams |
| Express Entry link | Enhanced — Labour Market Priorities and Experience: Express Entry both draw from the federal pool |
| Atlantic option | Nova Scotia employers can also hire through the federal Atlantic Immigration Program, which is separate from the NSNP |
| Healthcare | A dedicated Physician stream for offers from Nova Scotia Health or the IWK Health Centre |
| Current criteria and intake | Verify on the official NSNP website before applying |
Who may qualify?
- Express Entry candidates matching a Labour Market Priorities targeted draw
- Candidates with at least one year of skilled work experience in Nova Scotia
- Skilled workers with a permanent full-time offer from a Nova Scotia employer
- Physicians with an offer from a Nova Scotia health employer
- International graduates starting or buying a business in the province
Eligibility requirements
- Meeting the eligibility criteria of the specific stream you apply under
- Approved language test results at the minimum level that stream requires
- An educational credential assessment where the stream requires foreign education to be assessed
- Proof of settlement funds where the stream requires it
- Genuine intention to live and work in the nominating province or territory
How it works: step by step
- 1
Confirm your NOC and TEER
Provincial streams are built around National Occupational Classification codes, so confirm the code that matches your actual duties before anything else.
- 2
Check the current stream criteria
Open the official provincial page and confirm the stream is accepting applications and that you meet its current criteria.
- 3
Register or submit an expression of interest
Most jurisdictions ask you to register a profile first and issue invitations from that pool.
- 4
Apply for nomination
Submit the provincial application with supporting documents within the deadline stated in your invitation.
- 5
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
A nomination is not permanent residence. You then file a federal PR application — through Express Entry if the stream is enhanced, or on paper if it is a base stream.
Expert insight
Applicants often overlook that Nova Scotia has two separate doors: the provincial nominee streams and the federal Atlantic Immigration Program. An employer who cannot support one is sometimes designated for the other.
Alternative pathways
Frequently asked questions
Immigration programs, fees and processing times change frequently. This page is general information, not immigration advice. Verify current requirements with official Government of Canada sources or speak with our RCIC.