The Nova Scotia PNP is the first step in a two-step application process for a permanent resident visa to Canada. Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) allows the Government of Nova Scotia to recruit and select immigrants who intend to settle in the province, and have the skills, education, and work experience needed to make an immediate contribution to labour market and economic needs.

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Stream

The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in the Province of Nova Scotia permanently and either have a permanent full-time job offer from a Nova Scotia employer or have a reasonable ability to attach quickly to Nova Scotia’s labour market.

The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration reserves the right to consider only certain types of jobs and occupations for nomination, depending on the current economic situation of the Nova Scotia labour market needs. Provincial priorities may change as skill shortages are met by permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

There are two categories under the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream:

1. Category 1: Arranged employment in Nova Scotia.- You have a permanent full-time job offer (in NOC 2011 Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B) from a Nova Scotia employer. The job offer must meet the arranged employment requirements of the Nova Scotia PNP.
2. Category 2: Paid Work Experience in an Opportunity Occupation.- You have at least one year of continuous full-time (or 1,560 hours or more) or an equal amount in part-time paid work experience in the last five years in one of the opportunity occupations.

Once you have determined that you meet the eligibility criteria in one of the two categories, you must also meet all minimum requirements for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream, obtain sufficient points under the selection factors, and meet the Minimum Funds requirement.

Nova Scotia PNP Skilled Worker Stream

Defined as individuals with occupation within the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level O, A or B. Priority will be awarded to these higher skilled occupations.
The basic requirements of the Nova Scotia PNP Skilled Worker Stream are:

• Legal status in your country of residence (or Canada)
• Be between the ages of 21 and 55
• Have a full-time, permanent job offer from an established employer in Nova Scotia
• You have completed the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma with a minimum of 12years of education and/or training from a recognized institution or authority.
  You have the appropriate education, training and qualifications, as well as licensing or accreditation required for the position, or a suitable plan to obtain the necessary accreditation.
  For occupations requiring licensing or certification in Nova Scotia, please contact the appropriate provincial, national and/or industry regulatory association prior to applying to verify that you meet licensing or certification requirements
• If your first language is not English or French, your written proof or explanation must clearly show that you meet the criteria listed in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) for at least CLB/NCLC level 5
• You have sufficient work experience of 12 months related to the position and skills for the job
• You can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Province, your genuine intention and ability to live in Nova Scotia
• You can demonstrate that you have sufficient settlement supports and financial resources, including transferable funds in your name or your spouse’s name, in order to pay your immigration costs and travel expenses (if applicable) and to successfully establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia PNP Regional Labour Market Demand Stream

The Regional Labour Market Demand stream of the Nova Scotia PNP is aimed at selecting individuals who meet the labour market needs, are destined to join the labour market with a full-time and permanent position, and wish to live in the Province of Nova Scotia permanently.

This stream targets individuals whose skills and experience meet Nova Scotia labour market needs. Applicants are not required to have a job offer at the time of submitting their application. However, they must intend to pursue employment in an occupation that has been designated by the province as In-Demand Occupations.

In addition, eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• You are between the ages of 21 and 55 at the time the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration receives your complete application;
• You have achieved a minimum language standard on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) for at least CLB/NCLC level 5
• Your intended occupation is a Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B and there is demonstrated demand for this occupation in the regional labour market in the community in which you intend to live (see below in Further Information on Occupations and Assessing a Region’s Labour Market Needs);
• You are a citizen of or hold a passport or other documentation permitting you to legally reside in your current country of residence;
• You have the required amount of funds
• You have completed the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma with a minimum of twelve (12) years of education and/or training from a recognized educational institution AND you have completed and received a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized post-secondary educational institution or training program. The post-secondary education or training program must have been at least one academic year in length.
• You have at least two (2) years of continuous full-time work experience within the last five (5) years, in a field of work related to your intended occupation in Nova Scotia;
• You can demonstrate that you will become economically established in Nova Scotia and that you intend to live in the province permanently;
• You have completed an Employment and Settlement Plan which outlines your potential economic, labour market and social contributions to the community

Nova Scotia PNP Family Business Worker Stream

The Nova Scotia PNP Family Business Worker stream helps employers hire workers who are close relatives, and have the work experience and required skills for positions employers may have been unable to fill with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.

The worker or the spouse must be related to the family business owner or spouse of the business owner in one of the following ways. The worker is the business owner’s :

• Son or daughter
• Brother or sister
• Niece or nephew (children of brothers or sisters)
• Uncle or aunt (parent’s brothers or sisters)
• Grandchild

Note: At this time, under the Family Business Worker stream, the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration will not consider low-skilled occupations that fall under the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill level D.

Please Contact Us for more information on these programs.