The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is a program that allows Nova Scotia to nominate immigrants to fill the economic and labour market needs of the province.

Nova Scotia offers two immigration streams connected to the federal Express Entry system, known as enhanced Express Entry streams. These include Nova Scotia Demand (see question 10), Nova Scotia Experience (see question 12), and Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities. Receiving an enhanced provincial nomination through one of these streams grants candidates an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), leading to an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a future Express Entry draw.

This stream is for experienced business owners and senior business managers looking to start or acquire a business in Nova Scotia where they will actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program Entrepreneur Stream is a temporary to permanent residence program whereby approved applicants operate a business in Nova Scotia on a valid work permit for at least one continuous year prior to being nominated for permanent residence in Canada.

The International Graduate Entrepreneur (IGE) Stream is open to recent graduates of universities and colleges in Nova Scotia who have already started or purchased a business in the province. This stream targets those who intend to reside permanently in the province while owning and actively managing their Nova Scotia business.

This stream is designed for applicants with a permanent, full-time job offer from a Nova Scotia employer who has tried to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering the position to the applicant. The stream includes three categories:

• Skilled Workers
• Semi-Skilled Workers
• Low-Skilled Workers

To qualify for the NSNP IGE Stream, applicants must:

• Complete a full-time, two-year diploma or degree from a recognized university or college in Nova Scotia.
• Live in Nova Scotia full-time during their studies.
• Intend to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.
• Own and run a business in Nova Scotia for at least one continuous year before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
• Show language skills in English or French through an approved test, with at least CLB 7 in listening, speaking, writing, and reading.
  • Approved tests:
    • English: CELPIP (General) or IELTS (General Training)
    • French: TEF
  • Language tests must be taken within two years of submitting the EOI.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit when applying.
• Own 100% of the business and actively manage its operations.
• Receive a salary from the business that meets at least the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) set by Statistics Canada.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is a provincial immigration program. The most popular stream for permanent residency is the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Stream (Category B). This stream is simple to apply for and doesn’t require applicants to have a job offer.