Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

Key Takeaways

• Nova Scotia started the NSNP in 2003 to bring in workers needed for the economy.
• NSNP picks newcomers with special skills for nine different job areas in the province.
• Each job area has its own rules for who can apply, often looking at age, how well you speak English or French, and past work.
• To apply, you get a letter saying they’re interested, send in papers they ask for, and agree to be chosen.
• NSNP helps newcomers move to Nova Scotia by giving out guides and contact info.

Overview of the Nova Scotia PNP

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), which started in 2003, helps the province meet its economic and job market needs by choosing immigrants with specific skills and experience to move to Nova Scotia.

To do well with the NSNP, it’s important to know the PNP eligibility rules. These rules are different for the nine streams, including Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities, and others. Usually, you need to meet certain age and language rules, have a valid Express Entry profile, and have relevant work experience.

For example, the Labour Market Priorities stream needs a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration and you must qualify for an Express Entry program.

Once you meet these rules, the PNP application process has several steps. After you get a Letter of Interest, you have a short time to send in your application. Make sure your online application has all the needed documents and attachments.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a nomination certificate, which you must accept within 30 days. This nomination gives you an extra 600 CRS points, which greatly improves your chances of getting an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

Throughout the process, the NSNP offers resources, like guides and contact information, to help you with your immigration journey.

Nova Scotia Immigration Streams

Picking the right way to immigrate through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is a key part of moving to Nova Scotia.

As you look at the different choices, think about how your abilities and work history fit with options like Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities, and special streams for skilled workers, jobs that are needed, and people who finished school overseas.

The time it takes to process these streams is about 600 seconds.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

To qualify for Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, you must have worked in Nova Scotia for at least one year in a skilled job. This option is part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) and works with the federal Express Entry system. If chosen, you’ll get 600 extra points for your Express Entry profile, almost guaranteeing an invite for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

To be eligible, you need to sign up for the Express Entry pool and have at least one year of work experience in Nova Scotia. This experience must be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B job.

You also need a Canadian high school diploma or something similar, and proof you can speak English or French well enough. For NOC 0 and A jobs, you need a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7, while for NOC B jobs, you need a CLB of 5.

Having the right qualifications and meeting the requirements will make your express entry process easier.

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream aims to bring skilled workers to fill needed jobs in the province.

This program chooses people who’ve a valid Express Entry number and match what Nova Scotia’s job market needs.

It helps the province get workers for important roles that are hard to fill.

What are the Labour Market Priorities for Physicians?

The Labour Market Priorities for Physicians stream in the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is a special way for doctors to move to Nova Scotia.

This program helps fix the big problem of not having enough doctors in the province.

It aims to keep doctors in Nova Scotia by giving chances to those who agree to live and work there for at least two years.

What is the Skilled Worker Stream?

The Skilled Worker stream, part of Nova Scotia’s Nominee Program, helps employers in Nova Scotia find foreign workers and recent graduates with skills that are hard to find locally. This stream aims to meet specific job market needs and boost the province’s economy.

Main Rules for the Skilled Worker Stream:

Rule	What It Means	What You Need
Job Offer	Full-time, permanent job from a Nova Scotia employer	Job must be one that Canadians or permanent residents can’t fill
Work Experience	1 year of related work (6 months for some jobs)	Experience must match the job
Age	Between 21 and 55 years old	Must be in this age range
Language Skills	Good enough English or French for most jobs	Must prove language ability
Training and Skills	Right training and skills for the job	Must meet job standards

To apply, fill out an online form and add required documents. Make sure you meet all the rules and follow the guide and policies. For more details, you can ask the Labour, Skills and Immigration office.

What is the Occupation In-Demand Stream?

The Occupation In-Demand Stream is for people who’ve a long-term job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in certain jobs that are needed. This stream aims to find workers for jobs that are hard to fill in Nova Scotia. The province uses this to pick workers who can help with job shortages.

Main Rules:

• You must have worked for at least one year in a job like the one you’re offered.
• Make sure you have the right training, skills, and/or papers for the job.
• Show you can speak English or French well enough by taking an official test and getting Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4.

If you meet these rules, you have a better chance of getting in. Don’t forget to send all the needed papers to the Labour, Skills and Immigration office.

What is the International Graduates In-Demand Stream?

The International Graduates In-Demand Stream helps people who finished at least half their studies in Nova Scotia and have a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in high-need jobs. This stream aims to boost Nova Scotia’s economy by bringing in and keeping skilled workers who just finished school in the province.

To qualify, you need:

Requirements	Details
Job Offer	Full-time, long-term from a Nova Scotia employer
Education	Finished a Nova Scotia program with at least 30 weeks of study

You must have papers from a Nova Scotia official group for the job, be between 19 and 55 years old, and show good language skills at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5. You also need enough money for your move and must send in a full application with all needed papers. After you’re picked, you can ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to become a permanent resident. This stream gives people who studied in Nova Scotia a chance to build their future in the province.

What is the Entrepreneur Stream?

The Entrepreneur Stream helps experienced business owners or top managers who want to start or buy a business in Nova Scotia. It’s a way to get permanent residency. This stream is for people who plan to actively run and own a business in the province.

To qualify, you need to:

• Be 21 or older
• Have at least $600,000 CAD in net worth (or $400,000 CAD for businesses outside Halifax)
• Be able to put at least $150,000 CAD into a Nova Scotia business (or $100,000 CAD outside Halifax)

If you meet these rules, you can fill out an online Expression of Interest. You might then get an Invitation to Apply. If your application succeeds, you’ll be asked to sign a Business Performance Agreement. This agreement outlines what you need to do for your business investment in Nova Scotia. After running your business for at least one year, you may be nominated to become a permanent resident.

What is the International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream?

The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream helps recent graduates from Nova Scotia schools start or buy a business and settle in the province.

This program gives entrepreneurs a chance to build successful businesses while helping the local economy and community.

To join this program, you must have finished a degree or diploma from a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College. You also need to have started or bought a business in Nova Scotia and run it for at least a year. You must plan to live in the province permanently. Other important rules include having a valid post-graduation work permit, owning at least 33.33% of the business, actively managing the business, and having finished high school.

The good things about this program include the chance to grow your business skills in a helpful place and the opportunity to make Nova Scotia your home. The program offers a clear way to become a permanent resident for those who successfully set up and run their businesses.

What is the Physician Stream?

The Physician Stream is for licensed doctors who want to work in Nova Scotia. This stream helps Nova Scotia’s public health groups, the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and the Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, find doctors.

These groups can hire and keep general practitioners, family doctors, and specialist doctors with skills needed for jobs that Canadian citizens or permanent residents can’t fill.

To qualify, you need a signed and approved offer from the NSHA or IWK on their official letter paper. This offer must show you can get a licence from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

The steps to apply are:

• Collect all needed papers for your application.
• Fill out the online form.
• Get a support letter from the NSNP to ask for a temporary work permit or to renew your current one.

The Physician Stream makes it easier for doctors to become permanent residents. This helps Nova Scotia’s healthcare system have skilled doctors to give good medical care to people in the area.

How to Apply for NSNP?

To start your NSNP application, make sure you meet the rules and collect needed papers.

The exact rules are different for each stream, but often include having a job offer, work experience, and language skills.

Start by looking at the full guidelines for the stream you want to apply for, to make a strong application.

What are the Eligibility Requirements?

Eligibility rules for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) change based on the stream you choose. Most streams need you to show lots of work experience, good language skills, and enough money.

Some main eligibility rules to think about:

• Job Experience Rules: Many NSNP streams ask for at least one year of recent work in your field. This work must be full-time and ongoing or part-time that adds up to the same amount.
• Money Requirements: NSNP wants to make sure you have enough money to settle and fit into Nova Scotia’s economy.
• Education and Training: You need to have the right education, training, licences, or certificates for your job.

Besides these basic rules, each stream has its own special rules. For example, the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream is for people with at least one year of work in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians stream is for doctors with a job offer in Nova Scotia.

What Documents are Required?

You need to gather certain papers for your Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) application. The papers you need depend on which stream you’re applying to. Some general tips for getting your papers ready:

Paper Preparation Tips

Paper Type	What It Is
NSNP 200 Form	Filled out by your boss to confirm job offer
Job Offer Letter	From your boss, explaining the job details
School Papers	Proof of schooling like diplomas and marks
Language Test Scores	IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF results showing your language skills

Paper Handing-In Rules

Along with the special papers for your stream, you also need to hand in other papers. These include proof of your immigration status (work permit, study permit, etc.), and proof of money for settling. For family members coming with you, you might need birth certificates, marriage certificates, and custody or adoption papers. Always check the NSNP application guide for the exact papers needed for your stream. Make sure your papers are complete and correct before you hand them in.

Points Assessment System

When looking at the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), it’s important to know about the points system.

To qualify for permanent residency through the NSNP, you must get at least 67 points out of 100.

Things like schooling, how well you speak English and/or French, job history, how old you are, and how well you can fit in all add up to your total points.

How Many Points are Required for PR in Nova Scotia?

To qualify for permanent residency in Nova Scotia through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), you need at least 67 points out of 100. This is a crucial rule set by the points system to make sure applicants have the right skills and qualifications to help the province’s economy and community.

The points system looks at three main things:

• Education: Your schooling, like university degrees or college diplomas, will give you points.
• Language Skills: How well you speak English and/or French will add to your points.
• Work Experience: The time you’ve worked and the kind of jobs you’ve had will affect your score.

What Factors Affect Points?

In the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), your points assessment looks at six important factors that can affect your immigration chances.

These six key factors are age, education, language skills, work experience, job offer, and adaptability. They’re crucial in figuring out your points for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

These factors help choose people who can help the province grow. For example, you can get up to 25 points for education. Your English and/or French skills, part of the language assessment, are also important and worth up to 28 points.

The NSNP checks these factors to make sure applicants fit Nova Scotia’s job market needs and population mix, aiming to boost economic and social growth.

What are the Language Requirements?

To check if you can apply for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, you must look at the language rules.

There’s a lowest level of language skill needed, which includes a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 in all four parts of language testing for some streams.

For example, the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream asks for CLB 7 for skilled jobs in National Occupational…

What IELTS Score is Required for NSNP?

For the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), you need a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French. This level shows you can talk well and fit into Nova Scotia’s community and workplace.

To prove your language skills, you must get good test scores.

• Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry (Category B) asks for IELTS scores matching CLB 7 in all areas.
• Skilled Worker stream needs CLB 5 if your job is in TEER groups 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream wants CLB 7 for skilled jobs in NOC groups 0 and 1, and CLB 5 for groups 2 and 3.

What are the Processing Times?

Processing times for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) typically take at least three months.

However, this can change based on how complex and complete your application is.

Other things that can affect how quickly your application is handled include the time of year and how fast service checkers work.

It’s important to think about these timelines when planning your application.

What is the Average Processing Time?

The usual time to process a finished application for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is often three months or longer. It’s important to plan and apply with this in mind. This time allows for a careful review of your application, making sure all needed papers and details are correct.

Things That Affect Processing Time: How fast you send your application, if all papers are there, and how complex your case is all play a part in how long it takes. Knowing these factors helps you set real timelines and know what to expect.

How Processing Times Have Changed: Looking at past processing times gives useful information about how the NSNP works. Keeping up with these changes helps you be ready and prepared for possible delays.

What Factors Affect Processing Time?

Many things affect how long it takes to process your Nova Scotia Nominee Program application.

These include:

• How fast you send in your application
• Whether you include all required papers
• How complex your case is

These factors can make your application take longer to process.

If you don’t send all the needed documents, they might ask for more information. This can make the process take longer. Also, if your case is complicated, they might need more time to look at it carefully.

The number of staff working at the NSNP can also affect processing times. If they get many applications at once, it might slow things down.

Booking times for immigration appointments can add to the wait. You might need to wait for a slot to have an interview or medical check.

Knowing about these factors can help you get ready and know what to expect while waiting for your application to be processed.

Settlement and Living in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has many lively towns and cities where people can make their homes.

The area provides lots of helpful services and tools, making it easier for newcomers to settle in and feel at home.

What are the Best Cities for PR in Nova Scotia?

When thinking about the best cities for permanent residency in Nova Scotia, look at small to medium-sized towns. These offer close community ties and quick settling into local life. Smaller cities give a friendlier feel than big cities.

Key things to think about when picking a city:

• Community Spirit: Towns like Bridgewater and Yarmouth have strong community spirit, helping newcomers feel welcome and supported.
• Job Chances: New Glasgow and Truro have different types of work, with jobs in areas like healthcare and factories.
• Cultural Life: Cities like Lunenburg and Annapolis Royal have lots of history and culture, great for those wanting to learn about Nova Scotia’s identity.

Nova Scotia’s smaller towns offer a good mix of job options, rich culture, and community involvement for a balanced life.

What Support Services are Available for Immigrants?

Starting life in Nova Scotia means connecting with many support services and resources, made to help you fit in easily. As you get ready to move, know that Nova Scotia wants to grow French-speaking communities through planned actions. The province gives a detailed guide for people applying, showing the steps and needs for each NSNP stream to help with immigration.

To live and work in Nova Scotia, you must pass health checks set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before getting a permanent resident visa. Help with English or French is key for settling in well. You can find affordable homes in cities like Halifax and Cape Breton, which many newcomers choose.

For a quick look at support services available:

Support Area	Service Examples	More Info
Language	English, French classes	Settlement Service Provider List
Housing	Low-cost rentals, government help	Nova Scotia Housing Programs and Info
Jobs	Work in public service	Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP) streams
Health Care	Nova Scotia Health Card, MSI	Settlement Guide (PDF)
Social Help	French-speaking community events	Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)