Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) – Nova Scotia: Express Entry Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream Name	Nova Scotia: Express Entry Stream (NSNP)
Stay	Permanent residence (upon IRCC approval)
Provincial Application Fee	$1,000 CAD (EOI submission is free)
Federal Immigration Fees	Paid separately to IRCC
Work Rights	Work permit letter of support or BOWP
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship Pathway	Not stated in the source
Family Provisions	Includes spouse/partner and dependent children
Age Requirement	Category-dependent (Physicians: 21–55; Letter of Interest: 21+)
Language Requirement	CLB/NCLC 7 (TEER 0–1) or CLB 5 (TEER 2–3)
Nomination Validity	12 months (maximum 18 months with extension)

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Purpose

The Nova Scotia: Express Entry Stream is an economic immigration pathway under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). It allows skilled individuals who want to live permanently in Nova Scotia to seek provincial nomination, enabling them and their eligible family members to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident visas.

This stream cannot be used for:

• Settling in another Canadian province or territory
• Family reunification
• Refugee or protected person claims
• Humanitarian and compassionate grounds

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Eligibility Criteria

Core Requirements (All Applicants)

• Have an active federal Express Entry profile stating interest in Nova Scotia.
• Intend to live permanently in Nova Scotia.
• Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to settle and support family members.
• Hold valid legal status in country of residence (if residing in Canada, must hold valid, non-expired temporary resident status; maintained/implied status is not accepted).
• Meet the language threshold for the occupation's TEER category with test results less than 2 years old (IELTS General, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada):
  • NOC TEER 0 or 1: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) / NCLC level 7 or higher.
  • NOC TEER 2 or 3: CLB / NCLC level 5 or higher.
• Qualify under one of three stream categories.

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Stream Categories

Category A: Skilled Work Experience in Nova Scotia

• Experience: At least 1,560 hours (12 months full-time at 30 hours/week, or 24 months part-time at 15 hours/week) within the 3 years before EOI submission.
• Location/Authorization: Physically performed in Nova Scotia with valid authorization to work.
• Occupation: NOC 2021 TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, performing essential and substantial main duties.
• Ineligible Experience: Self-employment, full-time study periods, co-op terms, unpaid internships, volunteer work, or post-graduation work permits resulting from studies outside Nova Scotia.
• Employer Requirements: Registered commercial business or non-profit operating in Nova Scotia for at least 2 years, compliant with all labour laws and standards, and registered to recruit foreign workers if applicable.

Category B: Physicians with a Valid Job Offer

• Job Offer: Written, accepted offer from Nova Scotia Health (NSH) or the IWK Health Centre in NOC 31100 (Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine), NOC 31101 (Specialists in surgery), or NOC 31102 (General practitioners and family physicians).
• Return to Service: Written and signed Return to Service Agreement with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.
• Education / Training: Valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from the Medical Council of Canada or proof of qualifying Canadian medical training.
• Age: 21 to 55 years old.

Category C: Received a Letter of Interest

• Invitation: Received a Letter of Interest from Nova Scotia in the federal Express Entry profile.
• Age: Minimum 21 years old.
• Education: High school or post-secondary graduation in Canada or abroad (with valid ECA if abroad).
• Criteria: Meet all specific round criteria in place at the time the Letter of Interest was issued.

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Ineligibility

You cannot submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) if any of the following apply:

• Qualifying experience relies on a post-graduation work permit from studies outside Nova Scotia.
• Intended job falls under NOC TEER 4 or 5.
• Found to have committed immigration misrepresentation within the last 5 years.
• Residing in a country without legal authorization.
• Received an NSNP or Atlantic Immigration Program nomination/endorsement in the past 12 months.
• Present in Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program.
• Currently studying at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
• Subject to an unfulfilled scholarship/award requiring return to home country upon graduation.
• Under an IRCC or CBSA removal order.
• Self-employed, holding ownership interest, or lacking an arm's-length employment relationship.
• Offered a commission-only sales position.
• Have applied for or been refused refugee status, or applied on humanitarian/compassionate grounds.
• Job contravenes provincial policies regarding home-based businesses, telework, or preferred trucking employers.

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Costs and Fees

• NSNP Expression of Interest (EOI): Free.
• NSNP Application Fee (Assessment stage): $1,000 CAD (non-refundable; payable within 7 calendar days of selection).
• Federal PR Application Fees: Payable directly to IRCC upon invitation.
• Third-Party Costs: Language tests, certified translations, Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs), and immigration representative fees (if applicable).

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Work Rights and Letters of Support

Nominees who need work authorization while IRCC processes their PR application:

• With Job Offer: The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) issues a non-expiring Letter of Support to apply to IRCC for an employer-specific work permit.
• Without Job Offer: No Letter of Support is issued; nominees may apply directly to IRCC for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

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Post-Nomination Obligations

• Notification of Changes: Applicants and employers must immediately notify LSI of any changes to personal status, employment status, job duties, work location, marital status, or immigration status.
• Program Integrity: Providing false, misleading, or concealed information constitutes misrepresentation and results in a 5-year ban from all Nova Scotia provincial immigration programs.

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Required Documentation

• Application Form: Online submission (NSNP 100) via novascotia.ca/ensnp.
• Identity and Civil Status: Passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and adoption papers (if applicable).
• Status Documents: Proof of legal status in country of residence; valid Canadian temporary resident permit (if inside Canada).
• Work Experience: Reference letters, pay stubs, employment contracts, and proof of legal work authorization.
• Language Results: Official test score sheet (IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF, or TCF) dated within 2 years of EOI submission.
• Education: High school/post-secondary degrees, diplomas, transcripts, and a designated ECA report issued within 5 years (for education outside Canada).
• Settlement Funds: Proof of unencumbered financial resources based on family size.
• Physician Specifics (Category B): Accepted job offer from NSH/IWK, Return to Service Agreement, and Medical Council of Canada assessment.
• Translations: Documents not in English or French must include certified translations and proof of translator certification (translations by family members or paid representatives are not accepted).

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Application Process

[1. Federal Profile] Create IRCC Express Entry Profile & receive Profile Number + Job Seeker Code
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[2. Provincial EOI] Submit Expression of Interest at novascotia.ca/ensnp
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[3. Pool Selection] Periodic selection by Nova Scotia based on labour priorities and allocations
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[4. Fee & Assessment] If selected, pay non-refundable $1,000 CAD fee within 7 calendar days
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[5. Nomination] Receive Certificate via email (valid for 12 months)
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[6. Accept Nomination] Accept nomination in IRCC Express Entry system within 30 days
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[7. IRCC Application] Receive IRCC Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit PR application

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Important Warnings and Conditions

• No Processing Guarantee: EOI submission or fee payment does not guarantee processing, nomination, or PR approval.
• Nomination Expiry & Extensions: Certificates expire 12 months after issuance. A single 6-month extension (up to 18 months total) may be granted if IRCC rejected a PR application after the expiry date and the underlying issue was resolved.
• Decisions are Final: Refusal decisions cannot be appealed, and application fees are non-refundable.
• Nomination Withdrawal: Nova Scotia may revoke a nomination before permanent resident status is granted if the candidate ceases to meet criteria, provides false details, or is determined inadmissible by IRCC.