Nova Scotia Immigration 2018

Nova Scotia is one of the most unique provinces in all of Canada. Located in the friendly "Maritimes" region of the country, it is composed of the Nova Scotia peninsula, Cape Breton Island, and thousands of smaller islands on the Eastern side of the country. Economic activity in Nova Scotia is largely centred around Halifax, its capital city. With over 400,000 people living in the metropolitan area, Halifax is a bustling metropolis in every sense of the word. Halifax further serves as a major center for culture and the arts in Canada as a whole, and the city also has some of the best universities and hospitals in the nation. The province's location on the bold Atlantic Ocean means that Nova Scotians have always been closely connected to the sea - it is a deeply rooted part of their history and current way of life. Indeed, Nova Scotia is renowned around the world for the beauty of its vast coastlines as well as its delicious seafood cuisine. Simply put, Nova Scotia has a lot going for it and many foreign nationals dream of one day living and working in the majestic province. The easiest way to immigrate to Nova Scotia is via the new online Express Entry system.

Nova Scotia Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is designed to increase immigration to the province by allowing Nova Scotia immigration officials to select foreign nationals interested in moving to Canada who have the precise skills needed in the local provincial economy. There are two different ways a person can acquire a Nova Scotia PNP nomination certificate. Outside of Express Entry, a person can directly submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI). Candidates will then be assessed according to a points grid, and eligible candidates will be invited to apply to the NS PNP. Once nominated, he or she can then create a Canada Express Entry profile and submit their nomination details. The other option for prospective immigrants interested in moving to Nova Scotia is to create a new Express Entry profile and use the online immigration system to indicate an interest in the province. Express Entry profiles that include the particular skills and experience the province is looking for in its skilled labor force may then be contacted by the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program if they have listed NS as a province they would be open to settling in. This method also allows you to include your Canada Express Entry Profile ID in your Expression of Interest, and is highly recommended for people interested in the Nova Scotia Nominee Program 2018. Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) by Immigration Nova Scotia can then apply to the NSNP directly, and once successfully nominated will be instantly awarded 600 points under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which will almost always be enough to be selected to apply for Canada Permanent Residency during the next Express Entry draw.

The overall immigration process is also vastly sped up through Express Entry, allowing the immigrant to move to Canada far more quickly. In fact, most NSNP Express Entry applications are processed in less than six months. To maximize your odds of being selected by the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, our experienced Canadian immigration professional can optimize your Express Entry profile for NS immigration in 2018. The NS PNP contains several immigration streams targeting specific types of people, and our team can help prospective immigrants identify the best one for them given their skills and professional experience, as well as the intake cap and competitiveness of each stream. We can also help people apply directly to the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program, and if successfully nominated we can prepare and submit their application to become a Canada Permanent Resident.

Interested in Nova Scotia immigration through the NSNP? Phone us now for a FREE consultation with an experienced immigration professional.

Provincial Nominee Program Nova Scotia 2018

The idea behind the Nova Scotia Nominee Program is simple and straightforward. In fact, it is designed to be so to further expedite the immigration process. It is simply meant to facilitate the immigration process of non-Canadian nationals and accompanying family members (spouse/common-law partners and children) to the province. When you are accepted into the NS immigration program, you are set on a fast track to Canada Permanent Resident status and will be processed in less than 6 months thanks to new Canadian Express Entry procedures.

The Nova Scotia PNP 2018 currently has several migration streams for those interested in immigrating to the province.

Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program streams:

• Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream
• Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream
• Skilled Worker stream
• Family Business Worker stream

The NSNP has made major changes to their immigration programs over the past few years. The online Express Entry Canada system is very new, and province has been quick to embrace the new system which is great news for anyone wishing to immigrate to Nova Scotia. There are newly created Nova Scotia PNP categories such as the Entrepreneur stream, are there are other NSNP categories that have been closed such as the Non-Dependent Child of Nova Scotia Nominees stream and the Agri-Food Sector stream. Each immigration Nova Scotia stream may have one or more sub-categories. It is also important to note that Nova Scotia is currently in the process of creating even more immigration categories to facilitate the immigration of even more skilled workers into the province.

The Halifax economy is expected to grow substantially over the next ten years, with some economists predicting it will be the fastest growing major city in Canada. The Halifax Shipyard recently won a $25 billion Federal Government contract to build a new fleet of combat vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, which will be a major contributor to this growth. This is the largest contract ever awarded by the Government of Canada, and will employ tens of thousands of highly skilled workers over its 30 year lifespan. This massive shipbuilding project will also create thousands of spin-off jobs across the province, which will also boost the rural Nova Scotia economy over the next decade. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program 2018 will be one of the ways the province fills these many high quality jobs.

Each of the Nova Scotia immigration categories has its own individual set of rules and requirements on who specifically can qualify for them. These are discussed in greater detail below. Understanding them will help your figure out if you will be eligible to qualify for this great migration program. The NS PNP is the first of its kind in the province of Nova Scotia, and via Express Entry is a tremendously efficient method of immigrating to the region. The Nova Scotia PNP 2018 provides unheralded opportunities to qualified immigrants, and also contributes to the economy of the province as a whole through job creation, job retention, and economic development.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program is primarily employer-driven, although it definitely helps individuals too. It is designed to fill the current labor-market needs of specific industries and jobs with qualified employees. In doing this, it also supports Nova Scotia government priorities, especially when it comes to attracting highly trained professionals in sectors such as health care and education.

PNP Nova Scotia Immigration Categories

Nova Scotia has one of the most diverse Provincial Nominee Programs out of any province in Canada. There are several excellent immigration categories to apply to, each of which is discussed in great detail below. The Express Entry system makes it simple and easy to connect with the NSNP, and potential immigrants who have been nominated by the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) can expedite the immigration process significantly by uploading their NSNP credentials into the online portal. The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration operates under an EOI system, which means that Nova Scotia immigration 2018 applications received through the NSPNP will be treated as an Expression of Interest and will be processed at the program's discretion.

PNP Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry

The newest of the NS Provincial Nominee Program categories, the Nova Scotia Immigration Express Entry Demand stream first came into effect as recently as January 1, 2015. The stream is specifically designed for highly skilled individuals that have a post-secondary education and other qualifications that will help them successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Stream is based off of the Canadian Federal Government's Express Entry immigration selection system. In order to qualify for the Nova Scotia Express Entry PNP stream, a potential candidate must attain a 67/100 score on a points grid measuring education (25 points), work experience (15 points), language ability in English or French (28 points), adaptability (10 points), age (12 points), and employment prospects (10 points). There is currently a list of 29 eligible occupations for those interested in utilizing this stream for their move to Nova Scotia. The candidate must have at least one year of full-time work experience within the past five years in one of the eligible occupations.

The eligible occupations currently include:

• Financial Auditors and Accountants
• Financial and Investment Analysts
• Human Resources Professionals
• Purchasing Agents and Officers
• Geoscientists and Oceanographers
• Civil Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Electrical and Electronic Engineers
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
• Computer Engineers
• Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
• Database Analysts and Data Administrators
• Software Engineers
• Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
• Web Designers and Developers
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Drafting Technologists and Technicians
• Engineering Inspectors and Regulatory Officers
• User Support Technicians
• Registered Nurses
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Psychologists
• Family, Marriage and Other Related Counselors
• Financial Sales Representatives

Keep it in mind that the Canadian federal government has stated that their list of in-demand occupations is set to change at any time.

Candidates hoping to be accepted into this Nova Scotia Express Entry stream must also exhibit at least intermediate language proficiency in either English or French. They must pass a standardized language test acceptable to the Canadian government. They must also achieve at least the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in each of the different components (including speaking, writing, reading, and listening).

There are two separate sub-categories under the Express Entry stream. The first requires candidates to have a pre-arranged job. It must also be supported by a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment. The second category requires candidates to have at least one year of continuous full-time (1,560 hours or more) work experience in the last five years in one of the in-demand occupations outlined above.

Furthermore, the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program states that candidates should not apply to the Express Entry stream if they are:

• Not a citizen of the current country of residence. Or do not hold a passport or other documentation that permits them to legally live in current country of residence.
• Intends to work in an occupation that is lower than a NOC Level C or D
• Grand-parent, parent, spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Applicant under humanitarian and compassionate grounds, a refugee claimant, or a failed refugee claimant
• Living in Canada illegally or prohibited from entering/being in Canada
• International student currently studying at a post-secondary college or university in Canada
• International graduate student that studied in Canada but is contractually obligated to return to country of origin
• Visiting with a valid federal post-graduation work permit in a NOC Skill Level C or D occupation
• Spouse of an international student at a Canadian post-secondary institution that is not in last academic year of studies
• Have unresolved custody or child support dispute
• Working in a sales position based solely on commission
• Seasonal, part-time, or casual worker
• Job not based in Nova Scotia
• Helper or laborer in the construction, agriculture, or primary resources sectors
• Individual in Caregiver Program
• Intending to start a business or be self-employed
• Passive investor (one who invests in a Nova Scotia business with little day-to-day involvement in management of the business)
• Unable to provide proof of the amount of funds required for application

PNP Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Express Entry Experience stream enables highly skilled candidates who have worked for a Nova Scotian employer for greater than 12 months to become a Canada permanent resident. Offered through Express Entry, applicants must meet a number of requirements in order to be eligible under this NSPNP category.

Applicants must:

• Be between 21 and 55 years of age
• Have a minimum of 1 year full-time work experience in Nova Scotia in a high skilled trade within the last 3 years (or the equivalent hours in part-time work)
• Gained this work experience with all the proper provincial work permits and authorization
• Have graduated from a Canadian high school or university, or a recognized educational institution abroad (requires Educational Credential Assessment)
• Speak, read, write, and listen in English or French at the required level (CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A, and CLB 5 for NOC B)
• Demonstrate an intention to live in the Province of Nova Scotia, and become economically established in the region

People should not submit a Nova Scotia Experience Express Entry category application if they are:

• Not a citizen or legal resident of their current country of residence
• Planning to work a job that is National Occupational Classification (NOV) level C or D
• A refugee claimant (or failed refugee claimant), a humanitarian or compassionate grounds applicant, or a parent, grandparent, spouse, or common-law partner of a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident living in the country
• Illegally in Canada, prohibited from entering Canada, or under a removal order
• Not present in his or her country of primary resident legally
• An international student who is enrolled in a Canadian university or college
• A graduate whose studies in Canada have been sponsored by a foreign government or agency, who is consequently contractually obligated to return home
• A current holder of a federal NOC C or NOC D work permit
• The spouse of an international student studying at a Canadian educational institution (post-secondary) that is not in their final academic year
• A person involved in a child support or custody dispute that is currently unresolved
• In a sales job that is entirely reliant on commission as pay
• A person whose qualified 1 year of full-time skilled work experience was not actually based in Nova Scotia
• An individual living in the country under the Caregiver Program
• Self-employer persons, or anyone intending to start a business in Nova Scotia
• A non-active investor, who passively invests in Nova Scotian businesses with limited involvement in their day to day operations)

Skilled Worker Stream

The second most common Provincial Nominee Program immigration category is the Nova Scotia Skilled Worker stream. This stream is aimed to help provincial employers recruit and hire foreign workers with skills that are in limited supply in Nova Scotia. The Skilled Worker stream is broken down into three sub-categories. Each has their own eligibility criteria.

Skilled Workers
The first NS immigration sub-category is Skilled Workers. This is for individuals with experience in a NOC Level 0, A, or B classified occupation. The highest priority is given to these highly skilled applications.

Semi-Skilled Workers
The second NS PNP sub-category is Semi-Skilled Workers. This is for individuals with experience in NOC Level C classified occupations. All of the eligibility criteria must be met and the candidate must have worked for at least six months with a Nova Scotia employer for their application to be considered eligible.

Low-Skilled Workers
The third immigration NS sub-category is Low-Skilled Workers. This is for individuals with experience in NOC Level D classified occupations. Once again, these applications are only considered if the candidate has worked for at least six months with a Nova Scotia employer. They must also meet all of the other eligibility requirements.

For skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, and low-skilled workers, there are a number of general eligibility requirements that must be met.

Eligibility requirements:

• Proof of legal status if living in Canada
• Between the age of 21 and 55
• Full-time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer
• Completed at least a high school level of education
• One year of relevant work experience
• Meet language requirements for program (in either English or French)
• Intent to settle in Nova Scotia

The employer sponsoring the applicant must also meet a variety of criteria.

Employer requirements:

• Permanently established in Nova Scotia
• Operated in Nova Scotia for at least two years
• Offered a full-time, permanent job to applicant
• Job is in Nova Scotia
• Job has a salary and benefits that meet Nova Scotia employment standards
• Shortage of qualified Canadians or permanent residence for job position offered
• Demonstrated recruitment efforts to find qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident for job position

Family Business Worker Stream

The PNP NS Family Business Workers stream helps give Nova Scotia employers the ability to hire workers that are close relatives. They must also have specific skills that may normally be difficult to develop amongst Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

In order for an individual to be eligible in the Immigration Nova Scotia Family Business Workers category, they must be related to the family business owner or the family business owner's spouse in one of several ways.

Eligible relationships:

• Son or daughter
• Brother or sister
• Niece or nephew
• Uncle or aunt
• Grandchild

Step and half relatives of the same degree are also accepted under this Nova Scotia immigration program.

Furthermore, all applicants to the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program Family Business Worker stream must meet several additional eligibility requirements.

Mandatory eligibility requirements:

• Legal status in country of residence
• Permanent, full-time job offer from a Nova Scotia business that belongs to a close family member
• Necessary education, training, qualifications, and licensing/accreditation needed to perform the job
• Appropriate work experience for the job
• Intent to settle in Nova Scotia

The family business owner must also meet a number of eligibility criteria under Nova Scotia immigration regulations.

Owner requirements:

• Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Lived in Nova Scotia for two or more years
• Own at least 33.3% of the business
• Maintain a financially viable business
• Issue a full-time, permanent job offer to the close family member in question
• Provide a salary, benefits, and working conditions that meet provincial employment standards
• Job must not contravene bargaining agreements or labor disputes
• Applicant must contact a provincial certification organization if the job offer requires certification
• Family business owner may not provide an application under the Family Business Worker stream more than once every two years. If attempted more than once, they might have to show evidence previously supported family members have settled into Nova Scotia with solid employment.

International Graduate Stream

Sometimes lumped in as a fourth subsection of the Skilled Workers category, the International Graduate stream is designed to help employers hire and retain recent international graduates from eligible Canadian universities. The skills of the graduates must be in limited supply in the province.

Like most of the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program, the International Graduate stream is employer-driven. A full-time, permanent job offer must be guaranteed to the student for the student to be eligible. It must furthermore be a job in their field of study from an employer based in Nova Scotia.

The student must have graduated no later than two years before the application in order to be eligible for immigration to Nova Scotia under this NSNP category. They must have also studied in Nova Scotia for at least one year. The student must also meet the minimum criteria for age, education, work experience, and language ability discussed in the information under the Skilled Workers stream above. This stream is a top pick for recent graduates of Dalhousie University (DAL), Saint Mary's University (SMU), St. Francis Xavier University (StFX), Cape Breton University (CBU), and Acadia University who wish to remain in Nova Scotia.

Entrepreneur Stream

The Entrepreneur Stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program is a proposed new stream that is currently under development. The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration is currently conducting consultations for the proposed criteria that correlates to the stream.

The requirements so far are used to ensure that the applicant has a personal net worth of at least CDN $400,000 or that they will make a minimum equity investment of CDN $150,000. They will also be required to enter Canada on a two-year work permit to demonstrate their genuine intention in both living in and developing a business in Nova Scotia. All of these traits must be demonstrated before the applicant is nominated for the program.

Community Identified Stream

The next immigration category of the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program is the Community Identified stream. This stream is set up for those individuals that have established close connections with a community in Nova Scotia and wish to make the move permanently. They must also be employable and ready to contribute to the particular community's labor market and economy.

Eligible applicants must, first, not be eligible for any of the other Nova Scotia PNP streams. They must have long-established connections in the specific community. A Letter of Identification from a mandated community organization is required to prove these long-term connections.

Non-Dependent Child of Nova Scotia Nominees Stream (Closed)

One of the lesser-known immigration streams under the NSNP is the Non-Dependent Child of Nova Scotia Nominees Stream. It is designed to select individuals who are non-dependent children of immigrants that were previously/are currently nominated under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

The principal applicant must live or plan to live in Nova Scotia permanently for the non-dependent child to be accepted. They must also be employable and ready to contribute to Nova Scotia's labor market and economy.

Agri-Food Sector Stream (Closed)

First things first, the NSNP Agri-Food Sector stream is a pilot program. It is aimed at those immigrants that are interested in agri-food production. The program started out as a joint venture between the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture.

The requirements of applicants include:

• Between the ages of 21 and 55
• Completed the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma
• 3 years minimum experience in the last 5 years in farm ownership, farm management, or practical farming
• Farming skills must be relevant to the unique conditions in Nova Scotia
• Submit a detailed farming business plan
• Agree to make a minimum investment of $100,000 in new or existing farm operation capital assets (land or machinery) or working capital
• Establish a farm, purchase a farm, or become a partner in an existing farm business
• Sufficient English or French language capabilities to adequately perform employment duties
• Sufficient settlement funds
• Must visit Nova Scotia for a minimum of 5 working days to explore the province's farming opportunities. Must meet with representatives from the Department of Agriculture during visit.

Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program 2018 Benefits

The advantages of the NS Nominee Program cannot be overstated. Chances are that you have learned a lot of them from the information above. However, it is worth going over them again in case you are still hesitant about considering the program.

When it boils down to it, the Nova Scotia PNP Program is designed to ensure that good people immigrant to the Canadian province. It helps fast track the immigration and employment of skilled workers that are desperately needed in key industries and employment sectors. By integrating with the new Citizenship and Immigration Canada online system, Express Entry Nova Scotia offers a fast and efficient method for people to immigrate to the province.

In fact, this is how the program most benefits individuals. It quickens the Permanent Resident process by more than half. Oftentimes, the first step, being nominated to the Provincial Nominee Program takes as little as three months. After this, the applicant must apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a Permanent Resident Visa. This second step generally takes about six months after receiving the nominee certificate. With the new Nova Scotia PNP Express Entry integration, immigrating to Canada's "ocean playground" is more efficient than ever before.

The 2018 NSNP uses an EOI draw system to select the best qualified candidates and invite them to apply. Prospective immigrants who obtain a Nova Scotia nomination will then have a much better opportunity to be selected to apply for Canadian Permanent Resident Visas. Whether you are interested in Halifax immigration or you would like to settle in a more quiet setting such as the Annapolis Valley, the Provincial Nominee Program Nova Scotia may be perfect for you.

Nova Scotia PNP 2018 Processing Time

The Nova Scotia PNP processing time can vary according to several different factors including the number of recent application and EOI submissions. Please phone us for an approximation of the current Nova Scotia Nominee Program processing time. We can also provide information for Nova Scotia International Students interested in the NSNP without a job offer. CIC Nova Scotia nominated immigrants will be processed through the federal CIC Express Entry system faster than the traditional paper based route. For recent information about the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program, including processing times and checklist changes, please visit the official Nova Scotia immigration website here.

Nova Scotia Cities

Whether or not you are interested in Halifax immigration, or you would prefer to settle in a different area of the province such as the Annapolis Valley or South Shore, the Nova Scotia Immigration Nominee Program may be your ideal route. The province has a number of beautiful and safe communities that are exceptionally welcoming to new immigrants.

Largest cities in Nova Scotia:

• Halifax
• Cape Breton (Sydney)
• Truro
• New Glasgow
• Kentville
• Amherst
• Bridgewater
• Yarmouth

Express Entry Nova Scotia - How to Immigrate to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Express Entry immigration is easy through the NSNP 2018. Though it does not apply to everybody, it is certainly worth a look as the benefits of the program simply cannot be beat. The NS Provincial Nominee Program allows foreign individuals to live and work in Nova Scotia. It also gives the province's many employers the chance to attract the skilled labor force it needs to prosper. This, in turn, helps the overall growth of the economy in Nova Scotia, helping both the province and Canada as a whole stay competitive in the global market.

The 2018 NSNP Express Entry Self-Assessment Form helps the immigration program determine if a person is potentially a suitable candidate before significant resources are utilized in the application and adjudication process. To keep up with the latest NSNP news, including any changes to immigration rules and regulations, please revisit this page frequently.

Prospective immigrants that apply and can demonstrate the required skills and experience may receive a Nova Scotia Provincial Nomination Certificate. With this certificate, an applicant will gain enough points under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System to be invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The government of Nova Scotia is always looking for ways to improve the program's effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity. Consequently, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program is constantly changing. Despite its success since its inauguration, the program is regularly being tweaked and fine-tuned so please visit this website often for fresh Nova Scotia immigration news.

Interested in Nova Scotia Express Entry immigration? Contact us now to learn more about the Nova Scotia PNP.