Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program

The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program, also known as the Nova Scotia PNP, is an immigration pathway for skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs. Nova Scotia, which is in the extreme east of Canada, is one of the four Atlantic provinces of Canada with many beaches. After Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia is the second smallest of Canada’s provinces. The province has over 3,000 smaller islands. Its capital city, Halifax, is known as a major centre for culture and arts and its high standard of living. Nova Scotians are closely connected to the sea, and the province is renowned for its coastal beauty and delicious cuisine..

The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (Nova Scotia PNP) currently operates under four main streams: Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate, Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia: Express Entry. Nova Scotia issues invitations to candidates based on labour market needs, language ability, or specific occupations. Candidates may also be invited from the Express Entry pool. Nova Scotia now uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system, where candidates must first submit a profile and wait to be invited before applying.

The Nova Scotia: Express Entry stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system. The criteria to apply under each stream are different. Nova Scotia conducts targeted selections within its streams based on labour market needs, such as specific occupations or language abilities. When a candidate receives a provincial nomination, the applicant receives 600 extra CRS points, resulting in the applicant receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) in the following Express Entry draw to apply for PR with IRCC.