NOVA SCOTIA NOMINEE PROGRAM

The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration works with the Federal Government of Canada to promote immigration through the exciting Nova Scotia Nominee Program which is designed to encourage people from around the world to settle in the province.

This program allows Nova Scotia to recruit and select immigrants who can contribute to the province in meeting its labor market and economic needs. Nominated individuals together with their spouse/partner and dependent children, are eligible to apply, with expedited processing, for a permanent resident visa from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), various streams of eligibility allow for the selection of eligible nominees.

All nominees must have:

• A guaranteed, full-time, permanent job offer,
• Legal status in his/her country of residence,
• Wish to settle permanently in charming Nova Scotia,
• Have sufficient settlement supports,
• Meet the minimum criteria for age, education, work experience, and
• Language ability requirements for the stream

The Express Entry Stream allows for the fast-tracking of permanent residence for skilled migrants with either a permanent full-time job offer from an established local business, where the job offer includes a benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates, or experience in one of the priority occupations. Applicants will have to also meet a points assessment.

The Family Business Worker Stream aims to help family-owned businesses to hire close relatives who have skills that cannot be found locally. The worker must have a guaranteed, permanent job offer in Nova Scotia from an employer who is a close relative and who owns an established business in Nova Scotia. Priority will be given to workers whose family employers can demonstrate that they will provide additional supports to assist the worker and their accompanying dependents with their settlement needs.

The Skilled Worker Stream is geared for individuals who are employable, have strong established connections to a Nova Scotia community, and can contribute to the labor market and economy of that specific community. The applicant must have a Letter of Identification from an organization mandated by the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration before submitting an application to the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

Successful applicants and holders of a Nova Scotia Nominee Program visa become permanent residents of Canada. Permanent residents are entitled to live, work and study in Canada on a permanent basis.

Additional benefits of Canadian permanent residence include access to government-subsidized education and state-of-the-art healthcare (Medicare), as well as unrestricted access to Canada’s labor market and associated insurance and pension benefits. Permanent residents also have the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship and the opportunity to sponsor family members to join them in Canada.