Nova Scotia Immigration: Current Condition and Opportunity

In the previous year, Nova Scotia approved an increasing number of immigrants where a total of 3517 candidates were invited and approved; many of them were either skilled in essential services or healthcare workers or living in Canada.

Immigration level in 2020 was lower compared to 2019 due to the pandemic. The province continued to accept the applications through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) and the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Although for NSNP, the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream with category A and B are permanently closed. In this stream, category A requires all applicants to have a full-time, skilled job offer from a Nova Scotia employer, while category B requires all applicants to have a minimum of 12-months of full-time, skilled work experience in one of Nova Scotia’s in-demand occupations.

The province currently seems to focus on the foreign workers with specialized skill or occupation to match the labour shortage. Also, province retains the international students after they graduate. Thus, we can expect that the aspirants who wish to move to Nova Scotia have the some pathways open for them.

How to immigrate to Nova Scotia

Those who want to move to Nova Scotia can choose AIPP or Provincial Nomination program where there are certain streams available for the applicants. AIPP allows employers of Atlantic region of Canada to hire the foreign nationals for occupations they are unable to fill. These employers do not need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Atlantic Canada consists of four provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.

Candidates wishing to move to Canada under AIPP must have a job offer from a designated employer and have individualized settlement plans. Candidates who accept a job offer from an employer in Atlantic Canada will be connected to a designated settlement service provider by their employer to develop their individualized settlement plan.

Under NSNP, there are below given streams available for immigration option:

• Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry: Express Entry candidates who worked in Nova Scotia for at least one year
• Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: Express Entry candidates who meet specific labour market needs
• Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: Physicians, for Express Entry candidates who have a job offer as a family physician or specialist physician
• Physician Stream: Physicians who have a job offer in Nova Scotia and are not in the Express Entry system
• Skilled Worker Stream: Skilled workers who have received a job offer in the province
• Occupation in Demand Stream:  Workers with a job offer in an occupation that is deemed “in-demand”
• Entrepreneur Stream: Individuals who wish to start a business in the province
• International Graduates Entrepreneur Stream: International graduates who wish to start a business in the province

For more information about immigration to Nova Scotia or Canada through Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program, contact us at inquiry@winnyimmigration.com or call us at 1800-419-3242.