The Skilled Worker stream helps employers recruit foreign workers and recently graduated international students whose skills are needed in Nova Scotia. An employer can only hire foreign workers for positions they have been unable to fill with permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
Depending on your occupation, there may be additional sub-criteria you must meet. Explore each tab to determine your eligibility.
NOTE: As of 12 noon ADT, April 17, 2024, the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program has a significant volume of submissions for candidates in the Accommodation and Food Services sector awaiting a decision and must stop accepting submissions in this sector while processing current inventory.
SKILLED WORKER
ELIGIBILITY
To submit an expression of interest (EOI) you must:
- have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer;
- have 1 year of work experience related to the job. (Workers in TEER 4 or 5 of the National Occupational Classification must already have six months’ experience with the employer.);
- be 21 to 55 years old;
- have a high school diploma;
- have the appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job;
- prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 if you are in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. If your first language is English or French, that is enough proof. Workers in a NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupation must have test results to prove they meet CLB 4 even if their first language is English or French;
- show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
- Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holders working in TEER 5 positions are not eligible.
For physicians, see the “PHYSICIAN” Tab.
For candidates working in select occupations, see the “CONSTRUCTION” tab.
HOW TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.
Submit an Expression of Interest
APPLICATION GUIDE, FORMS AND POLICIES
CONSTRUCTION
ELIGIBILITY
To submit an expression of interest (EOI) you must:
- have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in the construction sector (NAICS 23) in one of these NOCs:
- 70010 – Construction managers
- 70011 – Home building and renovation managers
- 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
- 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- 72102 – Sheet metal workers
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 72320 – Bricklayers
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- 72500 – Crane operators
- 73100 – Concrete finishers
- 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
- 75101 – Material handlers
- 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
- 75119 – Other trades helpers and labourers
- have 1 year of work experience related to the job;
- have a high school diploma OR proof you have completed a construction specific industry training program;
- be 21 to 55 years old;
- prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3) or CLB Level 4 (NOC TEER 4 and 5) even if your first language is English or French;
- show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
HOW TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.
Submit an Expression of Interest
APPLICATION GUIDE, FORMS AND POLICIES
- Application Guide
- Employer Information Form (NSNP 200)
- Common Nova Scotia Immigration and Population Growth Policies
- Use of a Representative (NSNP 50)
- Authority to Release Personal Information (NSNP 60)
- Program Integrity Policy
PHYSICIANS
ELIGIBILITY
The Physician sub-criteria assists Nova Scotia’s public health authorities – the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) – to hire general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians to work in Nova Scotia. The stream helps the NSHA and IWK to recruit and retain physicians with the required skills for positions that they have been unable to fill with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
The Physician sub-criteria is only open to general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) and specialist physicians (NOC 31100 and NOC 31101) with signed approved opportunities with the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre.
The approved opportunity must be on official NSHA or IWK letterhead and must:
- Be signed and dated by a person authorized to offer approved opportunities to physicians at the NSHA or IWK
- Be signed and dated by the applicant who is accepting the opportunity
- Indicate eligibility for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NS
- Indicate that the applicant is eligible to apply for privileges and credentials with NSHA and the IWK
HOW TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.
Submit an Expression of Interest
APPLICATION GUIDE, FORMS AND POLICIES
Occupations in Demand
There are no occupations listed in this category at this time.
The Occupations in Demand stream targets specific TEER category 3, 4 or 5 occupations of the National Occupational Classification that are in high labour market demand in Nova Scotia. Labour, Skills and Immigration identifies occupations in demand based on labour market information and eligible occupations are subject to change.
ELIGIBILITY
To submit an expression of interest (EOI) you must:
- have a permanent, full-time job offer in an occupation identified as in demand by the Immigration and Population branch of the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration;
- have 1 year of work experience related to the job;
- be 21 to 55 years old;
- have a high school diploma;
- have the appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job;
- prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 even if your first language is English or French;
- show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
The requirement for 6 months’ paid work experience with the Nova Scotia employer for NOC TEER 4 or 5 does NOT apply under this category.
HOW TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments.
Submit an Expression of Interest
APPLICATION GUIDE, FORMS AND POLICIES
Within twelve (12) months of receiving your nominee certificate, apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for your permanent resident visa. You, your spouse and your dependents must meet all requirements for medical, security and criminal admissibility. In some cases you may be asked to go for an interview. IRCC has the final authority to issue a permanent resident visa.
Additional information on provincial nominees can be found here.
The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) has made this reporting tool available for people to confidentially and anonymously report fraud or suspicious activity related to Nova Scotia immigration programs via Clearview Connects (Clearview). Submit a fraud report here.
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