Skilled Worker Category

The Nova Scotia Skilled Worker stream is part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), operated by the province of Nova Scotia. The stream is designed to assist Nova Scotian employers to recruit international workers in order to fill gaps in the labour force.

Through this program, employers who have been unable to fill positions with Canadian citizens or permanent residents may provide job offers to interested foreign workers to facilitate their immigration. This program is an excellent option for foreign workers and recently graduated international students who have a job offer from a Nova Scotian employer.

Program Requirements

Job Offer

To be eligible for the Nova Scotia Skilled Worker stream, candidates must have a valid job offer from an eligible employer in Nova Scotia. In order to be considered valid, the job offer must be from a business which has a permanent residence in Nova Scotia and which has been in active operation over the previous two years. In order for a job offer to be valid for this program, the business must demonstrate that they were unable to find a Canadian permanent resident or citizen to fill the position.

If the job offer is for a position at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D, the applicant must have already been working with the employer for at least 6 months. Candidates must show that they have at least 1 year of full-time work experience in the same occupation as their offer of employment.  

Language Proficiency

If a candidate speaks English or French as their first language and is applying with a job offer at NOC skill level 0, A, or B, then they will be exempt from the language test requirement. If a candidate speaks English or French as a second-language then they must demonstrate proof of language proficiency. Candidates applying with a job offer at NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B must demonstrate language test results consistent with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5. Candidates applying with a job offer at NOC Skill Level C or D must demonstrate test results at CLB level 4.  

Level of Education

All candidates applying to this stream must demonstrate a level of education of at least a Canadian high school diploma or an international equivalent.  

Work Experience

Candidates must have at least one year of work experience in an occupation related to the job offer they have received.  

Settlement Funds

All candidates for this stream must meet the settlement funds requirement as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This can be demonstrated through their own finances, or through maintaining a valid offer of employment.

Application Procedure

Applications for the Nova Scotia Skilled Worker category are accepted at all times, provided that an applicant meets program requirements. Applications to this stream are processed on a first-come, first served basis. Successful applicants will be issued a provincial nomination for permanent residence from Nova Scotia.

After receiving a provincial nomination an applicant has six months to submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.

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