Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry is aligned with the federal government's Express Entry immigration selection system to nominate high skilled foreign nationals for permanent residence in the province of Nova Scotia. 

This Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) stream is for skilled individuals with a post-secondary education and qualifications that will help them successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

There are two categories under the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream:

• Category A: Arranged Employment in Nova Scotia
  • This category requires candidates to have an arranged job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from a Nova Scotia employer. The job offer must be in a 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill Type/Level 0, A, or B occupation.  Nova Scotia's Office of Immigration specifies that the job offer must be for full-time work that lasts for a minimum of one year after becoming a permanent resident.
• Category B: Paid Work Experience in an Opportunity Occupation (CLOSED)
  • This category entails at least one year of continuous full-time (or 1,560 hours or more) or an equal amount in part-time paid work experience in the last six years in one of the opportunity occupations.

This page will provide details on the following topics:

• Minimum Requirements for Applicants
• Selection Factors
• Settlement Requirements
• Application Process
• Opportunity Occupations
• Who is not eligible for Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry

Once candidates have determined that they meet the eligibility criteria in one of the two categories, they must also meet all the remaining minimum requirements for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream listed below. Candidates must also obtain sufficient points under the selection factors and meet the program's minimum funds requirement.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible for Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry, candidates must: 

• Have a profile created with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Express Entry immigration selection system;
• Have the minimum educational credential requirement equivalent to a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma;
• Have a foreign diploma, certificate, or credential and its educational credential equivalency assessment by a designated body or a Canadian educational credential;
• Have one year of full-time, or part-time equivalent, paid work experience in the last six years in an NOC Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B occupation; and
  • The job offer must be for full-time work that lasts at least one year after a candidate becomes a permanent resident. 
• Meet the minimum language proficiency threshold – currently Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four language components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in either English or French demonstrated by language test results from a designated agency:
  • IELTS (General Training Test only) for English;
  • CELPIP (General test only) for English; or
  • TEF for French.

Selection Factors

Potential candidates must score at least 67 out of 100 points on a point grid that measures education, language ability, work experience, age, adaptability factors, and whether the candidate has an arranged job offer from a Nova Scotia-based employer.

Factor 1: Education

Candidates must have a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential OR a completed foreign educational credential from a recognized institution or authority AND an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an organization designated by CIC.

An ECA is used to verify that the foreign degree, diploma, certificate (or other proof of credentials) is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada. The ECA report will also indicate the authenticity of the foreign educational credential(s).

Factor 2: Ability in English and/or French

Candidates can earn up to 28 points for their skills in English and French. They will be given points based on abilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Candidates can also earn points for their official second language capacity. To earn points for skills in both English and French, language test results for each language must be provided at the same time. 

Language test results must not be more than two years old at the time of receipt at the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) and at application for permanent residence to IRCC. 

Language test results must come from one of the following designated testing agencies:

• English:
  • CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (General test only)
  • IELTS: International English Language Testing System (General Training test only)
• French:
  • TEF: Test d’évaluation de français

Applicants are required to meet the minimum level of CLB 7 (for their first official language in all four language areas). To get points for the second official language, they must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 (in all four language areas).

Factor 3: Work Experience

The Candidate's Canadian or international work experience must be:

• At least one year (1,560 hours), continuous full-time or an equal amount in continuous part-time;
• Paid work (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count);
• In the same occupation;
• Within the last six years before the application to the NSOI and the application for permanent residence to IRCC; and
• In NOC 2011 Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a system used to classify jobs in the Canadian economy. It describes duties, skills and work setting for different jobs.

Factor 4: Age

Candidates earn points based on their age on the day that their application is received by the NSOI.

Factor 5: Arranged Employment in Nova Scotia

Candidates will receive points if they have a valid offer of arranged employment from a Nova Scotia employer. If the occupation is a regulated occupation in the province, the NSOI must be satisfied that the candidate can be expected to qualify for licensing/certification in Nova Scotia. 

Criteria and Requirements for the Employer

If claiming points for arranged employment, the Nova Scotia employer must meet the following requirements:

• The business has a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia;
• The business must have been in operation in Nova Scotia, under current management, for at least two years;
• The employer must have a history of good workplace and business practices, including compliance with employment, immigration, health and safety standards and regulations;
• The employer must be compliant with all applicable laws and regulations;
• The employer must make a full-time, continuous, paid work job offer to the candidate; The job must:
  • Be NOC Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B of the 2016 NOC,
  • Be located in Nova Scotia,
  • Have a compensation package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates,
  • Be a position for which there is a shortage of qualified permanent residents or Canadian citizens to fill the position,
  • Not contravene any existing bargaining unit agreements, labour agreements/standards or be in any employment disputes.
• The employer must demonstrate satisfactory recruitment efforts to fill the position with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• The employer must provide a copy of a current LMIA.

Additionally, when reviewing an application, the NSOI will take into consideration support offered to the candidate by the employer. Support may be in the form of financial or non-financial assistance. Some examples of support and retention efforts include settlement assistance, career training plans, coverage or contribution to immigration fees, and others. 

Factor 6: Adaptability

Candidates can claim points for their accompanying spouse or common-law partner. However, candidates cannot claim points for a spouse who is living in Canada or a Canadian citizen. A maximum of 10 points can be awarded under this factor, regardless of how many criteria a candidate qualifies for.

Settlement Requirements

Proof of funds

Candidates must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to establish themselves and their family members in the province of Nova Scotia. The amount required to show proof of funds is determined by family size. The funds must be in the candidate's name or in the name of the accompanying spouse. 

These funds must be unencumbered by debts or obligations transferable and available to the candidate. Funds must be liquid (i.e. not real estate) and cannot be borrowed. 

Proof of funds is not required if:

• the candidate has a valid job offer (offer of arranged employment) in Nova Scotia; and
• the candidate is currently working or is authorized to work in Nova Scotia.

Arranged Employment Income

The NSOI will not approve an application if it appears that the family income (based on the offer of employment and any spousal income) will be below Statistics Canada's Low-Income Cut-off.

Settlement Plan

Candidates are required to show a genuine intention to settle in Nova Scotia by providing a detailed explanation of why they chose to settle permanently in the province and what they believe Nova Scotia can offer them and their family. The settlement plan can include details such as accommodation /housing, transportation, employment/job, schools or child care, language training plans and integration into the community.

Application Process

1. This first step to applying for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Stream is to create a profile with IRCC's online Express Entry system. A candidate's Express Entry profile number and job seeker code are necessary for the application.
2. Next, candidates will need to submit all the requested documents along with the application electronically through Nova Scotia's online service. It is important to ensure all requested documents are completed, signed and translated by a certified translator (if required).  Candidates may have to attend an in-person interview in Nova Scotia. 
3. Once an application is received, the NSOI begins the process by conducting a completion check. After conducting a full review and evaluation of the application, the NSOI will communicate a decision of nomination or refusal to the candidate (or representative) via email. If a nomination is issued, the candidate will have 30 days to accept the nomination in his or her Express Entry profile. Candidates who are being considered for refusal will receive an Intent to Refuse letter from the NSOI and will have 10 business days to provide additional information. 
4. Following the acceptance of a nomination, candidates nominated by the province will obtain an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence from IRCC. Nominees will have 90 days to submit an electronic application for permanent residence and provide all the supporting documents to the federal government. If approved for permanent residence, applicants and their spouses/partners and dependants will be issued a Confirmation of Permanent residence, which must be submitted to the NSOI within 30 days of arrival in Nova Scotia along with other required documents. 

Opportunity Occupations

The following occupation list represents professions where there may be employment opportunities in Nova Scotia. The NOC code and occupation title, which are based on Canada's 2016 National Occupational Classification, helps determine whether a job meets the skill levels established for skilled and semi-skilled occupations, and whether the candidate’s qualifications and experience match the requirements of the job.

In your application to NSOI under this category you will need to demonstrate that you:

• performed the actions described in the lead statements for the occupation as set out in the occupational description of the NOC; and
• performed a substantial number of the main duties, including all of the essential duties, of the occupation as set out in the occupational description of NOC.

This list is subject to change.

Candidates should not apply if they are:

• A person who has received a nomination under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program dated within the last 12 months;
• Intending to work in an occupation that is a NOC skill level C or D;
• A grand-parent, parent, spouse, common-law or conjugal partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada;
• An applicant under humanitarian and compassionate grounds, a refugee claimant or a failed refugee claimant;
• In Canada illegally, under a removal order, or are prohibited from entering or being in Canada;
• An individual who does not have legal status in Canada (candidates are not eligible to apply until their status has been restored);
• An international student currently studying at a Canadian post-secondary institution;
• An international graduate who has studied in Canada, whose studies have been sponsored by an agency or government and who is contractually obligated to return to their country of origin;
• On a valid federal post-graduation work permit whose occupation falls under NOC skill level C or D;
• An individual with unresolved custody or child support disputes affecting any dependent;
• In a sales position that is based solely on commission for compensation;
• A seasonal, part-time or casual worker;
• An individual whose job is not based in Nova Scotia;
• A helper and/or labourer in construction, agriculture or primary resources sectors;
• An individual in Canada who is in the Caregiver Program;
• Intending to start a business and/or be self-employed in Nova Scotia;
• A passive investor (an individual who intends to invest in a Nova Scotia business with very limited or no involvement in the day-to-day management of the business); or
• Unable to provide proof of required amount of funds.

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