For centuries, Nova Scotia has been welcoming visitors with open arms, a tradition that has led to our diverse culture and warm reputation. This beautiful province continues to sway those seeking true riches — when quality of life is the real measure of fulfillment.

Skilled Worker Stream:

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program seeks Skilled Workers who wish to settle in the province and who are qualified to fill critical skills shortages. Individuals in most skilled occupations can qualify, provided that a Nova Scotia employer offers standard wages and working conditions for that occupational field. Also, the employer must have exhausted all other means of finding workers.

To be eligible for a nomination under this stream, the following criteria must be met by the applicant:

• A guaranteed job offer from a Nova Scotia employer
• The desire for permanent, full-time employment
• Basic literacy in English, or French and English
• Minimum of Nova Scotia grade 12 or equivalent (generally, 13 years of schooling)
• Legal working age (18)

For applications received on or after July 1, 2006, there is no application fee for the NSNP Skilled Worker stream.

Economic Stream:

Please Note: The province will not be accepting any new applications under the economic stream for the balance of the 2006 calendar year.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program allows immigrants to carefully review their work options in the province before making a long-term commitment. Specifically, the Program gives each Economic Nominee a six-month work experience contract with a Nova Scotia employer. This serves as a valuable orientation to basic business operations in the province — as well as a chance to assess your range of job opportunities and the best fit for your skills over the long term.

To be eligible for a nomination under this stream, the following criteria must be met by the applicant:

• The applicant should have reached the minimum age of 25 years, and be no more than 60 years of age at the time of his/her application;
• The applicant should have basic skills in English, or French and English. These skills would include speaking, reading, and writing, and would be sufficient for the applicant to be understood or function in a job situation;
• The applicant should have a minimum education of grade 12 (or equivalent);
• The applicant should have owned (wholly or in partnership) and operated a business. OR, the applicant should have two years (in the previous 5 years) of management experience. This experience may be in a business, governmental, institutional, or other organizational unit, either for profit or not for profit;
• The applicant must have legally accumulated, by his or her own endeavors, a minimum net worth of Canadian $300,000. Documentation is required, supporting the applicant’s net worth and method of accumulation;
• As of May 9, 2006, the Economic category has $130,000 in fees:
  • $30,000 for file preparation and administration fees, which includes a $20,000 commission provided to the nominee’s agent;
  • $100,000 contribution to cover the costs of a paid middle management employment and business mentoring contract with an approved Nova Scotia business provided to all successful applicants.
• A non-refundable application fee of $1200 is required at time of application. The remaining fees are held in trust and may be returned, without deduction or interest, if the applicant is refused by the province for nomination or by Citizenship and Immigration Canada for permanent residency, or if the applicant provides written proof that he/she has withdrawn or closed his/her application.
  Please note that applications received before May 9, 2006 have a $1700 non-refundable portion.
• Upon visa issuance and subsequent landing in Canada, the nominee will be able to select, from a list of companies approved by the Province of Nova Scotia, a middle management work experience contract of at least six months with a salary of at least $20,000;
• At the time of interview, the applicant must state his/her intention of settling in the Province of Nova Scotia.
• Many Economic Nominees use the NSNP as a stepping stone to establish their own business, while others prefer to find employment in an existing company.