Nova Scotia1 min read
Provincial Nominee Program
Nova Scotia's Provincial Nominee Program: the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
Current
Reviewed In one sentence. A look at the NSNP's four active streams — three base streams and one Express Entry-aligned — and what each is looking for.
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is the province's economic immigration program, letting Nova Scotia nominate foreign nationals and temporary residents for Canadian permanent residence based on the province's labour market and economic needs. As of February 18, 2026, the NSNP consolidated its previous ten streams into four, targeting recent graduates of Nova Scotia institutions, workers in in-demand occupations (including physicians and construction trades), business owners, and skilled candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool.
Active Nova Scotia streams
- Nova Scotia Graduate — a base stream for recent graduates of a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College working in an eligible in-demand occupation (such as paramedical roles, pharmacy technicians, nurse aides, or early childhood educators); you apply directly to the province, with no Express Entry profile or CRS score required.
- Skilled Worker — a base stream for workers with a permanent, full-time job offer in an occupation the province has identified as in demand; it now also houses sub-criteria for physicians and for critical construction trades, which used to be separate standalone streams.
- Entrepreneur — a base stream for candidates who intend to start, buy, or actively manage and grow a business in Nova Scotia; it includes an International Graduate Entrepreneur pathway, by invitation only, for recent Nova Scotia graduates already operating an eligible NS business.
- Nova Scotia: Express Entry — an Express Entry-aligned stream that folds in the former Labour Market Priorities and Labour Market Priorities for Physicians pathways; you must already hold a valid federal Express Entry profile, and the province selects candidates under a three-level priority framework that favours healthcare and skilled-trades occupations first.
Provincial and territorial PNP streams open, close, and change their criteria on a regular basis — confirm current requirements directly with the province or territory you are interested in, and verify federal requirements on canada.ca before you apply.
Key takeaways
- The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is Nova Scotia's provincial economic immigration program.
- Four active streams as of the Feb 2026 consolidation: three base streams (Nova Scotia Graduate, Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur) plus one Express Entry-aligned stream (Nova Scotia: Express Entry).
- The consolidation folded former standalone streams — Physician, Critical Construction Worker Pilot, Labour Market Priorities — into sub-criteria of Skilled Worker and Nova Scotia: Express Entry rather than eliminating those pathways.
- Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Provincial Nominee Program (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Aug 10, 2026
This is a plain-language summary of official IRCC information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules do change, so please confirm anything that affects you on canada.ca.