Effective September 1, foreign nationals seeking immigration through the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program’s worker streams will be required to pay a $1,000 application fee. The entrepreneur stream will also introduce a $2,000 application fee on the same date.

The Government of Nova Scotia announced these fee adjustments on August 6, 2026. Previously, applying for a provincial nomination through the NSNP was free after selection from the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

The $1,000 fee applies to worker streams such as Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate, and Nova Scotia Express Entry. The $2,000 fee is applicable to entrepreneur stream pathways like Purchase of a New Business, Purchase of an Existing Business, and International Graduates.

These new fees only impact candidates selected from the EOI pool on or after September 1. Invitations issued before this date are exempt from the updated fees. Worker stream invitees must pay the $1,000 fee within seven days of selection, while entrepreneurs have varying deadlines based on their chosen pathway.

• Purchase of a New Business: within 90 days of invitation
• Purchase of an Existing Business: within 180 days of invitation
• International Graduates: within 90 days of invitation

Selected candidates will receive payment instructions via email, and a receipt will be provided upon payment confirmation. Failure to submit proof of payment within the specified timeframe will result in EOI closure, necessitating a new submission if eligibility criteria are still met.

Applications must be submitted online with a single payment using major credit cards. The fee is per principal applicant and is non-refundable, except where mandated by the government.