Nova Scotia has broadened its selection of provincial nominees through a special initiative aimed at workers in the province with expiring and expired work permits.

As per a recent announcement, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) will be inviting eligible candidates residing and working in Nova Scotia to apply for provincial nomination. The program will target individuals with work permits expiring in 2026 or earlier, as well as those who have submitted active expressions of interest (EOIs) on or before June 30, 2026.

Candidates meeting the specified criteria will be considered if they fall into certain categories, such as workers earning a minimum of $27/hr at the time of EOI submission, graduates from a Nova Scotia postsecondary institution, or workers employed in key sectors outside Halifax Regional Municipality.

The province has emphasized that candidates selected through this initiative will be contacted directly, and work permit expiry may influence the processing order of applications. The details of this initiative were released on the NSNP website on July 14, 2026, with a clarification that it does not replace the priority occupations announced earlier.

To qualify for permanent residence through the NSNP, foreign nationals must meet specific provincial immigration stream requirements, create an expression of interest, receive an invitation to apply, submit a complete application for provincial nomination, and apply for permanent residence through the federal government’s immigration department.