Nova Scotia Nominee Program: New Selection Priorities and Pathways to Permanent Residency

Nova Scotia has recently announced updated selection priorities for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), outlining the priority occupations that will be expedited under a three-level framework.

Healthcare professionals and skilled tradespeople are given the highest priority and widest access under the program.

Candidates in other occupation groups, as well as those located abroad, will face stricter criteria. Workers in TEER* 5 occupations are currently excluded from consideration.

The province emphasizes that these priorities may change in response to evolving labor market demands and nomination allocations.

Which Occupations Are Targeted?

Level 1 — Healthcare and Skilled Trades (Top Priority)

Healthcare and skilled trades occupations are prioritized for NSNP nomination within TEER 0 to 4 categories.

This level is open to both international applicants and temporary residents already residing and working in Nova Scotia.

Level 2 — Additional Priority Occupations

Nova Scotia may also entertain nominations for temporary residents already working in the province under the following NOC major groups, within TEER 0 to 4:

  • NOC 2 — Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
  • NOC 4 — Education, law, and social, community and government services
  • NOC 8 — Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
  • NOC 9 — Manufacturing and utilities

Level 3 — Limited Consideration

For all other occupations, the NSNP will only consider temporary residents already in Nova Scotia within TEER 0, 1, and 2.

Levels 2 and 3 restrict nominations to temporary residents in the province, limiting options for candidates outside Canada who are not in healthcare or skilled trades.

Other Pathways to Permanent Residency in Nova Scotia

Physicians have an alternative route to provincial nomination through Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Physicians stream, which is aligned with Express Entry and targets specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine, surgery, and general practitioners and family physicians.

This stream operates independently from the general NSNP priority levels. Candidates must have an Express Entry profile and a qualifying job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or IWK Health Centre.

Workers in northern Nova Scotia may also have an opportunity through the rural community program.