Immigrate to Nova Scotia as a Worker

Immigrate to Nova Scotia as a Worker

Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker stream helps employers recruit foreign workers and recently graduated international students whose skills are needed in Nova Scotia. An employer can only hire foreign workers for positions they have been unable to fill with permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

Are you eligible?

To apply you must

• have a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer;
• have 1 year of work experience related to the job. (Semi-skilled and low-skilled workers must already have six

months’ experience with the employer.);

• be 21 to 55 years old;
• have a high school diploma;
• have the appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job;
• prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 if you are a skilled worker. If your

first language is English or French, that is enough proof. Semi-skilled and low-skilled workers must have test results to prove they meet CLB 4 even if their first language is English or French;

• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently. Applicants must have a good chance of quickly finding a job in Nova Scotia’s labour market.

The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration reserves the right to consider only certain types of occupations for

nomination, depending on current labour market needs.

Applications will only be accepted online.

Category A (for applicants with a job offer) will remain open.
Category B (for applicants with experience in an opportunity occupation) is expected to open and close throughout the year. Controlling intake will allow us to process applications more efficiently.

Are you eligible?

To apply under Category A, you must:

• have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system;
• score 67 points or more on the stream’s six selection factors;
• have a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer for full-time skilled work that lasts at least one year after your

permanent resident visa is issued. For a job offer to be valid in Express Entry and receive points, employers will usually need an LMIA from ESDC. There are a few exceptions: cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/exempt.asp;

• have 1 year of skilled work experience related to the job;
• have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent;
• prove language ability in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark 7;
• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

To apply under Category B, you must:

• be in one of the target occupations as identified in the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry guide;
• have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system;
• score 67 points or more on the stream’s six selection factors;
• have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in one of our target occupations;
• have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent;
• prove language ability in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark 7;
• show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

The Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently. Applicants must have at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in a high skilled occupation.

Are you eligible?

To apply you must:
• have at least 1 year of work experience in Nova Scotia;
• be 21 to 55 years old;
• have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent;
• prove language ability in English or French on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). You need CLB 7 for

skilled work in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0 and A. You need CLB 5 for NOC B positions;

• have a profile registered in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system