The Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream offers a route to permanent resident status while supporting entrepreneurial candidates and their families in the establishment and operation of a business in Nova Scotia.
Successful applicants to this stream receive a Temporary Work Permit, with which they can start a business in Nova Scotia. After operating the business for a year, they can be nominated for permanent resident status.
Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream eligibility requirements
Candidates wishing to apply to the stream must:
- be at least 21 years old,
- have a net worth of at least $600,000 CAD,
- be able to make a personal investment of at least $150,000 CAD to establish a business in Nova Scotia,
- demonstrate at least three years’ experience in actively owning and managing a business, with an ownership share of at least ⅓ OR, at least five years’ experience in a senior business management role,
- score at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in all factors of an official language test, in English or French, and
- intend to settle in Nova Scotia, actively owning and managing a business.
How to apply
Interested candidates are required to complete an online Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Candidates are issued a score based on the points assessment (see below) and are then entered into a candidate pool, where they are ranked according to their score. A EOI can remain in the pool for up to 12 months, at which point it expires and the candidate can submit a new EOI.
The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) contacts the candidates it wishes to nominate; only successful candidates are contacted. These candidates receive an invitation to apply.
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EOI points grid
Candidates are ranked based on their points score, which is allocated according to the following factors.
Factor 1: Language
First official language
| First official language | Points awarded: Speaking | Points awarded: Listening | Points awarded: Reading | Points awarded: Writing | Total points: (minimum 20 points required) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 9+ | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| CLB 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
| CLB 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
Second official language
| Second official language | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| At least CLB 5 in all four abilities | 7 |
Factor 2: Education
| Education | Points (maximum 25) |
|---|---|
| Canadian high school diploma, or equivalent | 8 |
| Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma from a one-year program, or equivalent | 12 |
| Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma from a two-year program, or equivalent | 19 |
| Canadian degree or diploma from a post-secondary program of three years or longer, or equivalent | 21 |
| Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees or diplomas (at least one must be of at least three years’ duration) | 22 |
| Master’s level degree or equivalent | 23 |
| University-level entry-to-practice professional degree related to a TEER 1 profession which is licensed by a provincial regulatory body | 23 |
| PhD-level degree or equivalent | 25 |
Factor 3: Work experience
| Work experience | Points (maximum 35) |
|---|---|
| 3 to 5 years’ business ownership experience (minimum ⅓ ownership) in the last 10 years | 20 |
| More than 5 years’ work experience in a senior management role in the last 10 years | 20 |
| More than 5 years’ business ownership experience (minimum ⅓ ownership) in the last 10 years | 35 |
Factor 4: Net worth
| Net worth | Points (maximum 10) |
|---|---|
| $600,000 CAD – $999,999 CAD | 5 |
| $1 million CAD – $1.5 million CAD | 7 |
| More than $1.5 million CAD | 10 |
Factor 5: Age
| Age at time of EOI submission | Points (maximum 10) |
|---|---|
| 21–24 | 5 |
| 25–32 | 7 |
| 33–39 | 10 |
| 40–44 | 7 |
| 45–55 | 5 |
| 56+ | 0 |
Factor 6: Adaptability
| Adaptability | Points (maximum 10) |
|---|---|
| Spouse or partner’s language level: at least CLB 4 in all abilities in English or French | 5 |
| Candidate’s past study in Nova Scotia: at least two academic years of full-time study at secondary or post-secondary level in Nova Scotia | 10 |
| Spouse or partner’s past study in Nova Scotia: at least two academic years of full-time study at secondary or post-secondary level in Nova Scotia | 5 |
| Candidate’s past work in Nova Scotia: at least one year of full-time work in the province on a valid work permit, in an occupation in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. | 10 |
| Spouse or partner’s past work in Nova Scotia: at least one year of full-time work in the province on a valid work permit | 5 |
| Relatives in Nova Scotia: candidate or spouse/partner has a parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, aged 19 or older and living in Nova Scotia for at least one continues year as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident | 5 |
Factor 7: Nova Scotia Economic Priorities
| Nova Scotia Economic Priorities | Points (maximum 10) |
|---|---|
| Export-oriented business | 5 |
| Business located outside of Halifax County | 5 |
| Business succession (Nova Scotia-based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for previous five years) | 5 |
Factor 8: Investment
| Investment | Points (maximum 15) |
|---|---|
| $150,000 CAD – $300,000 CAD | 10 |
| More than $300,000 CAD | 15 |
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"Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream."
Moving2Canada.
Last modified January 31, 2024.
https://moving2canada.com/immigration/pnp/provinces/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-entrepreneur-stream/.
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