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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.
![Smiling young woman dancing at the office](https://moving2canada.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Smiling-young-woman-dancing-at-the-office_social-1024x538.jpg)
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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 |
PNP Live Tracker
Make sure to stay up to date with all the latest developments in this and other Canadian immigration categories using the Moving2Canada PNP Live Tracker.
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