Nova Scotia Will Now Use a Pool System to Select Immigration Applications

This means every applicant who intends to apply to Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program must now submit an EOI, which is placed into a selection pool. The province will then hold periodic draws to choose which applications move forward, based on labour-market needs and available nomination spaces – bringing its intake system closer to what most other Provincial Nominee Programs already use. 

It’s an important update, not just for applicants but for employers too. The province says it’ll bring more predictability and transparency, while allowing the province to respond to labour market needs. In this article, we’ll walk through what’s changing, how the process works now, why Nova Scotia is doing this, and most importantly what it means for you. 

What’s Changing with Nova Scotia’s Nominee Program? 

Nova Scotia’s change to an EOI model affects the order in which applications are considered, not the application requirements themselves. You’ll still submit a full application, but how and when it’s assessed now depends on the new pool-and-draw system. Here’s how the updated process works: 

Applications Now Enter an EOI Pool. Anyone submitting an application to the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) or through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) still needs to submit a full application. That application will then be entered into the  EOI pool to be eligible for selection.  

Selections Made Through Periodic Draws. Instead of being processed in the order they arrive, Nova Scotia will conduct periodic draws from the EOI pool. To be selected from the pool, applicants still need to be fully eligible and submit a complete application. The province will select applicants based on its current provincial priorities, remaining allocation, EOI pool volume and overall program oversight.  

No Action Required for Existing Applicants. Any full application already submitted will automatically be placed in the EOI pool. You don’t need to redo anything or upload anything new. 

What Selection Means. If your file is selected for processing, it will move on to processing. This doesn’t guarantee approval, it just means your application is now being reviewed because it lines up with the province’s priorities. 

What If You Don’t Hear Anything? If you don’t get an email, your status hasn’t changed. Your file stays in the pool until it is selected or until further notice. 

Why Nova Scotia Made This Change 

Demand has completely outpaced Nova Scotia’s federal immigration allocation. Thousands of people want to settle in the province – far more than the number of nominations Nova Scotia gets each year from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

The widespread use of the EOI model across all NSNP or AIP streams helps the province: 

• Prioritize applications that fill real labour needs, like healthcare, trades, construction, STEM, natural resources, and manufacturing

• Keep application volumes manageable

• Sets clear expectations for both the candidate and employers 

• Adjust more quickly when labour shortages change 

Other provinces have been doing this for years, and Nova Scotia’s move feels like a natural evolution. Provinces want more control over who they invite and with smaller allocations and increasing applicant pools, they need ways to manage both volumes and expectations. It’s more predictable for the government, more transparent for applicants, and hopefully less chaotic in the long run.  

What This Means for Applicants 

If you’re applying through NSNP or AIP, this update doesn’t mean your application is weaker, but it does mean that being eligible to apply doesn’t mean your application will be processed. Instead, you must wait for your application to be selected for it to go into processing. This means some applicants may wait longer than expected, while others may not be selected at all. 

Because of this, it’s important to manage expectations and plan ahead. Keep your information accurate, stay patient, and follow the latest draw updates through our Live PNP Tracker. At the same time, be aware that your application may never be chosen. If your profile doesn’t match current labour needs or hasn’t been selected after multiple draw cycles, you may want to explore alternative pathways or programs that better align with your experience and goals.