Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry (closed)

The province has stated the stream is being closed in order to favour the Labour Market Priorities stream, “The Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream is more targeted and efficient in selection and processing. Only eligible candidates will receive invitations to apply based on draw criteria.”

The closure of Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry may be disappointing to some immigration hopefuls who remember Category B providing a pathway to permanent residence to candidates with experience in one of the province’s priority occupations. However, Category B has not accepted applications in more than two years. Even when Category B did occasionally open for invitation rounds, the program was plagued by technical issues and marred by huge demand for a tiny number of available spots.

Replacing Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry with the Labour Market Priorities stream accomplishes exactly what the government states: a streamlined selection and application process enabling the provincial government more control over its provincial nominations.

Category B

Category B of Nova Scotia’s Express Entry Demand PNP stream has been a highly popular PNP stream. In order to be eligible, candidates require experience in an in-demand occupation and an active Express Entry profile. Unfortunately, the popular Category B has not opened for an intake since 2018. It is unclear whether Nova Scotia intends to open the PNP stream for another intake in the future.

Eligible Express Entry candidates do not need a job offer in order to apply to this category.

Tell me about Category A

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry is one of many under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Successful applicants obtain 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, effectively guaranteeing them an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the Express Entry pool.

For the previous intake, which occurred on April 28, the application intake limit was also reached within a few hours.

There are 11 occupations on the targeted in-demand list:

To apply under Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry (category B), you must:

• have an Express Entry profile;
• have at least one year of skilled work experience in one of the targeted occupations listed above;
• score 67 points or more on the stream’s six selection factors listed below;
• have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent;
• prove language ability in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher; and
• show enough financial resources to settle in Nova Scotia successfully.

Selection factors

The selection factors for Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry are exactly the same as for the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), except for factors 5 and 6, which in the case of Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry relate to the province of Nova Scotia, rather than nationally. So, if you entered the Express Entry pool as a FSWC candidate and claimed points for arranged employment (job offer) or certain adaptability factors, those points would only be awarded in the Nova Scotia system if the job offer or adaptability factor(s), as the case may be, are based in Nova Scotia, and not another province.

The category operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Express Entry candidates interested in applying to this stream likely stand a better chance of submitting a successful application if they prepare in advance and have accompanying documentation ready.

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry—Category A

Category A of the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream is open at all times. However, as it requires a valid job offer, it is much more challenging to meet the eligibility requirements for the program. If you do meet the requirements for Category A, you can submit your application at any time.

Notably, in order to be eligible, your job offer does not have to be in one of the in-demand occupations, but it does need to be for a position at NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B.

About Nova Scotia

Situated on Canada’s Atlantic coast, the province of Nova Scotia shares the distinction of being both Canada’s second-smallest province, but also the second-least-populated (Prince Edward Island takes first place for both). The provincial capital, Halifax, is home to nearly half the provincial population, which is just under one million.

Newcomers to Nova Scotia consistently report the warm welcome they receive from locals throughout the province.

For the latest Canada immigration PNP updates, see our PNP live tracker.

For information on the other PNPs, see our main overview of Provincial Nominee Programs.

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