Immigrate to Nova Scotia: Nominee Program Streams, AIP and Settling In

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces. Newcomers choose it for a smaller-city lifestyle, the ocean, and steady demand for workers in health care, construction and other trades. Halifax is the regional center for government, universities, hospitals and the port, while smaller towns offer a quieter life and, in 2026, better odds of selection for some candidates.

For immigration, Nova Scotia has two main tools. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is its part of the federal Provincial Nominee Program. The federal Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) lets designated Atlantic employers hire workers for permanent jobs. Pictou County also takes part in the federal Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

Compare Nova Scotia with its neighbors: New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Canada's 2026-2028 levels plan sets a national Provincial Nominee Program target of 91,500 admissions in 2026, and the 2026 provincial allocations rose by about a third. Industry reporting estimates Nova Scotia's 2026 allocation at about 4,127 nominations (as of September 2026; the federal government has not published an official Atlantic breakdown).

That is still less than demand. Nova Scotia says demand for nominations continues to exceed its annual federal allocation, which is why it now uses an expression of interest (EOI) pool, publishes selection priorities, and introduced fees on September 1, 2026. Meeting a stream's requirements does not guarantee selection.

On February 18, 2026, Nova Scotia consolidated ten NSNP streams into four. The former streams became sub-criteria with the same eligibility rules, and EOIs already in the pool stayed active.

Since April 17, 2024, the NSNP has paused new EOIs from the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72).

Every NSNP stream now starts with an EOI:

1. Pick a stream and read its guide. Make sure you meet every requirement before you submit.
2. Submit an EOI online with all required attachments. It is free. Incomplete EOIs are closed.
3. Wait in the pool. Nova Scotia selects EOIs periodically based on priorities, retention, region, immigration status, allocations and program integrity. It is not first come, first served. EOIs submitted on or after May 1, 2026 expire after 12 months.
4. If selected, you have 7 calendar days to upload updated documents and pay the fee: $1,000 for worker streams or $2,000 for the Entrepreneur stream (as of September 2026). Entrepreneurs get 90 or 180 days after their invitation.
5. Assessment and decision. If approved, you receive a nomination and, if needed, a work permit support letter.
6. Apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 12 months of your nominee certificate. Nominations through Nova Scotia: Express Entry add 600 points to your Express Entry score.

You do not need a paid representative. If you use one, choose a lawyer or licensed consultant and verify their license.

Nova Scotia's published nominee priorities (as of September 2026) are:

• Top priority: healthcare and skilled trades occupations at TEER 0-4, for applicants abroad and temporary residents already in Nova Scotia.
• Other priorities for people already working in Nova Scotia: NOC broad groups 2 (natural and applied sciences), 4 (education, law, social and government services), 8 (natural resources and agriculture) and 9 (manufacturing and utilities), at TEER 0-4.
• Everything else: limited to TEER 0, 1 and 2.
• TEER 5 jobs are not being prioritized in any category.

The province's Critical Vacancies page has recently listed licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, construction and mechanic trade supervisors, welders, drywall finishers, heavy-duty and automotive mechanics, machinists, and civil engineering technologists.

In July 2026 Nova Scotia added a one-time selection for EOIs submitted by June 30, 2026 from people already working in the province whose work permits expire in 2026 or earlier, including workers outside the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia graduates, and people earning at least $27 an hour.

The AIP is a federal program, open in 2026 with 6,500 spots across the four Atlantic provinces. It works through employers:

1. The employer becomes designated by the province, which includes committing to work with a settlement service provider and completing onboarding training.
2. The employer offers you a full-time, non-seasonal job and shows it tried to hire locally.
3. You complete an individualized settlement plan with an approved settlement agency.
4. The province endorses the job. You then apply to IRCC for permanent residence and can get a work permit while you wait.

The AIP has no provincial application fee in Nova Scotia. As of September 2026, AIP job offers in NOC 62020 (food service supervisors) are paused. Employers can read our guide to AIP designation and PNP employer streams.

• Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM): the capital and largest urban area, including Dartmouth and Bedford. Home to Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University and the main hospitals. It has the most jobs and generally the highest rents in the province.
• Sydney and Cape Breton: home to Cape Breton University, with many international students.
• Truro: a central transport hub.
• New Glasgow and Pictou County: part of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.
• Annapolis Valley (Kentville, Wolfville): farming, food processing, and Acadia University.
• Antigonish, Bridgewater and Yarmouth: smaller regional centers.

The Entrepreneur stream sets lower money requirements for businesses outside HRM, and the 2026 one-time selection favors workers living outside HRM.

Nova Scotia's public plan is the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program, run through Medical Services Insurance (MSI). As of September 2026:

You must apply for a Health Card; coverage is not automatic. Students and people moving from other provinces should buy private insurance for the gap.

Driver's license. Driver licensing is handled by the Registry of Motor Vehicles through Access Nova Scotia. You can use a valid foreign license for a limited time after you become a resident, then you must get a Nova Scotia license. Drivers from some countries can exchange their license without road tests; others must take the knowledge and road tests. Bring proof of your driving experience, and check the current rules with Access Nova Scotia before your grace period ends.

Settlement services. Free settlement services are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residents and many temporary residents. The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) in Halifax is a major provider, and other agencies serve regional and francophone communities. AIP candidates must use an approved agency for their settlement plan.

Professional licensing. If your job is regulated, you need a license from the Nova Scotia regulator before you can work in it. Examples include the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia for doctors, the Nova Scotia College of Nursing for nurses, and the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency for many skilled trades. Some NSNP streams require this certification before you apply. Start early, and get an educational credential assessment if your stream asks for one.