Nova Scotia: Express Entry Stream: Nomination for Skilled Workers in the Pool

Nova Scotia: Express Entry is the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) stream linked to the federal Express Entry system. It selects highly skilled people who want to live in Nova Scotia permanently. If Nova Scotia nominates you, you accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile and get 600 extra points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). You can see how that changes your rank with the CRS calculator.

The stream began on February 18, 2026. It combined three former streams, and the province says all of their eligibility requirements carry over:

EOIs already in the pool before the change stay active.

To submit an expression of interest (EOI) under Skilled Work Experience in Nova Scotia, you must:

• have at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in an occupation at TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
• have a Canadian high school credential or its equivalent (for a foreign credential, you will usually need an educational credential assessment)
• prove English or French ability on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB): CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs, CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 jobs
• have a profile registered in the federal Express Entry system

If you are counting work experience gained on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, you must have graduated from a school located in Nova Scotia.

As of September 2026, two pauses apply. Work experience in NOC 62020 (food service supervisors) is not eligible, and since April 17, 2024 the NSNP has paused new EOIs from the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72). People in those jobs who work for an employer outside that sector may still apply.

This sub-criteria selects physicians for nomination through Express Entry. Only candidates with an approved offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or the IWK Health Centre who receive a Letter of Interest from the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration may apply. You must:

• have an approved opportunity as a general practitioner or family physician (NOC 31102) or a specialist physician (NOC 31100 or 31101)
• provide a signed Return for Service Agreement with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness committing you to live and work in Nova Scotia for at least two years
• receive a Letter of Interest in your Express Entry account, and submit your EOI within 30 calendar days of the date it was issued
• meet the minimum work experience rules of the federal Express Entry program you qualify for
• show enough money for yourself and your family, and have legal status where you live now

Physicians who are not in the Express Entry pool can use the physician sub-criteria of the Skilled Worker stream. Canada also runs Express Entry draws for physicians.

Nova Scotia also searches the Express Entry pool for people who could fill critical vacancies that employers have not been able to fill locally. Some people receive a Notice of Interest in their Express Entry account and are sent to the province's Critical Vacancies page. As of September 2026, the listed vacancies include licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, several construction and mechanic trade supervisors, welders, drywall finishers, automotive and heavy-duty equipment mechanics, machinists, and civil engineering technologists.

A Notice of Interest is not an invitation to apply for nomination. You submit your details, the province screens you and shares qualified candidates with employers, and if an employer hires you, you then use whichever provincial or federal pathway fits.

Nova Scotia selects EOIs from its pool based on provincial priorities and available spaces. Healthcare and skilled trades are the top priorities in 2026, and TEER 5 jobs are not prioritized. Selection is not first come, first served.

Submitting an EOI is free. From September 1, 2026, if you are selected you pay a $1,000 non-refundable fee within 7 calendar days. EOIs submitted on or after May 1, 2026 expire after 12 months if not selected. After nomination, you still pay IRCC's permanent residence fees and need proof of funds if your federal program requires it.

Both streams can lead to permanent residence, but they work differently:

Express Entry applications are generally processed faster by IRCC than paper-based or non-Express Entry provincial nominee applications; check current processing times. If you qualify for both, compare the requirements and choose the stream that best matches your situation.

• No Nova Scotia work experience but a job offer? Try the Skilled Worker stream.
• A recent Nova Scotia graduate in health care or early childhood education? See the Nova Scotia Graduate stream.
• Staying in the federal pool on your own score is always possible; compare routes in Express Entry vs PNP.