Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry is not accepting new applications at this time.
The Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in Nova Scotia permanently. Applicants must have a good chance of quickly finding a job in Nova Scotia’s labour market.
The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration reserves the right to consider only certain types of occupations for nomination, depending on current labour market needs.
ELIGIBILITY
To apply you must:
This stream is for highly-skilled individuals with a post-secondary education and qualifications that will help them successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
There are two application routes to Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream, either you apply directly to Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) or you have been selected from the Express Entry pool by the NSOI. In either case, the principal applicant will need to submit a complete application to NSOI.
There are two categories under the stream.
Category 1 requires candidates to have an arranged job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from a Nova Scotia employer. The job offer must be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B occupation.
Category 2 requires candidates to have paid Work Experience in an opportunity occupation. This entails at least one year of continuous full-time (or 1,560 hours or more) or an equal amount in part-time paid work experience in the last 10 years in one of the opportunity occupations.
In order to be eligible for Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry, candidates must:
Potential candidates must score at least 67 out of 100 points on a points grid that measures education, language ability, work experience, age, adaptability factors, and whether the candidate has an arranged job offer from a Nova Scotia-based employer.
Selection factor | Points |
---|---|
Education | Maximum 25 points |
Ability in English and/or French | Maximum 28 points |
Work experience | Maximum 15 points |
Age | Maximum 12 points |
Arranged employment in Nova Scotia | Maximum 10 points |
Adaptability | Maximum 10 points |
Total | Maximum 100 points |
Pass mark: | 67 Points |
You must have a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential OR a completed foreign educational credential from a recognized institution or authority AND an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an organization designated by CIC.
An ECA is used to verify that your foreign degree, diploma, certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada. The ECA report will also indicate the authenticity of your foreign educational credential(s).
Education | Points |
---|---|
Doctoral (PhD) level | 25 |
University-level credential at the Master’s level OR an entry-to-practice professional degree | 23 |
Two or more post-secondary credentials (at least one must be for a program of at least three years) | 22 |
Post-secondary credential for a program of three years or longer | 21 |
Two-year post-secondary credential | 19 |
One-year post-secondary credential | 15 |
Secondary school education credential (also called high school) | 5 |
Less than secondary school | Ineligible |
You can earn up to 28 points for your skills in English and French. You will be given points based on your abilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You can also earn points for your official second language capacity. If you want to earn points for your skills in both English and French, you must provide your language test results for each language at the same time.
Your results must come from one of the following designated testing agencies:
Calculate your language points: You must meet the minimum level of CLB 7 (for your first official language in all four language areas). To get points for your second official language, you must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 (in all four language areas).
First official language | Points | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
CLB level 9 or higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
CLB level 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
5CLB level 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Below CLB level 7 | Not eligible to apply |
Second official language | Points |
---|---|
At least CLB 5 in all of the four abilities | 4 |
CLB 4 or less in any of the four abilities | 0 |
Your work experience in Canada or international must be:
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a system used to classify jobs in the Canadian economy. It describes duties, skills and work setting for different jobs.
Experience | Points |
---|---|
Less than 1 year | Ineligible |
1 year | 9 |
2-3 years | 11 |
4-5 years | 13 |
6 or more years | 15 |
You will earn points based on your age on the day that you have been invited to apply for permanent residence by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
Age | Points |
---|---|
Younger than 22 | 0 |
22-35 | 12 |
36 | 11 |
37 | 10 |
38 | 9 |
39 | 8 |
40 | 7 |
41 | 6 |
42 | 5 |
43 | 4 |
44 | 3 |
45 | 2 |
46 | 1 |
47 and older | 0 |
You will receive points if you have a valid offer of permanent employment from a Nova Scotia employer. The job must be arranged before you apply to come to Nova Scotia as a federal skilled worker.
A valid offer of employment must be:
The job must:
A person can get arranged employment points without a new LMIA. The requirements in this case are:
You must demonstrate your genuine intention to settle in the province. In addition, you must meet federal criteria listed in the following table to gain points. If you have a spouse or common-law partner who will immigrate to Canada with you, he or she can earn points for adaptability, too. You cannot claim points for a spouse who is a permanent resident living in Canada or a Canadian citizen. Even if you qualify for points under several criteria, you can only receive a maximum of 10 points for adaptability.
Adaptability | Points |
---|---|
Arranged employment (principal applicant only)
You earned points under Factor 5: Arranged Employment. |
5 |
Your previous study in Nova Scotia
You completed at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program of at least two years in duration) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Nova Scotia. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week, and you must have remained in good academic standing (as defined by the school) during the period of full-time study in Nova Scotia. |
5 |
Your spouse or common-law partner’s previous study in Nova Scotia
Your spouse or common-law partner completed at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program of at least two years in duration) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Nova Scotia. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week, and your spouse or common-law partner must have remained in good academic standing (as defined by the school) during the period of full-time study in Nova Scotia. |
5 |
Your previous work in Nova Scotia
You completed a minimum of one year of authorized, full-time work in Nova Scotia:
|
10 |
Your spouse or common-law partner’s previous work in Nova Scotia
Your spouse or common-law partner completed a minimum of one year of authorized, full-time work in Nova Scotia. |
5 |
Relatives in Nova Scotia
You or, if applicable, your spouse or common-law partner, have a relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Nova Scotia and is 18 years or older. Acceptable forms of relatives include:
|
5 |
Your spouse or common-law partner’s level of language proficiency
Your spouse or common-law partner’s level of language proficiency in either English or French is at the CLB 4 level or higher in all four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing). To receive these points, you must submit a copy of the language test results from a designated testing agency with your application. Results must not be more than two years old on the date that your application is received. |
5 |
If required, you may have to attend an in-person interview in Nova Scotia. You will be notified if such an interview is required.
Candidates should not apply if they are:
The following occupation list represents professions where there may be employment opportunities in Nova Scotia. The occupations are classified with National Occupational Classification (NOC). The NOC helps determine whether a job meets the skill levels established for skilled and semi-skilled occupations, and whether the candidate’s qualifications and experience match the requirements of the job.
In your application to NSOI under this category you will need to demonstrate that you:
This list is subject to change.
Occupation title | NOC | Skill level |
---|---|---|
Financial Auditors and Accountants | 1111 | A |
Financial and Investment Analysts | 1112 | A |
Human Resources Professionals | 1121 | A |
Purchasing Agents and Officers | 1225 | B |
Geoscientists and Oceanographers | 2113 | A |
Civil Engineers | 2131 | A |
Mechanical Engineers | 2132 | A |
Electrical and Electronic Engineers | 2133 | A |
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers | 2141 | A |
Computer Engineers | 2147 | A |
Information Systems Analysts and Consultants | 2171 | A |
Database Analysts and Data Administrators | 2172 | A |
Software Engineers | 2173 | A |
Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers | 2174 | A |
Web Designers and Developers | 2175 | A |
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 2231 | B |
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 2232 | B |
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 2241 | B |
Drafting Technologists and Technicians | 2253 | B |
Engineering Inspectors and Regulatory Officers | 2262 | B |
User Support Technicians |