Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly skilled applicants who have worked for a Nova Scotia employer for at least one year. Candidates must also be eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool through one of the federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class.
There are two application routes to Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream. Candidates may either apply directly to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI), or they may be selected from the Express Entry pool by the NSOI. In either case, the principal applicant is required to created an Express Entry profile on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) online Express Entry system and submit a complete application to the NSOI.
Minimum Requirements
In order to be eligible for Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, candidates must:

• Be between the ages of 21 and 55;
• Have at least 12 months full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) paid skilled work experience in Nova Scotia in the three years before the application is made;
  • The work experience cannot have been gained through self-employment or while studying full-time.
  • The work experience must be in a NOC Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B occupation.
• Have gained their experience in the province of Nova Scotia with the proper authorization (work permit, etc.);
• Have completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary educational credential; OR
• Have completed a foreign educational credential from a recognized institution/authority AND have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an organization designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);
• Demonstrate sufficient language ability in all four components (speaking, reading, writing, and listening);
  • These levels are CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A and CLB 5 for NOC B.
  • Language test results must come from one of the following designated testing agencie:
• Have a profile registered in the Express Entry pool; and
• Demonstrate that they will become economically established in Nova Scotia and that they intend to live in the province permanently.

The Skilled Worker stream helps Nova Scotia employers recruit and hire foreign workers and international graduates whose skills are in limited supply in the province.This stream particularly targets international students. The Skilled Worker Stream is composed of three different categories, each with their own eligibility criteria. They are as follows.
Skilled Workers
This category is for individuals with experience in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A or B, also known as skilled occupations. Priority is given to these highly skilled applicants.
Semi-Skilled Workers
This category is for workers whose occupations are classified as NOC level C, also known as semi-skilled occupations. Applications in this category will only be considered if all eligibility criteria are met and the applicant has worked for at least six months with a Nova Scotia employer that is supporting his or her application for permanent residence.
Low-Skilled Workers
This category is for individuals whose occupations are classified as NOC level D, also known as unskilled occupations. Applications in this category will only be considered if all eligibility criteria are met and the applicant has worked for at least six months with a Nova Scotia employer that is supporting his or her application for permanent residence.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Requirements for Applicants
In addition to the general eligibility outlined above, all applicants, regardless of their work experience, must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• If living in Canada, provide proof of legal status;
• If applying from outside Canada, provide proof of legal status in their current country of residence.
• Be between the ages of 21 and 55 at the time of application;
• Receive a full time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer;
• Have completed at least a high school level of education (12 years of study);
• Have the education, training, and licensing/certification needed to perform the job in Canada, if applicable;
• Have at least 12 months of relevant work experience in the past five years;
• Meet language requirements for the program;For NOC levels 0, A or B – CLB level 5 in English or French. If the applicant's first language is English or French, that is enough proof; For NOC levels C or D - CLB level 4 in English or French.
• Demonstrate the intent and ability to settle in the Province of Nova Scotia; and,
• Demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources to cover immigration costs and travel expenses (if applicable) and to successfully establish yourself in the province.

Minimum Requirements for Employers
Employers sponsoring applicants through this program must meet the following requirements:

• Be permanently established in Nova Scotia;
• Have operated in Nova Scotia, under current management, for at least two years;
• Issue a full time, permanent job offer to the individual applicant; the job must be located in Nova Scotia and;
  • Have salary and benefits that meet provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates;
  • Be in a position for which there is a shortage of qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
• Demonstrate recruitment efforts to fill the position with a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident; and,
• Have a history of good workplace and business practices, and must be compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) Entrepreneur Stream is designed to attract individuals who wish to start or acquire a business and settle permanently in Nova Scotia. This stream is for experienced business owners and senior business managers intending to live in Nova Scotia and participate in the day-to-day management of the business. The NSNP Entrepreneur Stream is a temporary to permanent residence program whereby approved applicants are required to operate a business in the province of Nova Scotia on a valid work permit for a minimum of one continuous year prior to being nominated for permanent residence in Canada. It functions on an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
The Nomination Process
There are six steps to the nomination process:
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Province of Nova Scotia
Prospective immigrants will indicate their interest in operating a business and residing in Nova Scotia by completing an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the form of a short online survey. On this survey, candidates will provide required information about their business ownership or management experience, language, education, investment, net worth, age, adaptability, and business. Only applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be able to submit an EOI. Candidates will be assessed based on a points matrix according to their profile and then assigned a score and added to the EOI pool. EOIs can remain in the pool for up to one year from the date of receipt. If the EOI is not selected during this time, it will be removed from the pool. After this point candidates may submit a new EOI if they so choose. If candidates are able to acquire additional points after submitting their EOI, they will need to submit a new one. 
Step 2: Invitation to Apply
Top scoring applicants will be notified by the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) that they are being invited to submit a formal application to the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) in the form of an Invitation to Apply (ITA) letter. Complete applications received from those invited to apply will then undergo an assessment by the NSOI.

• A complete application form (submitted within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter);
• All supporting documentation (submitted within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter);
• A Business Establishment Plan (submitted within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter); and
• A Net Worth Verification Report prepared by one of NSOI’s designated Net Worth Verifiers (submitted within 180 days of the issuance of the ITA letter).

Step 3: In-Person Interview and Business Performance Agreement
Once the application has been assessed by the NSOI, those candidates who meet the outlined eligibility requirements (see below) will be contacted about an in-person interview with an official of the NSOI. All interviews will take place in Nova Scotia and are expected to take place within 60 days of the candidate being contacted. If the interview is successful, the candidate will be sent a Business Performance Agreement to review and sign. A business Performance Agreement is a legal agreement with the province that states the amount of investment the candidate will make and the business sector in which the business will operate, along with any other relevant information. Unsuccessful interviews or failure to participate in the interview within the 60-day time limit will result in closure of the application.
The NSOI will issue an Entrepreneur Approval Letter and instructions on how to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a work permit upon receipt of the Business Performance Agreement. Candidates are required to apply to IRCC for a work permit within two months of the date on the Entrepreneur Approval Letter. If IRCC refuses the work permit application, the candidate will no longer be eligible under the NSNP Entrepreneur Stream.
Step 4: Temporary Work Permit and Business Establishment in Nova Scotia
Applicants who are successful in obtaining a work permit will be able to land in Nova Scotia with their family, settle, and start or acquire their business. Applicants are expected to do so within one year of receiving the Entrepreneur Approval Letter or their file will be closed. It is recommended that applicants start operating their business in Nova Scotia within six months of arriving in the province on a work permit. 
Approved applicants must attend an arrival meeting with an NSOI officer within 60 days of their arrival date. Officers will answer any questions related to the terms of the Business Performance Agreement and may refer candidates to other relevant service providers for further guidance and information. Candidates are required to bring a signed Arrival Report to the meeting.
Step 5: Request for Nomination
Once an applicant satisfies the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement, including, but not limited to, making the mandatory investment, operating the business continuously for a minimum of one year, and submitting a Business Establishment Progress Report to the NSOI, he or she can then apply to be nominated for permanent residence by the province of Nova Scotia under the NSNP by submitting a Nomination Request Form. The Nomination Request Form will ask for details of the business and will require the submission of an audit opinion and Special Purpose Report, both of which must be provided by an NSOI designated Audit Services Verifier of the candidate's choosing. 
The NSOI will communicate the nomination decision in writing to the applicant or their representative. If nominated by the NSNP:
In the event that the application is being considered for refusal, the applicant or their representative will receive a letter of intent to refuse from the NSOI. In this case, the applicant will be given 10 business days to submit additional information to be considered. After 10 business days the file, including any new information submitted, will be re-assessed and a final decision made, which will be sent in writing and which cannot be appealed.
Step 6: Apply for Permanent Residence
Upon nomination, the applicant will apply to IRCC for permanent residence within six months. Candidates should note that an NSNP nomination does not guarantee the issuance of a Permanent Resident Visa. If the application is approved by the visa office, the candidate will be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence. He or she is required to provide a copy of the confirmation to the NSOI within 30 business days.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Requirements for Applicants
In order to be eligible under the NSNP Entrepreneur Stream, applicants must:

• Have a minimum $600,000 CAD in Net Business and Personal Assets, verified by NSOI designated third party professionals;
• Demonstrate accumulation of claimed net worth through legal means, verified by NSOI designated third party professionals;
• Have a minimum of three years of business ownership experience including 33.33 percent ownership OR greater than five years of experience in a senior business manager role in the last 10 years;
• Agree to make a minimum capital investment of $150,000 CAD to establish or purchase a business in Nova Scotia;
• Demonstrate sufficient language abilities in either English or French verified by an approved language testing agency;
• Have a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma OR an equivalent foreign credential verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), which is dated within the five years prior to the date of EOI submission;
• Have a Business Establishment Plan and be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the plan; and
• Agree to reside in Nova Scotia.

Minimum Requirements for Businesses
In order to qualify as an eligible business under the Entrepreneur program, the following criteria must be met:

• The applicant must own at least one third (33.33 percent) of the equity of the business;
• The applicant must provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business from the place of business in Nova Scotia. The business must not be managed from another location in Nova Scotia or from another Canadian province or territory or other country;
• The business must be a for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services;
• The business must meet the legal requirements of the community in which it operates;
• The business must be considered a “permanent establishment” as defined under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985;
• The business is liable to pay income tax on taxable income earned as a result of a “permanent establishment” in Nova Scotia, irrespective of income or other taxes which may also be payable in other jurisdictions as a result of income earned or other business activity; and
• The business must have potential to create an economic benefit to Nova Scotia.

Additional Requirements for Starting a Business
If starting a business, the applicant must also create at least one full time (or equivalent) employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Nova Scotia (non-relative workers). This position must be over and above any position filled by the approved applicant, relevant to the said business and meet prevailing wage rates.
Additional Requirements for Business Succession
If purchasing a previously existing Nova Scotia business, the following requirements must be met:

• The business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five years;
• All applicants must complete an exploratory visit to meet the current owner(s);
• Applicants must provide evidence that reasonable efforts were taken to establish a fair market value for the business;
• The business must be actively in operation and not in receivership; and 
• Applicants must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.

Expression of Interest Points Matrix
When candidates submit their Expression of Interest in Step 1, a points matrix will be used to select the strongest applicants who best align with Nova Scotia’s business and economic priorities based on eight factors: language abilities, education, business ownership or management experience, level of investment in the business, net worth, age, adaptability, and Nova Scotia priorities.

Factor 5: Age

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Business Establishment Plan
The Business Establishment Plan must be a coherent and well-thought-out plan for successful settlement and business development in Nova Scotia. The plan should demonstrate that the business meets the minimum required investment level and that the applicant will hold an active managerial position in the business. Additionally, it should show that the candidate has conducted extensive research into the economic, market, and cultural factors relevant to the proposed business.
The Business Establishment Plan must include a detailed Action Plan that outlines, step by step, the planned actions of the business over the next two to three years. These actions include but are not limited to: financial actions required to start or buy the business, anticipated start date of the business, when staff will be hired, timing of planned export activities, etc.
It is crucial that the applicant has complete knowledge and understanding of his or her Business Establishment Plan. In the event that the applicant is unaware of the plan's contents, he or she may be deemed ineligible.
Regardless of whether the candidate intends to purchase an existing business or establish a new one, the Business Establishment Plan must include all of the following: the business idea, sales and marketing plan, exploratory visit (only in the case of business succession), critical factors, risk factors, investment/financial information, business relationships, human capital, Business Establishment Plan change requests.
Business Idea
The business idea section of the Business Establishment Plan must:

• Specify the industry/sector that the proposed business will operate in;
• Provide a description of the business; Ownership percentages; at least 33.33 percent of the business and all other investors must be listed;
• Provide business ownership information – partnership, proprietorship, corporation, acquisition, franchise;
• Specify the proposed location for the business (city or town); and
• Provide details on the geographic coverage (local, regional or national) of the business.

Sales and Marketing Plan
The sales and marketing plan section of the Business Establishment Plan must outline:

• The market analysis and marketing strategy including target market(s), major suppliers, and major competitors;
• How the business will acquire space to operate;
• What products or services the business will offer;
• What distribution channels the business will use;
• The business' hours of operation;
• The outside professional services the business plans to use, if any; and
• Full details of research undertaken to support these plans.

Exploratory Visit (for business succession only)
The exploratory visit is a requirement for all candidates intending to purchase an existing business rather than establish a new one. Applicants must create and submit a report on their visit as part of the Business Establishment Plan. The report must cover the entire length of stay in Canada (including time spent in other provinces) and should include:

• Length of stay in Canada;
• The name of the professional business service providers or settlement organizations visited during the trip, including mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and emails;
• A description of the activity and/or meeting and its relevance to the applicant’s business establishment or settlement;
• Copies of all airline tickets, boarding passes, and hotel receipts;
• Copies of business cards collected from relevant contacts and business service providers throughout the visit; and 
• Details of the visit to the existing business location and any meetings with current owners.

Critical Factors
This section of the business plan should identify any:

• Government regulations that will be applicable to the proposed business including environmental regulations, health regulations, municipal zoning requirements, and labour rules;
• Special insurance requirements; and
• Overall anticipated challenges in addition to those identified above.

Risk factors
The NSOI will consider the potential for any risk factors of the proposed business and the candidate's ability to address them. These include, but are not limited to, whether the candidate is proposing external financing, or if he or she is proposing to invest more than 50 percent of his or her personal net worth.
Investment/Financial
The investment/financial section of the business plan should include:

• Proposed investment amount including how the money will be spent;
• Forecasted start-up funds and expenses;
• Source of financing for investment;
• Financial statements for the last five years, in the case of business succession; and
• Three years pro-forma financial statements including balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. Assumption notes for income statement and cash flow statement including a rationale for estimated revenue, expenses and profitability must be included.

Business Relationships
In this section of the Business Establishment Plan, the candidate should provide:

• The name, organizations, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and emails of contracted professional business service providers who the applicant has contacted and/or has established an active working relationship or paid contractual agreement with;
• The name, organization name, mailing address, email, and telephone number of the person who compiled or assisted in the compilation of the Business Establishment Plan;
• A summary of people contracted or consulted in preparation of the Business Establishment Plan.

Human Capital
This final section of the plan should outline:

• The management contribution the candidate plans to make in the proposed business, including an estimate of the hours he or she will spend managing and/or working in the business on a weekly basis;
• The number and type of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
• The candidate's plan to offer the existing staff similar terms and conditions to what they already enjoy, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms, in the case of business succession;
• The educational requirements and experience required for new employees;
• Any preparation and training for entrepreneurship in Nova Scotia (including course titles and institution names, if applicable) that the applicant will undertake; 
• The candidate's educational background and its relevance to the proposed business idea; and
• The candidate's entrepreneurial experience and its relevance to the proposed business idea
  • If the candidate has no relevant experience or background directly related to the proposed business, he or she should explain how his or her knowledge or experience can be applied to the business.