Nova Scotia has launched a one‑time expansion of its Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) to help temporary foreign workers whose work permits are set to expire in 2026 or earlier. The province will issue invitations to apply for provincial nomination to eligible candidates who have an active expression of interest (EOI) on file by 30 June 2026.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must meet both of the following conditions:
- Hold a work permit that expires in 2026 or earlier.
- Have submitted an EOI to the NSNP on or before 30 June 2026.
Within those parameters, applicants are considered if they fall into any of the categories below:
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Wage‑based | Earn at least $27 per hour at the time of EOI submission. |
| TEER 0–2 sales & service | Earn at least $20 per hour in a TEER 0–2 sales or service occupation at the time of EOI submission. |
| Graduates | Graduated from a Nova Scotia post‑secondary institution and are employed in any occupation. |
| Geographic | Live outside the Halifax Regional Municipality and are employed in any occupation. |
| Key sector occupations | Employed in a TEER 0–4 occupation within one of the following sectors: |
| • Agriculture | |
| • Construction | |
| • Health and Social Services | |
| • Manufacturing | |
| • Natural Resources | |
| • Professional and Scientific Services | |
| • Transportation |
The province indicated that work‑permit expiry may be used as a secondary factor when prioritising the order of processing.
Application process
To obtain permanent residence through the NSNP, a foreign national must:
- Satisfy the requirements of one of the NSNP’s provincial immigration streams.
- Create an expression of interest in the NSNP’s online system.
- Be selected by the NSNP and receive an invitation to apply.
- Submit a complete application for provincial nomination.
- Receive a provincial nomination.
- Apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
All applicants must also meet Canada’s general entry requirements, including admissibility standards related to prior immigration violations, criminality, and medical inadmissibility.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
A provincial nominee who has already applied to IRCC for permanent residence may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) under certain conditions. In June 2026, the federal government introduced measures that allow provincial nominees to qualify for BOWPs months sooner. Similar measures were announced in July 2026 for Manitoba nominees at risk of losing status while their provincial applications are processed.
Context
The expansion does not replace the priority occupations announced by Nova Scotia in April 2026, which focus on health‑care trades and other select sectors. The current initiative is a targeted response to the upcoming wave of work‑permit expirations, aiming to retain skilled workers already residing in the province.
The Canadian government classifies occupations using the TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) system, ranging from TEER 0 (highest‑skill) to TEER 5 (lowest‑skill) under the National Occupation Classification (NOC).
Source article: www.cicnews.com
