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 three federal economic immigration programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker
  • Federal Skilled Trades
  • 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. To be considered for this stream, candidates are required to have an active profile under the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online Express Entry system to submit a complete application to the NSOI.

Minimum Requirements

In order to be eligible for Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, candidates must:

  • Have a profile registered in the Express Entry pool;
  • 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.
    • Volunteer work, unpaid internships, co-op terms, etc. do not count.
    • The work experience must be in a National Occupational Classification (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 agencies:
      • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (General Training test) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) — General test for English; or
      • Test d’Evaluation Du Français (TEF) for French.
  • Demonstrate that they will become economically established in Nova Scotia and that they intend to live in the province permanently.

Interview

If required, candidates may have to attend an in-person interview in Nova Scotia. Candidates will be notified if such an interview is required.