Nova Scotia has consolidated its provincial immigration pathways.
As of February 18, 2026, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) now has a total of four provincial immigration streams, down from its previous 10.
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Eligibility criteria for all ten pathways remain unchanged, having been consolidated under the following streams:
- Skilled Worker.
- Nova Scotia Graduate.
- Entrepreneur.
- Nova Scotia: Express Entry.
Candidates with existing active Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in the NSNP pool need not take any action, as they will not be impacted by this change.
According to its web page, the province made these changes to “modernize its immigration streams to create clearer pathways for newcomers and employers, and to streamline processing.”
How have streams been consolidated?
Under the new taxonomy, four streams encompass all ten of the former streams, grouped as follows.
Skilled Worker
What was formerly the “Skilled Worker” stream now encompasses, under the same name, four pathways corresponding to the following former streams:
- Skilled Worker.
- Critical Construction Worker Pilot.
- Physicians.
- Occupations in Demand.
Nova Scotia: Express Entry
What was formerly the “Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry” stream is now called the “Nova Scotia: Express Entry” stream, and encompasses three pathways corresponding the following former streams:
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry.
- Labour Market Priorities.
- Labour Market Priorities for Physicians.
Entrepreneur
What was formerly the “Entrepreneur” stream now encompasses, under the same name, two pathways corresponding to the following former streams:
- Entrepreneur; and
- International Graduate Entrepreneur.
Nova Scotia Graduates
The stream formerly called “International Graduates in Demand” is now called “Nova Scotia Graduates,” and continues to have only one pathway.
Skilled Worker Stream
To be eligible for the Skilled Worker stream, all candidates must meet the following “overview” criteria:
- Be 21 to 55 years of age;
- Possess a full-time job offer from an in-province employer, and have the necessary training, skills, and/or accreditation for their position;
- Meet the minimum work experience requirement according to their job:
- TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3: Have one year of relevant work experience.
- TEER 4 or 5 job offer, six months’ work experience with the job offer employer;
- Have a high school diploma;
- Meet the Minimum language proficiency requirements according to their role
- CLB 5 for occupations in TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3
- CLB 4 for occupations in TEER 4 or 5. a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, or a CLB 4 if in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation; and
- Have sufficient settlement funds.
In addition to meeting the overview criteria, a candidate must also meet the criteria for at least one of the four Skilled Worker pathways.
Construction pathway
Candidates for the construction pathway can be exempt from the requirement for a high school diploma if they have completed a construction-specific industry training program.
To qualify for this pathway, a candidate must have a qualifying job offer in the construction sector (NAICS 23) in one of the following occupations:
- Bricklayers – 72320.
- Carpenters – 72310.
- Concrete finishers – 73100.
- Construction managers – 70010.
- Construction trades helpers and labourers – 75110.
- Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations – 72011.
- Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades – 72020.
- Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers – 72014.
- Crane operators – 72500.
- Electricians (except industrial and power system) – 72200.
- Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics – 72402.
- Heavy equipment operators – 73400.
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – 72401.
- Home building and renovation managers – 70011.
- Industrial electricians – 72201.
- Material handlers – 75101.
- Other trades helpers and labourers – 75119.
- Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers – 73102.
- Residential and commercial installers and servicers – 73200.
- Roofers and shinglers – 73110.
- Sheet metal workers – 72102.
- Welders and related machine operators – 72106.
To qualify under the Physicians pathway, individuals must have an approved job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) in a qualifying occupation:
- General practitioners and family physicians – 31102.
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine – 31100.
- Specialists in surgery – 31101.
This job offer must show eligibility for proper licensure, and must indicate the candidate’s eligibility to apply for institution-based credentials.
To qualify for the Occupations in Demand pathway, a candidate must have a job offer in a targeted TEER 3, 4, or 5 position.
At this time, however, no occupations have been listed.
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Nova Scotia: Express Entry
To be eligible for this stream, all candidates must meet the following “overview” criteria:
- Have a profile in the federal Express Entry system.
- Be 21 to 55 years of age.
- Have one years’ worth of NS-based work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
- Have a high school diploma.
- Meet the minimum language proficiency requirement according to their occupation:
- TEER 0 or 1 occupations: CLB 7.
- TEER 2 or 3 occupations: CLB 5.
If claiming work experience gained on a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), individuals must have graduated from an NS-based institution.
To qualify under the Physicians pathway, a candidate must have an approved job offer under NOC code 31102, 31101, or 31100 from the NSHA or IWK, and must meet the following requirements:
- Have received a Letter of Interest (LOI) from the NSNP through the federal Express Entry system.
- Have a signed Return for Service Agreement demonstrating a commitment to live and work in NS for at least two years; and
- Demonstrate sufficient settlement funds.
To be considered for nomination through the Physicians pathway, a candidate must submit their EOI to the NSNP within 30 calendar days of the date their LOI was issued.
Entrepreneur
To be eligible for this stream, entrepreneurs must be seeking to own and actively manage an in-province business and meet the following “overview” criteria:
- Be 21 years of age or older;
- Meet the minimum net worth requirement based on the location of their business:
- Inside Halifax Regional Municipality: $600,000.
- Outside Halifax Regional Municipality: $400,000.
- Meet the minimum investment requirement based on the location of their business:
- Inside Halifax Regional Municipality: $600,000.
- Outside Halifax Regional Municipality: $400,000.
- Meet the minimum work experience requirement based on job duties:
- Active management and ownership experience (1/3 minimum): three years.
- Senior business management: five years.
- Demonstrate a CLB level 5 in English or French.
To qualify under the International Graduates pathway, graduates must have a valid PGWP and meet the following criteria:
- Have a minimum of one years’ worth of experience actively managing and owning their NS-based business (1/3 ownership minimum);
- Possess a degree or diploma following completion of a two-year (minimum), full-time, in-person program of study at a NS-based university or college; and
- Meet the language proficiency requirement of CLB 7.
Nova Scotia Graduate
To be eligible for this stream, a candidate must have a full-time job offer in an eligible NOC which corresponds to their recent field of study, and must
- Be 19 to 55 years of age;
- Have a high school diploma and meet program of study requirements at a NS-based institution within three years of applying;
- Program must have been a minimum of 30 weeks in length, 50% of which must have been completed in NS (or 24 weeks for NOC 33102)
- Have the appropriate certifications for your position (from a NS regulatory body);
- Demonstrate a CLB level 5; and
- Have sufficient settlement funds.
Eligible occupations:
- Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202.
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates – 33102.
- Paramedical occupations – 32102.
- Pharmacy technicians – 32124.
How will old and new EOIs be handled?
The changes discussed in this article will only apply to candidates who submit a new EOI to the NSNP after February 18, 2026.
All EOIs already submitted to the province (currently in the candidate pool), will remain active and unaffected.
None of the changes affect Nova Scotia’s portion of the Atlantic Immigration Program.
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