Nova Scotia set to introduce annual expiry of provincial nominee candidate profiles

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) has announced plans to introduce a validity period for Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles, along with details regarding the management of existing profiles.

Effective May 1, 2026, NSNP candidate profiles submitted on or after that date will remain valid for 12 months from the date of submission, after which they will expire.

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Once the 12-month validity period has lapsed, candidates will be removed from the pool and required to submit a new EOI to continue being considered for provincial nomination.

Nova Scotia announced this Program update on its official webpage, on April 27, 2026.

Prior to this change, EOIs were able to remain in the candidate pool indefinitely until they were selected.

The introduction of an EOI validity period comes just five months after the province adopted an EOI intake model.

Transition measures in place for existing profiles

While EOI profiles submitted on or after May 1 will automatically be subject to the new 12-month validity period, the province has rolled out transition measures for existing profiles.

These measures, intended to support a smooth transition to the new EOI validity framework, are dependent on when an NSNP candidate submitted their EOI profile:

EOIs submitted two or more years ago

Candidates who submitted an EOI prior to May 1, 2024, will see their existing EOIs closed on May 1, 2026.

As such, they will need to submit a new EOI to the province if they wish to remain under consideration, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements.

The province notes that the closing of an EOI (or “expiry”) is not synonymous with a refusal.

EOIs submitted between May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2026

NSNP candidates who submitted an EOI between April 1, 2024 and April 30, 2026 (so, basically over the last two years) will not see their EOIs closed on May 1, 2026.

Instead, their profiles will remain valid until April 30, 2027, unless they are selected to apply for provincial nomination before this date.

After April 30, 2027, profiles submitted between these dates will expire if not selected, and candidates will need to create a new profile to remain under consideration.

Rationale behind this change

Nova Scotia’s approach reflects a broader trend among other Provincial Nominee Programs, which have already established validity periods (typically six to 12 months) for candidate submissions.

Nova Scotia has indicated it is introducing an annual expiration for EOI profiles to maintain alignment with Program priorities and the province’s evolving labour market demands.

This move also aims to ensure EOIs in the system remain current and accurate, while ensuring a stable availability of profiles to support 2026 nominations and processing.

On a grander scale, this is being implemented “as part of improved inventory management and program efficiency measures.”

This update follows Nova Scotia’s recent restructuring of its provincial immigration pathways, during which 10 streams were consolidated into four as part of efforts to streamline processing.

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