Nova Scotia overhauls selection process for permanent residents

On November 28, the NSPNP announced that they would be introducing a new Expression of Interest (EOI) model* to their intake—following in the footsteps of almost all other Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

According to the province’s website, “all submissions to Nova Scotia’s immigration programs — regardless of when they were submitted — are [now] considered EOIs.”

The NSPNP further clarified that having a case ID or submitting an application meeting eligibility criteria was not a guarantee that submissions to their immigration programs would be processed.

This change also applies to endorsements under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

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*An EOI model introduces a candidate pool system into the application intake process. Whereas before NSPNP candidates submitted full applications that were assessed and either “refused or nominated”, now these complete applications will be put in a candidate pool, from which the NSPNP will draw candidates based on their own immigration priorities, before assessing them. This is similar to how candidate selection works under the Express Entry system.

As part of this shift, Nova Scotia also announced that it would prioritize candidates who align with current labour market and economic needs.

Possible priority sectors listed by the province include:

• Healthcare;
• Construction;
• Trades;
• STEM;
• Natural Resources; and
• Manufacturing.

The province expects these priorities to evolve.

How will the new EOI process work for NSPNP and AIP candidates?

Under the revised EOI model, both NSNP applicants and AIP employers will continue to submit full applications. Still, these submissions will now function as EOIs and be placed into a centralized pool.

Nova Scotia will periodically run draws to determine which EOIs move forward to processing. Selection may depend on several factors, such as

• current provincial priorities;
• how many nomination or endorsement allocation slots remain;
• the size of the EOI pool; and
• program integrity needs.

Candidates or employers chosen in a draw will receive direct notice from the province confirming that their submission is being advanced to processing. Selection signals alignment with Nova Scotia’s priorities at that time, but it does not guarantee approval.

If an EOI is not selected, it simply stays in the pool. Applicants who do not receive communication can assume nothing has changed in the status of their submission.

Why has Nova Scotia implemented this change to its immigration intake now?

In its announcement of the new EOI model, the NSPNP stated that “the number of individuals interested in immigrating to Nova Scotia is significantly higher than the number of applications the province can approve under its annual federal allocation for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)”.

The increased selectivity that provinces must apply in their selection processes (as a result of reduced nomination allocations from IRCC) has been the driving force for multiple provinces to implement an EOI system this year.

Nova Scotia’s implementation of an EOI system follows the same basic trends, as the province looks to direct its nomination allocation more directly to pressing labour market and demographic needs.

While this remains the case in 2025, next year may bring some relief to NSPNP candidates, with the drastic increase to overall provincial immigration targets for 2026, as detailed in the new Immigration Levels Plan. These allocations flow directly into provincial nomination allocations, meaning that Nova Scotia may soon see an increase in its available provincial nomination spots.

In fact, Nova Scotia’s nomination allocation for 2025 has already increased according to reporting, rising from 3,150 spots at the start of the year to 3,709 nomination spots in October of this year.

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