Nova Scotia Prioritizes Healthcare, Trades Workers in New Nominee Program

Nova Scotia has made a significant change to its immigration system, announcing new priorities for its Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). The updated guidelines, unveiled on April 27, aim to address the province’s immediate workforce needs, focusing on healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople. The province has set a clear framework for which occupations will be fast-tracked, with the intention to better match labour market demands.

Priority Occupations

The new selection system is divided into three levels, each with specific guidelines. The highest priority is given to healthcare professionals and skilled tradespeople. This category includes jobs that require qualifications ranging from TEER 0 to TEER 4, a classification system that ranks the skill level of an occupation. For these top-priority groups, Nova Scotia will welcome both international applicants and temporary residents already living in the province.

Level 1: Top Priority for Healthcare and Skilled Trades

Healthcare workers and skilled trades professionals are the top priority under the new framework. These essential workers are in high demand in Nova Scotia, and the province is keen to bring in candidates who can help meet the local workforce needs. The open positions span a range of healthcare and trade professions, from doctors and nurses to electricians and carpenters.

This is the only category that allows both international workers and temporary residents living in Nova Scotia to apply, offering a broad access to people from outside Canada as well as those already working in the province.

Level 2: Additional Priority Occupations

In the second level, Nova Scotia is also considering nominations for temporary residents already in the province who work in specific occupations. These positions include:

• NOC 2: Natural and applied sciences
• NOC 4: Education, law, and community services
• NOC 8: Natural resources and agriculture
• NOC 9: Manufacturing and utilities

However, these positions are also restricted to TEER 0 to TEER 4 jobs. Workers from outside Canada applying for these categories will have limited opportunities, as the NSNP is prioritizing those already in Nova Scotia.

Level 3: Limited Consideration

The third and final level of the selection process is more limited. For all other occupations, the province will only consider applications from temporary residents who are already in Nova Scotia. This means that the pool of eligible applicants from outside the country is restricted, especially for lower-skilled roles.

Other Pathways to Permanent Residency

The new system is not the only way to gain permanent residency in Nova Scotia. Physicians have a separate stream through the Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Physician Program. This program targets specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine, surgery, and general practitioners. It is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, and candidates must have a job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or IWK Health Centre.

Additionally, workers in northern Nova Scotia can apply through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in Pictou County. This pilot program targets specific occupations in health, trades, manufacturing, and education.

Background and Future Changes

This announcement builds on changes Nova Scotia began making in December 2025, when it introduced an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. The goal was to better align the provincial nominee program with the province’s economic needs. As labour market conditions shift, the province notes that these priorities may change.