Nova Scotia Expands Nominee Invitations for At-Risk Workers

Nova Scotia has now widened access to its provincial nominee program through a one-time initiative aimed at workers whose work permits have expired or will expire soon.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program will invite eligible people who are already living and working in the province. Candidates must hold a work permit that expires in 2026 or earlier and must have submitted an active expression of interest by June 30, 2026.

Who May Be Considered

The province will consider several groups under the temporary initiative.

Workers may qualify if they earned at least $27 an hour when they submitted their expression of interest. Those earning at least $20 an hour may also qualify if they work in a TEER 0, 1 or 2 sales and service occupation.

Graduates of a Nova Scotia postsecondary institution can be considered while working in any occupation. The same applies to workers who live outside the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Nova Scotia will also consider people employed in TEER 0 to 4 occupations across several key sectors. These include agriculture, construction, health and social services, manufacturing, natural resources, professional and scientific services, and transportation.

The province said, “candidates selected through this one-time initiative will be contacted directly.” Workers do not need to submit a separate request to enter the initiative beyond maintaining an eligible expression of interest.

Permit Expiry May Affect Processing

Nova Scotia said work permit expiry could serve as a secondary factor when officials decide the order in which selected applications are processed. This may give added consideration to workers who face a more immediate loss of legal work status.

The province posted the update on the NSNP website on July 14, 2026. It stressed that the initiative does not replace or override the priority occupations announced in April.

Steps Toward Permanent Residence

A foreign national seeking permanent residence through the NSNP must first qualify for one of the program’s immigration streams. The person must then create an expression of interest through the province’s online system.

The NSNP may select the candidate and issue an invitation to apply. After receiving an invitation, the candidate must submit a complete provincial nomination application. Successful applicants receive a nomination and may then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.

Applicants must also meet Canada’s general entry rules. A person may be found inadmissible because of previous immigration violations, a criminal record or a medical condition expected to create excessive costs for Canadian health or social services.

Work Permit Options During Processing

Some provincial nominees who have already applied for permanent residence may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit. This permit can allow an eligible applicant to continue working in Canada while the federal government processes the permanent residence application.

In June 2026, Ottawa introduced measures allowing certain provincial nominees to qualify for these permits months earlier. In July, Manitoba members of Parliament also announced steps to extend permits for Manitoba nominee candidates at risk of losing status while their provincial applications remain under review.