Nova Scotia has stopped processing several immigration applications for 2025 because too many people applied and the federal government gave fewer spots this year.
Nova Scotia Stops Some Immigration Applications for 2025
Nova Scotia has announced that it won’t process many applications for its Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP) in 2025. The reason is simple—too many people applied. The province received more applications than its yearly limit allows. So, it can’t offer nominations to all who qualify.
Who Will Still Be Considered?
Only a few groups will get priority for the rest of the year. The focus is on those already living and working in Nova Scotia. People whose work permits expire in 2025 will be at the top of the list.
Among them, the province will pay special attention to workers in two key sectors:
Other than that, officials will look at whether a person is likely to live in Nova Scotia long term and which regions in the province need more workers.
What About People Outside Canada?
If you're outside Canada, there’s not much chance unless you work in priority fields. For 2025, Nova Scotia will only consider foreign workers in:
Applicants from other fields likely won’t have their files processed this year. However, employers can still apply for workers through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) if the job is in:
What's the Plan for 2026?
The same priority will continue into 2026. Nova Scotia plans to focus on workers already in Canada whose permits expire that year. Again, the top picks will be in healthcare, social help, and construction.
Why This Sudden Cut in Immigration?
The federal government is behind this change. In January 2025, it told all provinces that their PNP numbers would be cut in half. This includes Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Immigration Program.
The national target dropped from 110,000 PNP landings in 2024 to just 55,000 for both 2025 and 2026. Because of this, Nova Scotia’s nomination limit dropped from 6,300 in 2024 to only 3,150 in 2025.
Other provinces also reacted. British Columbia and Ontario paused some immigration streams and changed their rules. But not every province had to reduce its numbers. Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick got more spots in 2025. In return, they agreed to take in more asylum seekers, refugees, and people migrating for humanitarian reasons.
What This Means for You
If you're applying to live in Nova Scotia this year, check if you work in one of the preferred fields. If not, your application may not be processed. Workers in Canada in healthcare, construction, and social help have the best chance—especially if their permits are ending soon.
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