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NSNP - Nova Scotia PNP - NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream
One of the PNP streams of Nova Scotia that is aligned with Express Entry and requires a job offer as an eligibility requirement
Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) > NSNP - NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream
THIS STREAM IS NOW PERMANENTLY CLOSED
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Nova Scotia's Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP), the NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Nova Scotia's Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP), the NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream
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The NS Demand: Express Entry Category A (NSD:EEA) stream is one of Nova Scotia's PNP streams that requires the candidate to hold a job offer from an employer in Nova Scotia to be eligible.
When receiving a nomination under the NSD:EEA stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is aligned with Express Entry, and if nominated, a candidate will receive an additional 600 CRS points in their Express Entry profile, thus guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply. With Express Entry, candidates can take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of applications.
The NSD:EEA stream does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates also need to provide proof of settlement funds (except if currently working and authorized to work in Nova Scotia). There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
The NSD:EEA stream does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates also need to provide proof of settlement funds (except if currently working and authorized to work in Nova Scotia). There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
Eligibility Requirements
There are 3 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You can apply to the NS Demand: Express Entry Category A (NSD:EEA) stream if you, your employer, and your job offer satisfy to all the requirements below:
1. Valid job offer requirements:
The valid job offer must be:
Additionally, one of the three following criteria must be met:
The job must:
The employer must meet the following requirements:
2. Minimum criteria and selection factors grid:
To be eligible to the NSD:EEA stream, you need to score a minimum of 67 points out of a 100 in the following selection factors point grid.
There are 6 factors under which you can score points, explained in detail below. There are, however, some factors that have minimum eligibility criteria that will be explained in each factor below.
Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy the criteria of the factor.
1. Valid job offer requirements:
The valid job offer must be:
- made by one employer,
- for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week),
- for work that is:
- located in Nova Scotia,
- for at least one year after your permanent resident visa is issued,
- not seasonal, and
- in a job that is Skill Type 0, or Skill Levels A or B of the 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Additionally, one of the three following criteria must be met:
- The employer has a valid positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that approves the job offer and names you and your position.
- You are currently working in Canada in a NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B job on a work permit that was issued based on an LMIA,
- You are working for an employer listed on your work permit,
- You are authorized to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent resident visa, and when the visa is issued, and
- Your current employer made you an offer to give you a full-time job for at least one year if you are accepted as a permanent resident.
- You have a valid work permit for a NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B job that is exempt from needing an LMIA,
- You are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit,
- You have one year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for that employer, and
- You have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after your permanent resident visa is issued.
The job must:
- have compensation in the form of salary and benefits package that meets Provincial employment standards and prevailing median wage rates,
- be a position which has a shortage of qualified permanent residents or Canadian citizens to fill the position, and
- not contravene any existing bargaining unit agreements or be involved in any employment disputes.
The employer must meet the following requirements:
- The business must have a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia.
- The employer’s business must have been in continuous active operation for at least two years in Nova Scotia.
- The employer must be in good standing with provincial occupational health and safety and labour authorities and not be in violation of the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act (IRPA) or Immigration, Refugee and Protection Regulations (IRPR). If your occupation is NOC 2016 Skill Level B, your employer may require a Nova Scotia Employer Registration Certificate from Nova Scotia Labour Standards.
2. Minimum criteria and selection factors grid:
To be eligible to the NSD:EEA stream, you need to score a minimum of 67 points out of a 100 in the following selection factors point grid.
There are 6 factors under which you can score points, explained in detail below. There are, however, some factors that have minimum eligibility criteria that will be explained in each factor below.
Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy the criteria of the factor.
| Selection factors 100-point grid | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Factor 1 - Education | 25 |
| Factor 2 - Language ability | 28 |
| Factor 3 - Work experience | 15 |
| Factor 4 - Age | 12 |
| Factor 5 - Arranged employment in Nova Scotia | 10 |
| Factor 6 - Adaptability | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
| Minimum required | 67 |
Factor 1 - Education (Max 25 points):
You must submit a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential, or if the educational credential is from a foreign (non-Canadian) institution or authority, you must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an approved provider.
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you don't have a secondary (high school) diploma.
| Factor 1 - Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral (PhD) degree | 25 |
| Master's degree OR professional degree | 23 |
| Two or more post-secondary credentials (one must be for a program of at least three years) | 22 |
| Post-secondary credential of at least three years | 21 |
| Post-secondary credential of two years | 19 |
| Post-secondary credential of one year | 15 |
| Secondary (high school) diploma | 5 |
| Less than secondary (high school) diploma | Not eligible |
Factor 2 - Language ability (Max 28 points):
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 7 for each language skill, either in French or in English (which will get you 16 points). You can score more points if your CLB score is above 7, up to a maximum of 6 points per language skill, for a total of 24 points.
If you have test results for a second official language, you can get 4 additional points if you have a score of at least CLB5 in each of the four language skills.
The TCF Canada is not accepted by the NSNP for this stream (more about approved language tests here).
| Factor 2 - First official language | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB9 or higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| CLB7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Below CLB7 | Not eligible | |||
Factor 3 - Work experience (Max 15 points):
To be eligible to this stream, you must demonstrate that you have at least 1 year of full-time work experience.
Your work experience in Canada or outside Canada, must be:
- continuous, full-time (or an equal amount in continuous part-time),
- paid work (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count),
- in the same occupation,
- within the last 6 years, and
- in NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B.
| Factor 3 - Work Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | Not eligible |
| At least 1 year | 9 |
| 2 to 3 years | 11 |
| 4 to 5 years | 13 |
| 6 years or more | 15 |
Factor 4 - Age (Max 12 points):
You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible to this stream.
| Factor 4 - Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | Not eligible |
| 18 to 35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
| 44 | 3 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 and older | 0 |
Factor 5 - Arranged Employment (Max 10 points):
Under the NSD:EEA stream, as a valid job offer (with criteria described in 1. above) is required, you will automatically get 10 additional points for this factor.
Factor 6 - Adaptability (Max 10 points):
You can only earn a maximum of 10 points in this factor, even if you can score more than 10 points.
| Factor 6 - Adaptability | Points |
|---|---|
| Spouse/partner has CLB4 or higher in English or French (in writing, listening, speaking and reading) | 5 |
| Principal applicant studied in Nova Scotia in the last 5 years (minimum two full-time years of study at the secondary or post-secondary level) | 5 |
| Spouse/partner studied in Nova Scotia in the last 5 years (minimum two full-time years of study at the secondary or post-secondary level) | 5 |
| Principal applicant worked in Nova Scotia in the last 5 years (minimum one year of full-time work in NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B) | 10 |
| Spouse/partner worked in Nova Scotia in the last 5 years (minimum one year of full-time work in NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B) | 5 |
| Principal applicant has a valid job offer (automatically given, in addition to Factor 5. points) | 5 |
| Principal applicant or spouse/partner have an 19-year-old or older relative, permanent resident or Canadian citizen, residing in Nova Scotia. The relative can be a (i) parent, (ii) grandparent, (iii) child of a parent (sibling), (iv) child of a grandparent (uncle or aunt), (v) grandchild of a parent (nephew or niece). | 5 |
3. Settlement requirements:
You must show that you have sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia. The amount needed and types of funds accepted can be found in the settlement funds guide. You do not have to show that you have these funds (i) if you have a valid job offer in Nova Scotia, AND (ii) if you are currently working or authorized to work in Nova Scotia.
The NSNP will not approve your application if it appears likely that your family income (based on your job offer and any spousal income) will be below Statistics Canada’s applicable Low-Income Cut-Off.
You must show that you have a genuine intention to settle in Nova Scotia. You must provide a detailed explanation of why you choose to settle permanently in Nova Scotia and what you feel Nova Scotia can offer to you and your family. Your explanation can include details such as your plans for accommodation/housing, transportation, employment/job, schools or child care, language training plans, and integration into community.
Application Process Summary
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the NS Demand: Express Entry Category A (NSD:EEA) stream. Candidates must:
You can check out our 10-step guide for Express Entry for more detailed information and advice.
- Meet the eligibility requirements of the federal FSW, FST, or CEC programs.
- Generate their Express Entry profile, and specify their interest in the province by selecting "Nova Scotia" or “All Provinces and Territories”.
- Qualify for the NSD:EEA stream eligibility requirements.
- Apply to the NSD:EEA stream by submitting their application through the Nova Scotia’s online service (filling in forms and uploading required documents).
- Accept the Nova Scotia provincial nomination (after the NSNP processes their application) within 30 days of receiving it on their Express Entry profile.
- Obtain an additional 600 CRS points in the Express Entry profile, and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
- Apply for permanent residence through your Express Entry profile.
You can check out our 10-step guide for Express Entry for more detailed information and advice.
Required Supporting Documents
All required documents must be uploaded online, and you will need to create a profile on Nova Scotia’s online service to do so. Specific requirements for documents are explained in detail here.
Application Fees
There is no fee for this stream, as well as for all the other NSNP streams.
Processing Times
The NSNP streams are processed in at least 3 months. The exact processing times by stream are not published by the NSNP, but you should expect between 3 to 6 months for your application to be processed, but it could take longer in some cases.
Stream Opening History
The NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream is usually always open. You can check out our awesome Live PNP Monitor to see if the stream is currently open and its latest news, as well as for all the other PNP streams.
Do I have to stay in the Province?
This is a tricky question and there are multiple situations that can happen. You can learn more about this subject on our dedicated article: Can I move to another province?
Does the Stream have In-Demand Jobs?
Some streams target specific NOC codes, meaning that if you have experience in those in-demand jobs, you either (i) have more chances to be invited or (ii) that you can be eligible to the stream. In the case of the NS Demand: Express Entry Category A stream, there is no in-demand list. Instead, a valid job offer from an employer in Nova Scotia is needed to be eligible to the stream.
You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
