There was approval by Nova Scotia for an increasing number of immigrants last year. This will pave way for the province to contribute to Canada’s mission of economic recovery.
In 2020, a total of 3,517 immigrants were approved by Nova Scotia. Out of those, many were either already living in Canada or skilled in essential services, like healthcare workers.
Once the Covid-19 related travel restrictions are relieved, those who are presently living abroad are expected to return to Canada.
There will be a focus on essential services this year. This means that the province had to retain many healthcare workers. These included nurses, physicians, and care assistance.
Compared to 2019, the levels of immigration in 2020 were low. This was due to the recent global pandemic. In spite of this fact, Nova Scotia continued to process numerous immigration applications through the NSNP and AIP.
Lena Diab, the immigration minister of Nova Scotia, recognizes the importance that continued immigration will have in the province’s path towards post-pandemic economic recovery and growth.
Diab is quoted as saying in a media release, “Immigration will play an important role in our economy as we recover from this pandemic.” She went on to add, “We will continue to work with our stakeholders to identify labor needs in key essential service sectors and employers who need specialized skills and talent to create economic growth.”
The primary focus of the province seems to be attracting foreign talent with the help of specialized occupations or skills. These skills or occupations will be the ones that match identified labor shortages.
Additionally, the provinces wish to retain global students once they complete their graduation. Last year, almost 1,018 graduates chose to stay back in the province after graduation. This is a significant rise from the number in 2014 when merely 35 graduates applied to stay back.
Ways to Immigrate To Nova Scotia
There are two options for those who wish to move to Nova Scotia once and for all.
- The Atlantic Immigration Program or AIP
- The Nova Scotia Nominee Program or NSNP.
The AIP lets employers in Atlantic Canada hire foreign nationals for jobs that they failed to fill. It is not necessary for employers to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
There are four provinces in Atlantic Canada:
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Those candidates who enter Canada under the AIP need to have a job offer from a chosen employer. It is also important for the candidate to have an individualized settlement plan.
Those candidates who accept a job offer from an Atlantic Canada employer will be connected to a chosen settlement service provider. This shall be done by the employer in order to develop their individualized settlement plan.
Under NSNP, a candidate may choose from eight different immigration streams:
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry (EE), for EE candidates who have already worked in the province for a minimum of a year.
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities, for EE candidates who fulfill specific labor market requirements.
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians, for EE candidates who have a job offer as a specialist physician or a family physician.
- Physician Stream, for physicians with a job offer in the province and, does not belong to the EE stream.
- Skilled Worker Stream, for skilled workers who have a job offer in Nova Scotia
- Occupation in Demand Stream, for workers with a job offer in an occupation that is classified as “in-demand.”
- Entrepreneur Stream is for those individuals who want to start their business in Nova Scotia.
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, for international graduates who want to start their business in Nova Scotia.
Get in touch with us on WhatsApp or Call us at 905-671-4442. You may even email us at info@immigrationterminal.ca if you have any queries about your PNP application.