Nova Scotia expands support for workers with expiring work permits, i.e., Nova Scotia has announced a special one-time immigration initiative to help temporary foreign workers whose work permits are close to expiring or have already expired. Through this initiative, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) will invite eligible candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
According to a provincial announcement published on July 14, 2026, this temporary measure is aimed at workers who are already living and working in Nova Scotia and may be at risk of losing their legal work status.
To be considered under this initiative, applicants must:
- Hold a work permit that expires in 2026 or earlier; and
- Have an active Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted on or before June 30, 2026.
Who Can Qualify Under This One-Time Initiative?
Candidates who meet the basic eligibility requirements may be considered if they fall into one of the following groups:
- Workers earning at least $27 per hour when they submitted their Expression of Interest.
- Workers earning at least $20 per hour in a TEER 0 – 2 Sales and Service occupation when they submitted their Expression of Interest.
- Graduates of a Nova Scotia post-secondary institution who are employed in any occupation.
- Workers living outside the Halifax Regional Municipality who are employed in any occupation.
- Workers employed in a TEER 0 – 4 occupation in one of the following key sectors:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Health and Social Services
- Manufacturing
- Natural Resources
- Professional and Scientific Services
- Transportation
The province confirmed that candidates selected under this one-time initiative will receive direct communication from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
Officials also stated that the expiry date of a candidate’s work permit may be used as a secondary factor when deciding the order in which selected applications are reviewed.
Province Confirms Existing Priority Occupations Remain Unchanged
Nova Scotia also clarified that this temporary initiative does not replace or change the priority occupation list introduced in April 2026.
Instead, it is an additional measure designed to help workers already contributing to the province’s economy while supporting employers facing ongoing labour shortages.
How Applicants Can Receive A Provincial Nomination?
Foreign nationals who want to receive permanent residence through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program must complete the following steps:
- Meet the eligibility requirements of one of the NSNP immigration streams.
- Create an Expression of Interest through the NSNP online system.
- Receive an ITA from the province.
- Submit a complete provincial nomination application.
- Receive a provincial nomination from Nova Scotia.
- Apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
Applicants must also meet Canada’s general immigration requirements, including security, criminal, and medical admissibility rules.
Work Permit Support Continues Across Canada
Provincial nominees who submit their permanent residence applications to the federal government may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) in certain situations.
In June 2026, the federal government introduced new measures allowing many provincial nominees to become eligible for Bridging Open Work Permits earlier than before.
More recently, Manitoba also introduced temporary measures to help provincial nominee candidates whose work permits were at risk of expiring while waiting for provincial immigration decisions.
The latest Nova Scotia initiative highlights the province’s continued efforts to support skilled workers already contributing to local communities. By focusing on workers with expiring permits, recent graduates, rural employees, and people working in key industries, the province aims to retain talent and strengthen its workforce while helping eligible candidates move toward permanent residence.
Note: Under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, occupations are grouped into six Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) levels. TEER 0 represents the highest-skilled occupations, while TEER 5 represents occupations requiring the lowest level of formal training.
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