Nova Scotia will not process certain applications for provincial nomination

As of July 16, Nova Scotia has announced that it will not process all applications received under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP) in 2025, due to exceeding its federal nomination allocation for the year.

Who Will Be Prioritized in 2025?

For the rest of the year, priority will be given to applicants who:

• Are already living and working in Nova Scotia;
• Hold valid work permits expiring in 2025.

Within this group, further preference will be given to those employed in:

• Healthcare and social assistance (NAICS 62);
• Construction (NAICS 23).

Beyond these core sectors, the province will also weigh factors such as:

• Regional labour market needs across Nova Scotia; and
• The applicant’s likelihood of long-term settlement in the province.

For Applicants Outside Canada

For 2025, Nova Scotia will only process international applications from skilled workers in the following priority sectors:

• Healthcare
• Social assistance
• Construction

Most other applications from outside Canada will not be processed this year.

Exceptions will be made under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for employers hiring in:

• Trucking
• Science and technology
• Clean energy
• Resource development

Nova Scotia has also provided preliminary guidance for priority applications in 2026, available on its official website.

What applications will Nova Scotia prioritize in 2026?

For 2026, the province plans to prioritize those working in Canada in healthcare, social assistance, and construction, whose permits are expiring in the same year.

Reduced PNP Nomination Allocations in 2025

In January 2025, the federal government announced a 50% reduction in nomination allocations for all Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), including the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This move aligns with the revised Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027, which lowered the PNP landings target from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 in both 2025 and 2026.

Impact on Nova Scotia

As a result, Nova Scotia’s total allocation for its PNP and AIP was reduced from 6,300 in 2024 to 3,150 in 2025.

Nationwide Program Adjustments

The allocation cuts prompted many provinces, including British Columbia and Ontario, to:

• Pause specific immigration streams;
• Revise program criteria; and
• Adjust application procedures in early 2025.

Exceptions in Atlantic Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick secured increased allocations for 2025 by agreeing to accept asylum seekers, humanitarian migrants, and refugees as part of a federal accommodation strategy.

For more information, visit: https://pioverseas.com/