Nova Scotia Limits Provincial Nominee Applications Due to Allocation Cut
Nova Scotia has announced that it will not process certain
applications under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP)
for the rest of 2025.
The reason is that the number of applications received has
already exceeded the province’s annual federal nomination allocation. As a
result, Nova Scotia cannot issue nominations to all eligible applicants.
Who Will Be Prioritized in 2025?
For the remainder of the year, Nova Scotia will
prioritize 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
people working in:
- Healthcare
and social assistance (NAICS code 62)
- Construction
(NAICS code 23)
The province also mentioned that it will consider other
factors such as:
- Regional
labour market needs
- Whether
the applicant is likely to stay in Nova Scotia long-term
This update was officially posted on Nova Scotia’s
immigration website on July 16, 2025.
What About Applicants Outside Canada?
For those applying from outside Canada in 2025, only
skilled workers in priority sectors will be considered. These sectors
include:
- Healthcare
- Social
assistance
- Construction
Applications from other international applicants,
especially from non-priority sectors, will not be processed.
However, exceptions will be made for employers
participating in the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) who are hiring
workers in the following fields:
- Trucking
- Science
and technology
- Clean
energy
- Resource
development
Nova Scotia's Priorities for 2026
Looking ahead, Nova Scotia has stated that in 2026 it will
continue prioritizing:
- Workers
already in Canada
- Those
employed in healthcare, social assistance, and construction
- Individuals
whose work permits are expiring in 2026
Why Is This Happening?
In January 2025, the federal government informed all
provinces of a 50% cut in their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
allocations. This decision also affected the Atlantic Immigration Program
(AIP).
Under the Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027, the PNP
landing targets were reduced from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 for both
2025 and 2026.
For Nova Scotia, this means:
- In
2024, the province had an allocation of 6,300 nominations
- In
2025, that number was reduced to 3,150 nominations
Other Provinces Also Affected
Other provinces have responded to the reduced allocations:
- British
Columbia and Ontario have paused some
PNP streams and made changes to their application processes
- Newfoundland
and Labrador and New Brunswick have managed to increase
their allocations by agreeing to accept asylum seekers, refugees,
and humanitarian migrants
Final Thoughts
If you are planning to apply through the Nova Scotia PNP
or AIP, it is important to understand the new priorities and limited
capacity for nominations. Candidates already in Nova Scotia or working in
high-demand sectors may have a better chance, while others might need to wait
for changes in 2026 or explore alternative pathways.
