About the Program
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is open to recent graduates of a recognized university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College. They must have operated their own business in Nova Scotia for at least 1 year and have the intention to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.
Eligibility
The applicant must:
- plan to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business
- have already owned and operated business in Nova Scotia for at least one continuous year (33.33% ownership minimum)
- have completed a full-time Nova Scotia diploma or degree of at least two years from a recognized university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College
- have a valid post-graduation Work Permit
- have a score of at least 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French
- complete an online Expression of Interest
- receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.
How to Apply
There are 4 steps that the applicant must follow in this program:
- Step 1: Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Step 2: Get an Invitation to Apply
- Step 3: In-Person Interview and Request for Nomination
- Step 4: Applying for Permanent Residence
Step 1: Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Prospective immigrants will indicate their interest in operating a business and residing in Nova Scotia by completing an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the form of a short online survey. The applicant is required to provide personal information about work experience, language, education, age, adaptability, and business. NSOI will select EOIs who will then be given an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to submit a full application package for consideration by NSOI. However, you should remember that submitting an EOI does not guarantee acceptance to the program or nomination.
Step 2: Get an Invitation to Apply
If your EOI is selected you will receive an ITA letter from NSOI. This letter will include an ITA File Number.
Complete applications are expected to contain the following:
- A complete application form (can be found in Section 6)
- All supporting documentation (can be found in Appendix B)
- An Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report (can be found in Section 6)
NOTE: the applicant must notify the NSOI of his or her choice of Audit Service Verifier within 20 days of the issuance of the ITA letter.
Step 3: In-Person Interview and Request for Nomination
If you appear to meet the International Graduate Entrepreneur (IGE) Eligibility Criteria, you will be contacted to participate in an in-person interview with NSOI staff. All interviews will take place in Nova Scotia and are expected to take place within 15 business days of the applicant being contacted. The interview will include a site visit to the eligible business.
If the NSNP Officer assessing your application is satisfied that you meet program criteria, the applicant will be nominated for Canadian permanent residence by Nova Scotia under the NSNP.
Step 4: Apply for Permanent Residence
If you are nominated by the Province of Nova Scotia, you will apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status within six months.
To obtain Permanent Residence status, you must apply to IRCC with your NSNP nomination.
Follow these steps to apply for the PNP through Express Entry:
Submit an Express Entry profile:
The applicant must create an account and an Express Entry profile.
Get an Express Entry stream nomination (or have your nomination confirmed)
After submitting your profile, you must contact the province or territory directly, outside your account, and give them your Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker Validation Code.
- Regular mail:
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Provincial Nominee Class
Centralized Intake Office
PO BOX 1450
Sydney, NS
B1P 6K5
Canada
- By courier:
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Provincial Nominee Class
Centralized Intake Office
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, NS
B1P 5Z2
Canada
Get an invitation to apply for permanent residence (once you have accepted your nomination)
If you are invited to apply, you will get a message in your account. You can then apply online.
Fill out your application
The candidate must fill out the online application and upload the supporting documents and pay the application fees.
Note:
IRCC makes the final decision for the granting of permanent resident visas after ensuring that all legislative requirements are met, including medical, criminality and security checks.
NSOI is not responsible for IRCC’s decision to grant or deny Permanent Residence status.
Processing Time
The applicant should carefully review the following application timelines.
- You will have 20 calendar days from the issuance date of the ITA letter in which to:
- select an NSOI designated Audit Services Verifier; and
- notify NSOI of your chosen Audit Services Verifier.
- You will have 90 calendar days from the issuance date of the ITA letter to submit:
- a completed application form;
- all required supporting documents; and
- your Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report.
For the Express Entry:
- Online via Express Entry: The processing time is 6 months.
- Offline via Express Entry: The processing time is 18 months (if you already applied) and 15 – 19 months (if you haven’t applied yet).
Cost
There is no fee for submitting an EOI.
The applicants are required to pay some fees below:
- Right of permanent residence fee: $490 CAD
- For the Work Permit
-
- Work permit (including extensions) – per person: $155 CAD
- Work permit (including extensions) – a group of performing artists (3 or more): $465 CAD
- Openwork permit holder: $100 CAD
- Restore your status as a worker: $355 CAD
- For the Biometrics
-
- Biometrics – per person: $85 CAD
- Biometrics – family (2 or more): $170 CAD
- Biometrics – a group of performing artists (3 or more): $255 CAD
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