Canadian Immigration News

Nova Scotia Introduces New Pilot Program for International Graduates

2.25 minute read
"The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) has introduced a new pilot program to address the growing labor shortages for continuing care assistants and early childhood educators in the province."
Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on:  Aug 11, 2021
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The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) has introduced a new pilot program to address the growing labor shortages for continuing care assistants and early childhood educators in the province. 

The NSNP launched the International Graduates In-Demand stream in April 2021 for international students who have recently graduated from designated learning institutions (DLI) in Nova Scotia. This program is expected to run for 3 years to help many international graduates obtain permanent residency and reside in Nova Scotia.

Who Is Eligible for the International Graduates In-Demand Stream?

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the International Graduates In-Demand stream:

  • Be between the ages of 21 to 55 years

  • Have at least a high school diploma

  • Be a recent graduate with a valid job offer from an employer in the province for an eligible occupation. The job offer must be related to your field of study

  • Complete at least 50% of your study program in Nova Scotia

  • Be employed in one of the following occupations classified as:

  • NOC 3413: nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates

  • NOC 4214: early childhood educators and assistants

  • Have the required license and certification from the regulatory bodies in Nova Scotia to perform your job

  • Demonstrate language proficiency with at least a level 5 on the Canadian language Benchmark (CLB) for English or French

  • Have sufficient financial resources to settle in Nova Scotia

It is expected that the eligibility criteria will be expanded to include more in-demand occupations in the province. Earlier, applicants to the NSNP required at least one year of work experience. However, that requirement was eliminated for this stream.

How Was the International Graduates In-Demand Stream Received?

The NSNP already offers 9 immigration pathways to nominate applicants with skills and experience relevant to the local labor market needs. Last year, the NSNP nominated 1900 applicants, half of whom were successfully able to receive permanent residency.

However, for the International Graduates In-Demand stream, there has only been 1 applicant till now. Yasmin Abdelmagid, a recent graduate from the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education, became the first person to receive a provincial nomination through this stream. She is currently working at a daycare in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

However, receiving provincial nominations does not guarantee permanent residency. Applicants who are nominated by the province must apply for permanent residency to the IRCC within 6 months. If your application is approved, then you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).

Applicants who are already residing in Canada during this process are also eligible to apply for a work permit while they are waiting for their permanent residence application to be processed.

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