Nova Scotia - NSNP Entrepreneur Stream

Foreign entrepreneurs who wish to apply for immigration to Nova Scotia through the NSNP Entrepreneur Stream have to meet several qualifying requirements, including:

• Prospective applicants must begin the process by exhibiting their interest in applying for the NSNP Entrepreneur Program by submitting an online EOI.
• The NSOI will review the EOIs and select those that fall within the parameters it defines. Instructions to fill out the form are available online.
• The system calculates an applicant’s score based on the information they provide and places their EOI in the pool for potential selection by the NSOI.
• Applicants must ensure that their EOI is up-to-date and that they provided accurate and truthful answers to all the questions.
• The NSOI may remove an applicant’s EOI from the selection pool if it finds any inaccuracies.
• If selected, applicants have to notify the NSOI of any changes in the information they submitted in their EOI.

If the NSOI selects an EOI, it will send the applicant an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This invitation is a letter that includes their ITA File Number. NSOI expects applicants to provide the following as part of their application:

• A complete application form that is available here.
• All the supporting documentation.
• A Business Establishment Plan that may be assessed by identified third parties assigned by the NSOI.
• A Net Worth Verification Report that is prepared by Net Worth Verifiers designated by the NSOI.

Applicants need to ensure that all the documentation they submit as part of their application is in English or French. The NSOI does accept translated documents, provided that the documentation is prepared by certified translators recognized by it.

It is important to ensure that the documentation matches all the information provided in the applicants’ EOIs. Failure of provided documentation to accurately reflect on the information provided on the EOI can result in immediate rejection of the application by the NSOI.

The NSOI staff will contact applicants who meet the eligibility criteria for an in-person interview. After that NSOI, will send Business Performance Agreement (BPA) and issue Entrepreneur Approval Letter. Let’s discuss what these are:

• NSOI expects applicants to arrive in Nova Scotia within a year of receiving their Entrepreneur Approval Letter if their Work Permit is approved.
• The NSOI will close the file for applicants who fail to show up within 12 months of receiving their Entrepreneur Approval Letter.
• The NSOI makes exceptions to this rule on a case-by-case basis.

To become eligible for a nomination through the Entrepreneur Stream of the NSNP Entrepreneurs Immigration Programs, applicants and their dependents must be living in the province and have fulfilled the terms outlined in the BPA. This includes transferring the necessary funds to Canada and maintaining their legal status in the country.

Applicants can request the nomination after completing one year of operating their business based on their BPA.

Applicants nominated by the Province of Nova Scotia must submit a completed application for a permanent resident visa to the Centralized Intake Office within six months of receiving the NSOI’s Letter of Nomination.

Applicants interested in applying for a permanent residence visa can apply here. Obtaining permanent resident status requires applicants to apply to IRCC with their NSNP nomination. The IRCC considers applications once it receives the nomination letter from the NSNP. The IRCC issues a permanent residence visa to applicants and their dependents after completing health, security, and criminal reviews and approving them.

The IRCC is entirely responsible for making the final decision regarding the permanent residence visa application, and the NSOI has no influence on it. Provided that the visa office approves, applicants and their dependents will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence. Applicants must provide a copy of the document within 30 days of receipt to the NSOI.