The International Graduate Entrepreneur and Entrepreneur streams of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program are being re-launched as permanent programs by provincial government.
For updating these streams, the Department of Labor, Skills, and Immigration met with partners and carried out an internal evaluation.
These collectively provided the provincial government with information and recommendations to make the streams more efficient and relevant to the opportunities in Nova Scotia.
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The following changes are in effect:
- The threshold to qualify for businesses outside HRM is now lower:
- Within HRM: $600,000 net worth, $150,000 investment
- Outside HRM: $400,000 net worth, $100,000 investment;
- The provincial government can now issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to those candidates who have been strategically chosen, and in support of key sectors;
- The provincial government will proactively work with partners who are mandated to find potential buyers for existing businesses;
- There is now a new and improved application process with the launch of a novel online application, and;
- Real estate and construction businesses can now qualify under certain conditions, including the applicant’s ability to demonstrate that the business will provide a compelling benefit to Nova Scotia.
Entrepreneur Stream
This stream allows experienced business owners or senior business managers a chance to live in NS by starting a new business or buying an existing business. For that, they must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business.
After running the business for a year, the entrepreneur in question may be nominated for PR status in Canada.
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Application to this stream is by invitation only.
To apply, applicants must:
- Be 21 years or older;
- Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a NS business;
- Have a net worth of at least $600,000 ($400,000 if their business is outside Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM));
- Be able to invest at least $150,000 of their own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia ($100,000 if their business is outside HRM);
- Have at least 3 years experience actively managing and owning a business (1/3 ownership minimum) OR more than 5 years’ experience in a senior business management role;
- Have a score of at least 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French;
- Complete an online Expression of Interest;
- Receive an ITA from Labour, Skills and Immigration.
International Graduate Entrepreneur
The IGE stream caters to recent graduates of an NS university or Community College. They must have already started or bought an NS business and operated it for at least one year.
If they intend to settle in the province, they must be nominated for PR status.
Application to this stream is also by invitation only.
To apply, candidates must:
- Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business;
- Have at least one year’s continuous experience actively managing and owning their current Nova Scotia business (33.33% ownership minimum);
- Have completed a degree or diploma after at least 2 academic years of full-time, in-person study at a university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College;
- Possess a valid post-graduation work permit (PGWP);
- Have scored at least a 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 Labour, Skills and Immigration.
