Nova Scotia has published the final data regarding the number of spots for provincial immigration in 2025. In total, the province received 3,150 spots, which are distributed between two key programs: the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This is 50% less than in 2024, due to the decision of the federal government to reduce the annual quotas for the regions.
As of August 6, 2025, 1,838 spots have already been used, 1,312 quotas remain. Despite this, almost 9,800 applications (EOI) are under consideration, which is 7.5 times more than the available limit. Such an imbalance underlines the growth of competition and increased requirements for candidates, especially in priority sectors.
Distribution of quotas and use of resources
Program | Allocated spots for 2025 | Used as of 06.08.2025 | Remaining |
NSNP (Nova Scotia Nominee Program) | 1,765 | ~1,200 | ~565 |
AIP (Atlantic Immigration Program) | 1,365 | ~640 | ~725 |
Total | 3,150 | 1,838 | 1,312 |
Analytics: the reduction of quotas in 2025 has significantly affected the competitiveness of the programs. If in 2024 the province could accept twice as many candidates, now each stage of selection is much stricter. The greatest demand is expected precisely in NSNP, however AIP preserves more accessible chances thanks to the employer-dependent mechanism.
Demand: number of applications under consideration
Program | Stream | EOIs (applications) |
NSNP | Skilled Worker | 3,588 |
NSNP | Experience: Express Entry | 1,734 |
NSNP | Occupations in Demand | 1,267 |
NSNP | Critical Construction Worker | 434 |
NSNP | International Graduates in Demand | 103 |
NSNP | Labour Market Priorities for Physicians | 3 |
NSNP | Physician | 3 |
NSNP | Entrepreneur | 8 |
NSNP | International Graduate Entrepreneur | 1 |
AIP | – | 2,633 |
Total | – | 9,774 |
Analytics: two streams — Skilled Worker and Experience: Express Entry — cover more than 5,300 applications, that is more than half of the total demand. AIP attracts another 2,600 candidates, which makes it the third most popular direction. The programs for physicians and entrepreneurs have single applications, which demonstrates narrow specialization and low competition.
Ratio of applications and available quotas
Stream / Program | EOIs (applications) | Approximate available quotas* | Ratio (EOI/quota) |
Skilled Worker (NSNP) | 3,588 | ~200 | ~18 applications per 1 spot |
Experience: Express Entry (NSNP) | 1,734 | ~150 | ~12 applications per 1 spot |
Occupations in Demand (NSNP) | 1,267 | ~100 | ~13 applications per 1 spot |
Critical Construction Worker (NSNP) | 434 | ~60 | ~7 applications per 1 spot |
International Graduates in Demand (NSNP) | 103 | ~20 | ~5 applications per 1 spot |
Physician (NSNP) | 3 | ~10 | <1 application per 1 spot |
Entrepreneur / Graduate Entrepreneur (NSNP) | 9 | ~10 | about 1 application per 1 spot |
AIP | 2,633 | ~725 | ~4 applications per 1 spot |
*Approximate quotas distributed proportionally to the remaining (1,312), taking into account the weight of the streams.
Analytics: competition in the Skilled Worker and Occupations in Demand streams is extremely high — up to 18 applications per one spot. At the same time, AIP remains more “accessible” with a ratio of about 4:1, and the specialized programs (for physicians and entrepreneurs) in fact have no competition, which creates opportunities for narrowly focused candidates.
Key selection factors
The selection of candidates in Nova Scotia takes place not on the principle “first submitted — first received,” but with consideration of a number of factors:
- market needs — healthcare, social assistance, construction;
- regional features — shortage of staff in less populated areas;
- quality and completeness of applications;
- availability of quotas;
- long-term intentions to stay in the province.
Thus, candidates with a high level of integration potential and experience in critically important sectors receive preference.
About Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is the main tool of provincial selection, which provides foreign citizens a pathway to permanent residence in Canada. The program includes 11 streams, part of which are connected with the Express Entry system, and part act independently.
Main characteristics of NSNP:
- Requirements: age, work experience, education, knowledge of language, availability of funds for settlement.
- Employer offer: most streams require the availability of an offer from an employer in Nova Scotia, often in defined sectors or by specific NOC codes.
- Application process: the candidate must submit a full package of documents. Depending on compliance with the requirements, he/she is either nominated or refused in the application.
- Next step: after receiving the nomination, the candidate has 12 months to submit the application for PR to IRCC.
- Processing times: through Express Entry — about 8 months, through other streams — up to 20 months.
Analytics: NSNP is more demanding by criteria of selection, but gives the candidate a significant advantage — provincial nomination adds 600 points in the CRS system, which almost guarantees receiving an invitation for permanent residence through Express Entry.
About Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a regional program aimed at attracting skilled workers and graduates who want to settle in one of the four Atlantic provinces of Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island).
Main characteristics of AIP:
- Orientation: employer-oriented program, which provides for a mandatory job offer from a designated employer.
- Requirements: education, work experience, language knowledge, financial capacity.
- Approval: after receiving an offer and its confirmation by the province, the candidate receives an integration plan (settlement plan).
- Application for PR: the candidate submits the application to IRCC, the expected processing time — 13 months.
- Work permit: possibility to obtain a special work permit without LMIA (maximum 2 years), which allows to work during consideration of the PR application.
- Priorities of 2025: candidates who already work in Nova Scotia under permits expiring in 2025, especially in healthcare, social assistance and construction. For those applying from outside the province, priority is given to the sectors of transportation, science and technology, clean energy and resource development.
Analytics: AIP is more flexible and faster compared to NSNP, since it is based on real needs of employers. At the same time, it has a higher probability of approval for those who already work in the province, which makes it attractive for foreign workers with temporary permits.
Conclusions
The reduction of quotas by 50% in 2025 has significantly changed the immigration landscape of Nova Scotia. For each available spot, several dozens of candidates are competing, and in the most popular streams the ratio reaches 15–18 applications per one spot.
Chances of success depend on:
- the field of work of the candidate (medicine, social assistance, construction have the greatest priority);
- availability of an offer from an employer;
- quality and completeness of the submitted application;
- readiness to integrate into the province on a long-term basis.
For candidates who are outside the province, the most realistic option remains AIP, while NSNP demonstrates a significant surplus of applications. Those who already work in Nova Scotia have real advantages thanks to localized priorities.
