The province of Nova Scotia has this week announced details of a new immigration stream for Canadian Immigration under its Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry is the second new immigration stream launched by the province this year, complimenting the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream that was launched in January.

Both new streams are ed with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system, which aims to select newcomers to Canada on a priority basis and expedite the processing of their applications.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly skilled applicants who have worked for a Nova Scotia employerfor at least one year. Candidates must also be eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool through one of the federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class.

“The new immigration stream is a response to a recognition that some well-qualified candidates, with experience working in Nova Scotia, such as recent international graduates, were not being drawn from the federal Express Entry pool,” stated the government of Nova Scotia in a press release.

A number of recent international graduates on post-graduate work permits had found it difficult to obtain an Invitation to Apply for permanentresidence through the federal Express Entry system, which awards 600 points under its Comprehensive Ranking System to candidates with a qualifying job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

The same number of points are available if a candidate obtains a provincial nomination certificate through a Provincial Nominee Program immigration stream that is ed with the federal system.

In order to be eligible for Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, candidates must:

• Be between the ages of 21 and 55;
• Have at least 12 months full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Nova Scotia in the three years before the application is made;
• Have gained your experience in Nova Scotia with the proper authorization (work permit, etc.);
• Have completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary educational credential OR a completed foreign educational credential from a recognized institution or authority AND an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an organization designated by CIC if the educational credential was obtained outside Canada;
• Meet the required language levels needed for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing, and listening). These levels are CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A and CLB 5 for NOC B;
• Demonstrate that they will become economically established in Nova Scotia and that they intend to live in the province permanently.

"The new immigration stream is a positive step to ensure well-qualified candidates, who are already working for Nova Scotia employers, have a viable immigration pathway," said Nova Scotia Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab. "As with all our Provincial Nominee Program streams, our new stream is intended to attract individuals who are able to contribute to the Nova Scotia economy and attach to the labour market."

There are two application routes to the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream. Candidates may either apply directly to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) or be selected from the federal Express Entry pool by the NSOI. In either case, the principal applicant will need to submit a complete application to the NSOI.

Read more about Nova Scotia.