Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
Effective September 1, 2026, foreign nationals nominated through the province’s worker streams will have to pay a $1,000 application fee upon submitting their provincial nomination application. Successful applicants through Nova Scotia’s entrepreneur pathways will also be charged a $2,000 application fee. For prospective immigrants, the new fees are a big change, as Nova Scotia did not previously have an application fee for these provincial nomination streams.
Nova Scotia Immigration Fee Changes From September 1, 2026
Category | Details |
Effective Date | September 1, 2026 |
Worker Stream Fee | $1,000 |
Entrepreneur Stream Fee | $2,000 |
Expression of Interest Fee | No fee |
Atlantic Immigration Program | No provincial application fee |
Payment Method | Online payment |
Installments | Not permitted |
Refunds | Generally non-refundable, except where required by law or in cases of administrative error |
Fee Basis | Per principal applicant |
The Government of Nova Scotia announced the new fees through its NSNP updates on August 6, 2026.
Which Nova Scotia Worker Streams Will Have the $1,000 Fee?
Candidates chosen from the Nova Scotia Expression of Interest (EOI) pool as part of the following worker streams will be charged a new provincial application fee of $1,000:
- Skilled Worker
- Nova Scotia Graduate
- Nova Scotia Express Entry
Candidates nominated through these streams on or after September 1, 2026, are required to pay the fee to submit a complete provincial nomination application. The fee does not apply to candidates selected prior to September 1, regardless of when the application is submitted.
$2,000 Fee for Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Pathways
Nova Scotia is also introducing a $2,000 application fee for applicants selected under its entrepreneur pathways.
The fee will apply to:
- Purchase of a New Business
- Purchase of an Existing Business
- International Graduates
The payment deadline depends on the entrepreneur pathway under which the applicant was selected.
Entrepreneur Pathway | Application Fee | Payment Deadline |
Purchase of a New Business | $2,000 | Within 90 calendar days |
Purchase of an Existing Business | $2,000 | Within 180 calendar days |
International Graduates | $2,000 | Within 90 calendar days |
Candidates Selected Before September 1 Are Exempt
Nova Scotia has explained that the new fees will be applicable only to qualified applicants chosen from the EOI pool on or after September 1, 2026.
Candidates nominated before September 1 will not have to pay the new provincial application fee. This distinction matters to applicants who have already received an invitation to apply for provincial nomination.
Workers Have 7 Days to Pay Applicants
Applicants selected under one of the affected worker streams will have 7 days from the date of selection to pay the $1,000 application fee. Candidates will be sent an email with instructions on how to make payment.
Once the payment is completed, the applicant will receive an email with a receipt, which must be kept as proof of payment. Failure to provide proof of payment within the time frame specified may result in the EOI being closed and not proceeding to assessment. Candidates can submit a new EOI if they are still eligible for their stream.
No Fee to File an Expression of Interest
Nova Scotia will be bringing in application fees, but candidates can still submit an EOI without paying a fee. The fee is only charged once a candidate has been selected from the EOI pool and moves on to the provincial nomination application stage. The general process is still:
- Find out if you qualify for a stream of the NSNP.
- Apply for EOI to Nova Scotia
- Join the pool of provincial candidates.
- Selected based on provincial priorities and program capacity.
- Get invited to apply for provincial nomination.
- Pay the required application fee.
- Provincial Nomination Application
- If nominated, apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
How Nova Scotia Selects Candidates
Candidates submit an EOI profile and are placed in the provincial pool. Nova Scotia says selections are based on provincial priorities and program capacity. The province also says it makes selections on a first-come, first-serve basis within the applicable selection framework.
The province has also been upgrading the NSNP. In February 2026, Nova Scotia combined its former 10 streams into four consolidated streams in an effort to streamline and modernize the program. The province said the consolidation did not alter eligibility or selection procedures for priority areas, including health care, construction and manufacturing.
Why is Nova Scotia Bringing in the Fees?
The number of nominations Nova Scotia receives annually is set by the federal government. People who are nominated by a province then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
The Impact of the New Fee on Immigration
The new provincial fee is in addition to the federal permanent residence fees. If a Nova Scotia nominee is successful, they must eventually apply to the federal government for permanent residence and pay the applicable federal fees. Applicants should therefore budget for both:
- The Nova Scotia provincial nomination application fee, if applicable.
- Federal permanent residence processing fees are applicable.
- The provincial fee is not a substitute for the federal immigration fees.
Payment Requirements
Applicants must submit the provincial application fee online. Nova Scotia accepts:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Discover
- American Express
The fee must be paid in one payment. Installment payments are not accepted. The fee is charged per principal applicant, and the number of accompanying dependants does not increase the provincial application fee.
Are the New Fees Refundable?
The new provincial application fees are mostly non-refundable. Nova Scotia says refunds are available only when required by law or due to an administrative error.
Applicants should therefore verify that they meet the requirements of their chosen NSNP stream before submitting their application and payment.
Provinces Remain Fee-Free Under Atlantic Immigration Program
The new fees don’t apply to the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The province of Nova Scotia has confirmed that there will continue to be no provincial application fee for the AIP.
The AIP is a unique federal-provincial immigration program for skilled workers and international graduates who want to settle in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
What this Means for Future Immigrants
These new fees are an added cost for individuals seeking permanent residence through the affected Nova Scotia provincial nomination streams. Candidates should pay particular attention to the effective date of September 1, 2026.
Those selected prior to September 1 will not be subject to the new fee, but those selected on or after that date will be required to pay the amount applicable before their application can move forward. For worker applicants, the seven-day payment deadline means that candidates must keep an eye on their email after submitting an EOI and after being selected.
What Applicants Should Do Now
Prospective Nova Scotia immigrants should:
- Check which NSNP stream they may qualify for.
- Keep their EOI information accurate and up to date.
- Monitor their email for selection notifications.
- Be prepared to pay the $1,000 fee if selected under an affected worker stream on or after September 1.
- Keep proof of payment after completing the transaction.
- Ensure the provincial application is submitted within the applicable deadline.
- Budget separately for subsequent federal permanent residence fees.
- Review the latest Nova Scotia requirements before submitting an application.
Applicants should also remember that submitting an EOI does not guarantee selection or nomination.
Key Takeaways
What you need to know about Nova Scotia’s new immigration fees:
- Nova Scotia will apply a $1,000 application fee for certain applicants under affected worker streams.
- The change will take effect on September 1, 2026.
- The $1,000 fee applies to the Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate and Nova Scotia Express Entry streams.
- Designated entrepreneur pathways will have a $2,000 fee.
- Candidates selected prior to September 1, 2026, will not be subject to new fees.
- Worker-stream applicants must make payment within seven days of being selected.
- Payment deadlines for entrepreneur applicants vary depending on pathway.
- The EOI is still free.
- The fee of the provincial application is applicable for each principal applicant.
- No payments in installments are accepted.
- Fees are generally non-refundable, except where required by law or administrative error.
- “There will be no provincial application fee for the Atlantic Immigration Program” going forward.
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Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration programs, processing times, eligibility requirements, and application procedures may change without notice. Readers should consult official Government of Canada resources or seek professional immigration advice before making any immigration decisions.
