Nova Scotia has introduced application fees for candidates selected for assessment under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
Effective September 1, selected applicants in the Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate and Nova Scotia: Express Entry streams must pay C$1,000. The fee for the Entrepreneur stream is C$2,000.
There remains no charge for initially submitting an expression of interest. The fee becomes payable only when an expression of interest is selected for assessment on or after September 1, regardless of when it was originally submitted. Candidates who received selection letters before that date are not required to pay the new fee.
Worker-stream candidates generally have seven calendar days after receiving their selection notification to submit payment. Entrepreneur-stream deadlines vary between 90 and 180 days, depending on the category. The fees are normally non-refundable, and payment does not guarantee nomination or faster processing.
The change does not apply to the Atlantic Immigration Program, which continues without a provincial application fee.
Why it matters: Prospective nominees must budget for a substantial new expense and meet the payment deadline or risk having their submission closed without assessment.
