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Nova Scotia Nominee Program: Entrepreneur
A business-immigration stream for experienced owners or senior managers who will buy or start a business in Nova Scotia and run it actively. Thresholds are lower outside the Halifax area. There is a separate sub-criteria for Nova Scotia graduates already running a business on a post-graduation work permit.
Who it suits
- Experienced business owners or senior managers planning to own and actively manage a Nova Scotia business
- Nova Scotia university or NSCC graduates running their own Nova Scotia business on a post-graduation work permit
Requirements
- AgeAged 21 or older. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- Net worthNet worth of at least $600,000 CAD, or $400,000 CAD if the business is outside Halifax Regional Municipality. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- InvestmentPersonal investment of at least $150,000 CAD, or $100,000 CAD outside Halifax Regional Municipality. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- ExperienceAt least 3 years actively managing and owning a business (minimum one-third ownership), or more than 5 years in a senior management role. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- LanguageCLB 5 in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- Intent to resideIntention to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- Expression of interestSubmit an EOI and receive an Invitation to Apply from the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration. After nomination, apply to IRCC within twelve months. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- GradInternational Graduate Entrepreneur sub-criteria: degree or diploma after at least 2 academic years of full-time in-person study at a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College; at least one year of continuous active management and ownership (33.33% minimum) of the current Nova Scotia business; valid post-graduation work permit; CLB 7. ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
- FeeApplication fee $2,000, due 90 days after the Invitation to Apply for a new business or graduate entrepreneur, or 180 days for an existing business (EOIs selected on or after 2026-09-01). ↗ liveinnovascotia.com
How candidates are selected
EOI, then Invitation to Apply from the Department; a performance agreement stage follows nomination under the program (details not captured on the page read).
Location requirement: Must own and actively manage a Nova Scotia business and live in Nova Scotia.
Processing: Applicants have twelve months after nomination to apply to IRCC. Fee is due 90 or 180 days after the Invitation to Apply depending on business type. No provincial processing time published on the page read.
Related pathways
Official sources
- liveinnovascotia.comEntrepreneur stream pageChecked 2026-10-01
- liveinnovascotia.comNSNP overview and newsChecked 2026-10-01
- liveinnovascotia.comNSNP update: ten streams consolidated into four (Feb 18, 2026)Checked 2026-10-01
- liveinnovascotia.comApplication fees noticeChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caIRCC processing times toolChecked 2026-10-01
Program rules change often. This page summarizes the official pages listed above; the official page always takes precedence.