Nova Scotia Entrepreneurship Program

About the province of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of the four Atlantic Canadian provinces with a population of about 1 million, and being located on the east coast, it has 3,800 coastal islands plus its mainland. Halifax is the political center and largest city of the province with a population of approximately 400,000. This province is also one of Canada’s main seaports and access point to the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, Halifax is the cultural and scientific center of the province. With Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University, this city attracts a large number of students. With its artistic landscapes, this province has become a place for film, music and video recording.

The economy in the province of Nova Scotia has a lot of diversity, including manufacturing, fishing and mining. The main language of this province is English and the second language is French. In Canada, Nova Scotia is known for its lobster and seafood, horticulture (especially apples) and very high tides. One of the reasons for low costs in this province is the low price of housing.

Due to its proximity to the sea, the climate characteristics of this region are cold winter, mild spring, cool summer and delayed autumn. The high amount of floating ice in the surrounding waters of this province and the heavy rainfall of snow and rain are the climatic conditions of this region.

The quality of life in Nova Scotia is very high and allows its residents to have everything in sight: work, family, relaxation and responsibility.

Immigrate through the Nova Scotia Entrepreneurship Program

The immigration program through entrepreneurship in the province of Nova Scotia is specific to applicants who own businesses or have management experience in the past years. Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurship program allows applicants to obtain Canadian permanent residence through the creation of a new business or the purchase of an active business in Canada.

A key feature of the Entrepreneur Stream is that it is a temporary to permanent residency program. This means that approved applicants must have been operating a business in Nova Scotia on a Work Permit (WP) for at least one year.

Before you can apply for permanent residence in Canada, there are five steps that an applicant must go through:

Step 1: Create an online profile and send a request to act online – Expression of Interest

Step 2: Waiting to receive the Invitation to Apply letter

Step 3: Face-to-face interview and business performance agreement

Step 4: Work permit and business establishment in Nova Scotia

Step 5: Nomination request

Step 6: Request for permanent residence

Requirements for action through the Nova Scotia Entrepreneurship Program

• Being at least 21 years old and older
  Having a minimum movable and immovable property of 600 thousand Canadian dollars
• Investment of at least 150 thousand Canadian dollars
• Having at least 3 years of business ownership experience with an ownership percentage of more than 33% (one/third) or management experience of more than 5 years in the last 10 years
• Having a minimum score of CLB 5 from IELTS General English or French
• Listening 5 Writing 5 Reading 4 Speaking 5
• Having at least a high school diploma

How to act and file process:

– Creating a profile and sending a request to act online – Expression of Interest

– Waiting to receive the Invitation to Apply letter

– Sending all requested documents, forms, business plan, etc. After receiving the above letter

– Participation in the interview

– Waiting to receive a support letter from the province after reviewing the documents

– Submitting the work permit application file to the Canadian Immigration Department to issue a work visa (the validity of the work visa is 2 years)

– Entering the province after issuing a work visa and setting up a business according to the provided business plan

– Receiving the Nomination Letter – this letter will be issued 12 months after starting the business and meeting all the conditions

– Sending the Canadian permanent residence application file after receiving the Nomination Letter

Benefits of action

• Applying for permanent residency in Canada one year after making an investment and starting a business
• Obtaining Canadian permanent residence (PR CARD) simultaneously for the applicant, spouse and dependent children
• No need to pay a deposit (guarantee deposit)