NSNP – International Graduate Entrepreneur Category

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

• Have completed a full-time Nova Scotia post-secondary diploma or degree of at least two years in length from a recognized university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College;
• Have resided in Nova Scotia full-time during the academic program;
• Demonstrate genuine intent to settle permanently in Nova Scotia
• Have already owned and operated a business in Nova Scotia for at least one continuous year prior to the date of EOI submission;
• Demonstrate sufficient language abilities in either English or French verified by an approved language testing agency;

• Sufficient language abilities are considered to be Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four components (listening, speaking, writing and reading).
• The following are the approved language testing agencies under the PNP:

• English

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General test
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) — General Training

• French

• Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français (TCF-Canada)

• Language tests must be taken within two years prior to the date of EOI submission.

• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit at the time of application to the NSOI;
• Own 33.33% of the equity of the eligible business and provide active and ongoing participation in the daily management and direction of the business; and
• Demonstrate that they are receiving compensation in the form of salary from the business.

• The compensation must, at minimum, meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) as defined by Statistics Canada.

Minimum Requirements for Businesses

• Have been started as a career objective, those created solely for immigration purposes are ineligible;
• Meet the legal requirements of the community in which it will operate;
• Be a for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services;
• Be considered a “permanent establishment” as defined under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985;
• Be liable to pay income tax on taxable income earned as a result of a “permanent establishment” in Nova Scotia, irrespective of income or other taxes which may also be payable in other jurisdictions as a result of income earned or other business activity;
• Be actively managed by the applicant from the place of business in Nova Scotia;
• Have the potential to create significant economic benefit to the province of Nova Scotia.

Additional Requirements for Starting a Business

• Create at least one full time (or equivalent) employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Nova Scotia (non-relative workers). This position(s) must:

• Be over and above any position filled by the approved applicant;
• Be relevant and directly related to the applicant’s business; and
• Meet the prevailing wage rates in the province.

Additional Requirements for Business Succession

• The Nova Scotia-based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five years; and
• Applicants must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.

Expression of Interest Points Matrix

Factor 1: Language Abilities

Factor 2: Education

Factor 3: Work Experience

Factor 4: Adaptability

Factor 5: Age

Factor 6: Nova Scotia Economic Priorities

The Nomination Process

Step 1: Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Province of Nova Scotia

Step 2: Invitation to Apply

• A complete application form (submitted within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter);
• All supporting documentation (submitted within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter); and
• An Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report, both of which must be prepared by one of the NSOI’s designated Audit Service Verifiers (submitted within 90 days of the issuance of the ITA letter).

• NOTE: the candidate must notify the NSOI of his or her choice of Audit Service Verifier within 20 days of the issuance of the ITA letter.

Step 3: In-Person Interview and Request for Nomination

Step 4: Applying for Permanent Residence

Ineligible Applicants

• Are refugee claimants in Canada;
• Are living illegally in their country of residence;
• Have had a removal order issued against them by IRCC or Canada Border Services Agency;
• Are prohibited from entering Canada;
• Are passive investors (individuals who intend to invest in a Nova Scotia business with very limited or no involvement in the day-to-day management of the business); or
• Do not have status; they will not be eligible to apply until their status has been restored;

Ineligible Businesses

• Businesses that are conducted remotely (from another Canadian jurisdiction or from another country);
• Property rental, investment, and leasing activities;
• Real estate construction/development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage; unless the applicant can prove their project in this area will have a compelling benefit to the province;
• Professional services or self-employed business operators requiring licensing or accreditation;
• Pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines;
• Pawnbrokers;
• Credit unions;
• Home-based businesses; unless the applicant can prove their project in this area will have a compelling benefit to the province;
• Co-operatives
• Investments into a business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income;
• Businesses involved in the production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services, or in the provision of sexually-oriented services;
• Joint ventures between NSNP program applicants; or
• Any other type of business that by association could bring the NSNP or the government of Nova Scotia into disrepute.