Nova Scotia Graduate Stream
The Nova Scotia Graduate stream rewards international students who completed their studies at a Nova Scotia Designated Learning Institution and then found a job offer that matches what they studied. It is one of the more education-specific routes under the Provincial Nominee Program, since eligibility hinges as much on your program details as on your job offer itself.
| Fact | Detail |
| Stream | Nova Scotia Graduate |
| Program | Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) |
| Target | NS DLI graduates with an in-field job offer |
| Age | 19 to 55 years old |
| Job Offer | Full-time, eligible NOC, matching field of study |
| Education | High school diploma plus an NS program (within 3 years, 30 weeks, 50% in NS) |
| Certification | Relevant NS regulatory body certification, if applicable |
| Language | CLB 7 across all four skills |
What Are the Full Eligibility Requirements?
You need to be between 19 and 55 years old, hold a full-time job offer in an eligible occupation that matches your field of study, and have completed a Nova Scotia post-secondary program within the last three years. The program must run at least 30 weeks, with at least half of it completed physically in Nova Scotia. If your occupation requires it, you also need to be certified, or eligible for certification, by the relevant provincial regulatory body.
| Requirement | Detail |
| Age | 19 to 55 years old |
| Job Offer | Full-time, eligible NOC matching field of study |
| Education | High school diploma plus NS DLI program (within 3 years, at least 30 weeks, at least 50% in NS) |
| Certification | Relevant NS regulatory body certification for the position |
| Language | CLB 7 minimum, all four skills |
What Counts as an Eligible Education Program?
Your post-secondary program needs to have been completed at a Nova Scotia Designated Learning Institution within three years of your application. It must run at least 30 weeks in total, and at least half of that time has to have been spent physically in the province. There is one notable exception: NOC 33102, covering nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates, only requires a 24-week program.
| Requirement | Detail |
| Base Education | High school diploma |
| NS Program | Completed at a Nova Scotia DLI |
| Timing | Completed within 3 years of application |
| Duration | At least 30 weeks (24 weeks for NOC 33102) |
| In-Province | At least 50% completed in Nova Scotia |
What Does the Job Offer Need to Look Like?
The job offer has to be full-time and permanent, come from an employer actually operating in Nova Scotia, and sit in an occupation that genuinely aligns with what you studied. Nova Scotia assesses that alignment directly, so a loosely related field of study is unlikely to satisfy this requirement.
| Requirement | Detail |
| Employment Type | Full-time permanent |
| Employer | Operating in Nova Scotia |
| Eligible NOC | Must match field of study |
| Offer | Genuine, signed by the employer |
What Language Test Results Are Accepted?
CLB 7 across reading, writing, listening, and speaking is the minimum for this stream, and your test results cannot be more than two years old at the time you apply. Nova Scotia accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada.
| Language | Minimum |
| CLB | 7, all four skills |
| Test Validity | 2 years or less at application |
| Accepted Tests | CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada |
How Do You Apply?
- Confirm Eligibility: Check every requirement before you begin.
- Secure a Job Offer: Full-time, in an eligible NOC that matches your field of study.
- Gather Documents: Transcripts, job offer, certification proof, and language results.
- Apply Online: Through the eNSNP Portal.
- Submit an Expression of Interest.
- NSNP Reviews the File: A nomination follows if every requirement is met.
Common Questions About the Graduate Stream
Any post-secondary program at a Nova Scotia Designated Learning Institution that runs at least 30 weeks (24 weeks for NOC 33102), with at least half completed in the province, and finished within three years of your application.
Your job offer’s NOC needs to relate to the program you completed. Nova Scotia assesses whether the occupation genuinely aligns with your education rather than accepting a loose connection.
You would not be eligible under this stream, unless your occupation is NOC 33102, where the minimum drops to 24 weeks.
Unfortunately, the program has to have been completed within three years of your application date, so an older graduation would make you ineligible for this particular stream.
That would also make you ineligible. At least 50% of your program needs to have taken place physically in the province.
Any of CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada work, provided you reach CLB 7 across all four skills and the test is no more than two years old.
No. The age range for this stream is strictly 19 to 55.
Turn Your Nova Scotia Education Into Permanent Residence
Matching your program of study to the right occupation code is often the trickiest part of a Graduate stream application. Eivy Joy Quito, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, works with recent graduates across Nova Scotia to confirm program eligibility and align job offers correctly under the Provincial Nominee Program.