Halifax, NS, August 10, 2025 – Nova Scotia’s Office of Immigration announced on July 16 that it will pause processing for certain streams of the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP) for the remainder of 2025. The decision comes after the province received more applications than its 2025 allocation under the federal Immigration Levels Plan 2025–27.
In Brief
- Allocation Cut: Federal government cut NS PNP/AIP quota from 6,300 to 3,150 for 2025
- Paused Streams: Non‑priority skilled workers and entrepreneur streams halted for 2025
- Priority Applicants: Focus on in‑province workers (expiring 2025 work permits) in healthcare (NAICS 62) and construction (NAICS 23)
- Overseas Exceptions: AIP hiring in trucking, science/technology, clean energy, and resource development still accepted
What Happened?
In January 2025, the Government of Canada notified all Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) of a 50% reduction in their annual allocation, slashing targets under the Immigration Levels Plan 2025–27 from 110,000 PNP admissions in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025 and 2026 . Nova Scotia’s share was cut from 6,300 nominations in 2024 to 3,150 in 2025. As a result, the NS PNP received more 2025 applications than it could process, prompting the temporary pause.
“We have received more PNP applications than our 2025 allocation allows,” the NS PNP update states.
Source: Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
Priority Streams for the Rest of 2025
To manage limited spots, Nova Scotia will prioritize:
In‑Province Skilled Workers
- Must currently live and work in Nova Scotia
- Must hold a work permit expiring in 2025
Key Occupational Sectors
- Healthcare and Social Assistance (NAICS 62)
- Construction (NAICS 23)
Regional and Long‑Term Commitment
- Applicants whose skills match regional labour needs
- Candidates likely to remain long‑term in the province
- All other non‑priority streams—including many entrepreneur and international graduate categories—will be held until new allocations for 2026 are announced.
QuestJobs currently lists five different PR Pathways in Nova Scotia namely Skilled Worker , Graduate Stream, Critical Construction, AIP and Occupations in Demand. In total the portal has over 4,000 PR eligible jobs across these five PR pathways. These jobs had been reserached and categorized methodically to align to the eligibility requirements of each pathway.
Guidance for Applicants Outside Canada
Nova Scotia’s 2025 update specifies that overseas NS PNP applicants will only be considered if they work in one of the priority sectors (healthcare, social assistance, construction). However, exceptions apply under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for employers hiring internationally in:
- Trucking
- Science & Technology
- Clean Energy
- Resource Development
“AIP-designated employers in these four sectors may still fill urgent roles,” the update explains.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Nova Scotia plans to reopen paused streams once its 2026 nomination allocation is confirmed—typically in late 2025. Early previews suggest continued priority for:
- In‑province workers in healthcare, social assistance, and construction with permits expiring in 2026
- Applicants demonstrating strong regional ties and long‑term settlement intentions
Prospective nominees should monitor the NS PNP news page for 2026 guidelines.
Federal Allocation Cuts and Provincial Responses
Several provinces faced similar PNP allocation cuts in early 2025:
- British Columbia PNP paused streams like Skills Immigration
- Ontario PNP overhauled eligibility and intake processes
- Newfoundland & Labrador and New Brunswick negotiated additional quotas by agreeing to accept asylum seekers and humanitarian migrants under the AIP
“Our partnership with IRCC on refugee resettlement allowed us to boost 2025 allocations,” reports New Brunswick’s PNP office.
NB currently has over 2000 PR eligible jobs ranging from TEER 0 - 5. These jobs are generally under NB Experience Pathway, NB Critical, NB graduate. NB paused its AIP intake back in April due to quota.
Tips for Affected Applicants
- Verify Your Stream: Confirm if your PNP category is paused at https://novascotiaimmigration.com/news/
- Seek AIP Opportunities: Employers in trucking, tech, clean energy, and resource development may still hire internationally.
- Consider Other Provinces: Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia’s neighboring provinces may have open PNP or AIP quotas.
- Prepare 2026 Applications: Gather updated work permits, language tests, and settlement plans to be ready when the 2026 intake opens.