Nova Scotia Immigration — Latest Snapshot September 2025
Immigration Quota Tightened, Demand Soaring
-
Nova Scotia’s combined allocation for provincial and Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) nominations stands at 3,150 seats for 2025, marked by a 50% reduction compared to 2024
-
As of early August, 1,838 spots have already been used, leaving 1,312 nomination spaces still available
- There are 250,000 jobs posted on Linkedin Canada and only about 8.6% of this is PR eligible jobs as per QuestJobs data. This translates to 29,000 PR jobs across Canada.
Nova Scotia PNP Jobs
Consumables Associate | Walmart
Risk Management Specialist | Dillon Consulting
Line Technician | VistaCare
Expression of Interest (EOI) Queue Is Stackin’ Up
Around 9,774 EOIs are still pending, with the vast majority waiting in key streams such as:
Skilled Worker: 3,588
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry: 1,734
Occupations in Demand: 1,267
Critical Construction Worker: 434
International Graduates in Demand, Physician streams, and Entrepreneur categories make up the balance (source)
Priority Focus for 2025
Nova Scotia is laser-focused on applicants with work permits expiring this year, especially those in healthcare , social assistance and construction sectors
Applications from outside Canada, particularly in non-priority areas, are largely not being processed, except in a few targeted fields like trucking,, Science & Technology, clean energy , resource development (especially through the AIP).
Reality for Temporary Foreign Workers Inside Canada
Many Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) spend years in “dead-end jobs” with no pathway to permanent residency. They build Canada’s economy, staff our hospitals, care for our children, and work on construction sites — yet far too often, their contributions end in uncertainty and exploitation.
This reality is exactly why we created QuestJobs. For years, foreign workers have faced a confusing labour market where not all jobs lead to permanent residency. Canada currently has over 250,000 jobs posted on Indeed, but only about 8.6% (29,000) are actually eligible for PR. That means 9.5 out of 10 workers could spend their visa tenure in roles that go nowhere — jobs that provide income today but no future tomorrow.
We designed our platform to,
Filter out the noise: Instead of wasting time on jobs that don’t qualify, QuestJobs highlights only those that can directly contribute to PR eligibility.
Provide clarity: Each job posting is mapped against Canada’s immigration streams, so workers know if it’s a PR-track role or not.
Offer a roadmap: Beyond job listings, we connect workers to the steps they need to take — from securing employer sponsorship to preparing for Express Entry draws.
For every worker who dreams of calling Canada home, QuestJobs makes the job hunt not just about finding employment — but about building a future.
At-a-Glance Summary
| Topic | Key Details |
|---|---|
| 2025 Nomination Cap |
3,150 total seats, 1,312 still available |
| Applications Pending |
Nearly 9,800 EOIs across multiple NSNP streams |
| 2025 Priorities |
Workers with expiring 2025 permits in healthcare, social assistance, construction |
| International Applicants |
Mostly deferred, unless in priority sectors or under AIP |
| Sector Paused |
Accommodation & Food Services paused since April 2024 |
Nova Scotia's nomination landscape in 2025 is all about focused action over volume. Priority sectors + local applicants = faster movement; everyone else—based on space, backlog, and economic alignment—will need patience and strategy.