Nova Scotia's New Business Immigration Streams Launched

Government officially launched its two new business immigration streams Jan. 1.

The streams will attract international entrepreneurs and retain international graduates of provincial post-secondary institutions.

The Entrepreneur Stream aims to attract those who want to start or buy, and actively manage, a business in Nova Scotia. The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream provides an immigration opportunity for students who have graduated from a Nova Scotia university or community college and have started their own business.

Both streams use a temporary to permanent residence model, considered a best practice in immigration.

For the Entrepreneur Stream, the applicant initially receives a work permit allowing them to enter Nova Scotia to start and run their business for at least one year. Candidates sign an agreement that sets out the business plan outcomes to be met before nomination for permanent residence.

For the International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, students are required to have studied for a minimum of two years and then spend a year running their business on a federal post-graduation work permit.

Once the new streams are fully operational, Nova Scotia expects to nominate 40-50 applicants per year as permanent residents.