HALIFAX — Nova Scotia will begin charging applicants for its provincial nominee immigration streams on Sept. 1, the provincial government confirmed, introducing a $1,000 fee for candidates in worker pathways and a $2,000 charge for those applying through entrepreneur routes.
What is changing
The fees will apply to candidates who are selected for an assessment under the province’s worker categories — which include the skilled worker, Nova Scotia graduate and Nova Scotia express entry streams — while the entrepreneur streams will carry the higher fee. The province says there will continue to be no charge to submit an expression of interest.
“The application fees will help support program administration and assessment processes, recover a portion of the costs associated with assessing applications, improve application quality and strengthen program integrity,” a spokesperson for the Labour, Skills and Immigration Department said in a statement.
The change was enacted by an order in council approved last week and will come into force at the start of next month.
How Nova Scotia compares
Provincial nominee programs across Canada typically charge application fees, the government noted, and Nova Scotia had been among a small number of jurisdictions without a charge. Officials point out that, with the new rates, Nova Scotia will be positioned toward the middle of the national range and below the levels charged by larger provinces such as Ontario and Alberta.
| Stream | Application fee |
|---|---|
| Worker streams (skilled worker, NS graduate, NS express entry) | $1,000 |
| Entrepreneur streams | $2,000 |
Expected revenue and local impact
While officials stopped short of providing a precise revenue forecast, recent activity in the province’s nominee files indicates the funds could be substantial. The province completed 1,626 assessments so far in 2026, a figure that gives a sense of the potential scale of incoming fees if selection rates remain steady.
For prospective newcomers, the fee adds a material cost to the later stage of a provincial application. The government emphasised that paying the fee does not alter chances of selection, the assessment outcome or the likelihood of receiving a nomination.
- There will be no fee to submit an expression of interest.
- Fees apply only when a candidate is selected for assessment.
- Payment is not a factor in selection or assessment decisions, the province says.
Why officials gave the change
The province framed the move as a means to defray administrative costs tied to assessing applications and to bolster the integrity and quality of applications. In recent years, provincial nominee programs have grown in complexity as jurisdictions seek to match labour needs with newcomer skills and to ensure applicants meet program requirements.
Local employers and settlement agencies are likely to watch the implementation closely. Settlement supports and employer referral practices vary across Nova Scotian communities; some service providers may consider altering advice to clients about timing of submissions or about financial planning for the application process.
Next steps and what applicants should know
Prospective applicants should note the Sept. 1 effective date and ensure they understand at which stage the fee becomes payable. The province’s Labour, Skills and Immigration Department is the official source for detailed procedural and payment instructions. For those using settlement agencies or legal counsel, it will be important to confirm whether fees are payable directly by the candidate or can be handled through a representative.
The policy change brings Nova Scotia in line with most other provinces and territories that already charge for provincial nominee assessments, while removing Nova Scotia from a short list of places that had not. Officials say the rates place the province in the middle of the national range and are intended to support ongoing program administration.
As the new fees take effect next month, employers, newcomers and local support organisations will be assessing the practical implications for recruitment strategies and newcomer settlement planning across communities in the province.
Reporting from Halifax.
