Nova Scotia has announced a new immigration program that provides a pathway to permanent residence for international graduates with job offers in the health and childcare sector. The International Graduates In Demand Immigration stream has recently become permanent after starting as a pilot program in April.
How can I be eligible for this program?
This programs requires for candidates to complete a minimum 30-week program at a Nova Scotia designated learning institution. Candidates must have completed their program within the past three years in one of the following categories:
- NOC 3413: nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- NOC 4214: early childhood educators and assistants
In addition, international graduates applying through this stream must have a full-time, permanent job offer with a Nova Scotia employer. The offer must also be in the field in which they completed their program.
Interested candidates must also meet the following requirements:
- Between 21-55 years old
- Achieved a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 on each area of a French or English exam
- Have completed a Canadian or equivalent high school diploma
- Are certified by Nova Scotia to practice in your occupation
How did the pandemic affect these occupations?
During the pandemic, many daycares closed, and early childcare educators laid off. However, occupational outlook reports for the province show an overall demand for the role in 2020. Nova Scotia’s Occupational Outlook report for 2020-2021 attributes this to high turnover and the province’s introduction of a government pre-primary program. The pre-primary program rolled out in October 2020 and employed over 850 early childhood educators.
Though demand for continuing care assistants was strong prior to the pandemic, it has only continued to increase. In addition to COVID-19 related factors, the province’s occupation outlook report attributes vacancies to high turnover and a growing popularity of homecare.
International Graduates In-Demand stream’s first nominee
Yasmin Abdelmagid was the first applicant nominated through this stream. She recently graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education and accepted an offer of employment in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a result, she was eligible to apply under International Graduates In Demand Immigration stream to remain permanently in the province.
After studying in Nova Scotia at the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education, I knew I wanted to stay in Nova Scotia to help educate the children of the province. I am proud to be the first applicant approved through the International Graduates in Demand stream – the stream is giving me a path to build a life in a province I love, and now I am gaining experience in my profession.
Yasmin Abdelmagid, early childhood educator
This program provides international graduates with a job offer in their field a streamlined pathway to permanent residency. Prior to this stream, international graduates needed at least one year of work experience before applying for nomination. Above all, this stream eases this process for the applicant and allows employers to more easily retain in-demand employees.