In a landmark September declaration by Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health, Michelle Thompson, and the province’s Minister of Advanced Education, Brian Wong, Nova Scotia is all set to transform immigration policies for foreign nationals. Immigrating to the province is about to become more accessible with the expansion of Nova Scotia’s “International Graduates in Demand” (IGD) stream within the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Free Immigration AssessmentThis strategic move opens the door to prospective international students aspiring to pursue careers as paramedics and pharmacy technicians, making immigration to Nova Scotia an achievable goal for them.
International Graduates in Demand (IGD) stream
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) operate across all Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec and Nunavut. PNPs empower local governments to choose and put forward immigration candidates. These selected candidates are intended for permanent residence (PR) status in their regions. The primary objective of these nominations is to tackle localized labour market shortages and fulfill specific workforce requirements.
Immigrate to CanadaBefore this recent expansion, international graduates aspiring to work in the following occupations had the opportunity to immigrate to Nova Scotia through this PNP stream.
As a result of this announcement, the newly added categories include:
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates (NOC 2021: 33102)
- Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 2021: 42202)
- Paramedics (NOC 2021, “Paramedical Occupations”: 32102)
- Pharmacy Technicians (NOC 2021: 32124)
Qualification
To qualify for immigration through this specific stream of Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), interested candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
- Hold a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in an eligible occupation.
- Fall within the age range of 21 to 55.
- Must have completed a high school education or its equivalent
- Completed a course of study lasting at least 30 weeks within the past three years
- Possess the requisite certifications for the job.
- Have official language proficiency equivalent to a level 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
- Sufficient financial resources to establish a permanent residence in Nova Scotia.
- Candidates must complete at least 50% of the eligible educational program in Nova Scotia.
How to apply through IGD PNP for Immigration
You may apply for immigration through IGD PNP by three simple steps:
1. Online Application Submission:
Begin by uploading all the necessary documents and submitting a completed application through the government’s official website.
2. Provincial Nomination Approval:
If your application is approved, you’ll receive a provincial nomination certificate.
3. Apply for Permanent Residency (PR):
With your provincial nomination in hand, you may apply for Permanent Residency (PR) directly through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). But remember to submit your application within six months of receiving your provincial nomination certificate.
For added flexibility, applicants can request a Letter of Support for a temporary work permit from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI). This allows them to reside in Nova Scotia while their immigration application is being processed.
Demand for Paramedics and Pharmacy Technicians in Nova Scotia
According to the CEO of Nova Scotia’s Pharmacy Association, the province will require approximately 200 more pharmacy technicians in the coming years.
Charbel Daniel, the director of operations for ambulance services provider Emergency Medical Care Inc., mentioned that there may be an opportunity for an extra “150 to 200 paramedic positions” for international students.
In addition to including two occupations in the IGD stream of Nova Scotia’s PNP, there is a substantial demand for individuals seeking employment in various healthcare occupations throughout Canada.
Other In-Demand Healthcare Professions
As of 2023, the top three in-demand healthcare careers in Canada, according to employment agency and consulting firm Randstad, are:
- Registered Nurses (NOC 2021: 31301)
- Personal Support Workers (NOC 2021: 44101)
- Healthcare Aides** (NOC 2021: 33102)
Healthcare Aides can immigrate to Nova Scotia through the IGD stream, as mentioned earlier.
The statistics emphasize the continued demand for healthcare professionals in both Canada and Nova Scotia. As per the Government of Canada, the anticipated number of job openings from 2022 to 2031 is as follows:
- Registered Nurses: 155,400
- Personal Support Workers: 34,500
- Healthcare Aides: 191,000
Category-based Draw for Healthcare professionals
IRCC has launched category-based Express Entry draws, with the initial draw occurring on June 28, 2023. The authorities implemented these draws to attract additional healthcare workers who can actively contribute to Canada’s critical labour market needs.
In 2023, IRCC is actively engaged in conducting category-based draws aimed at issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. These candidates must possess recent work experience in one of five distinct occupational categories. Notably, one of the categories outlined for 2023 is dedicated exclusively to foreign nationals with recent work experience in healthcare professions. This initiative underscores Canada’s commitment to addressing its healthcare workforce needs through its immigration system.
Two Healthcare Category-Based Draws in 2023
Canada has carried out two healthcare category-based Express Entry draws within the current year.
The initial draw occurred on June 28, extending Invitations to Apply (ITA) to 500 candidates for Canadian Permanent Residency. Candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of a minimum of 476 were eligible for this draw.
The second draw in this category took place on July 6, where 1,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 463 received invitations.
Nova Scotia is gearing up to broaden the scope of its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) through the expansion of the “International Graduates in Demand” (IGD) stream. Bringing new horizons to Nova Scotia, this expansion opens doors for healthcare workers to start their promising journey toward Canadian immigration.
Feel free to contact us for your queries.
Read To Know: Business Visitors And Letter Of Invitation For Bringing Them To Canada
