Nova Scotia Introduces New Immigration Application Fees Starting September 2026
Nova Scotia is introducing application fees for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), marking an important change for foreign nationals seeking provincial nomination through the province.
Effective September 1, 2026, candidates selected for assessment under NSNP worker streams will be required to pay a $1,000 application fee.
Candidates selected under the Entrepreneur stream will face a higher $2,000 application fee.
The change is significant because Nova Scotia previously did not charge an application fee for these provincial immigration streams.
Importantly, candidates will not have to pay simply to enter the Expression of Interest pool. The fee applies only after an EOI is selected for assessment on or after September 1, 2026.
Quick Answer
| Application type | Provincial fee |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | $1,000 |
| Nova Scotia Graduate | $1,000 |
| Nova Scotia: Express Entry | $1,000 |
| Entrepreneur | $2,000 |
| Submit an Expression of Interest | No fee |
| Atlantic Immigration Program provincial application | No provincial application fee |
The determining factor is the date on which a candidate's EOI is selected for assessment—not the date on which the EOI was originally submitted.
What Has Nova Scotia Changed?
The Government of Nova Scotia announced on August 6, 2026 that new application fees will be introduced for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
The new fees take effect on September 1, 2026.
Until this change, provincial applications through these NSNP streams did not require an application fee.
Nova Scotia says the fees will help support program administration, assessment processes and the allocation of limited nomination spaces according to the province's labour-market and economic priorities.
Which NSNP Worker Streams Will Cost $1,000?
The new $1,000 provincial application fee applies to candidates selected for assessment through three NSNP worker streams:
- Nova Scotia: Skilled Worker;
- Nova Scotia: Graduate;
- Nova Scotia: Express Entry.
The fee applies per principal applicant.
Adding a spouse, partner or dependent children to the application does not increase the Nova Scotia provincial application fee.
Entrepreneur Applicants Will Pay $2,000
Applicants selected for assessment through Nova Scotia's Entrepreneur stream will be required to pay $2,000.
The Entrepreneur stream includes candidates who are:
- Starting a new business in Nova Scotia;
- Purchasing an existing Nova Scotia business; or
- Qualifying through the International Graduate entrepreneur pathway.
Different payment deadlines apply depending on the Entrepreneur pathway.
Who Must Pay the New Fees?
The application fee applies when an Expression of Interest is selected for assessment on or after September 1, 2026.
This remains true even if the candidate originally submitted the EOI before September 1.
Candidates who received their selection letter before September 1, 2026 will not be required to pay the new application fee.
| Situation | New fee required? |
|---|---|
| EOI submitted before September 1 but selected on or after September 1 | Yes |
| Selection letter received before September 1 | No |
| EOI submitted after September 1 but not yet selected | No fee until selected |
Is There a Fee to Submit an Expression of Interest?
No.
Nova Scotia has confirmed that candidates can continue to submit an Expression of Interest without paying a provincial application fee.
Payment becomes necessary only when the EOI is selected for assessment.
Candidates therefore should not pay anyone claiming that a provincial government fee is required simply to enter the NSNP EOI pool.
How Quickly Must the Application Fee Be Paid?
Candidates need to pay close attention to their selection notice because payment deadlines vary by stream.
| Stream or pathway | Payment deadline |
|---|---|
| NSNP worker streams | 7 calendar days |
| Entrepreneur – starting a new business | 90 calendar days |
| Entrepreneur – purchasing an existing business | 180 calendar days |
| Entrepreneur – International Graduates | 90 calendar days |
For worker-stream candidates, the seven-day deadline is particularly important because it begins once they receive notification that their EOI has been selected for assessment.
How Can Candidates Pay the NSNP Fee?
Selected candidates will receive payment instructions by email.
Nova Scotia currently accepts online payment using:
- Visa;
- MasterCard;
- Discover Card; and
- American Express.
Payment must be made online as a single payment.
Nova Scotia does not allow the fee to be paid in installments or split across different payment methods.
After successful payment, the candidate receives a receipt by email. Applicants should keep this receipt because proof of payment is required.
Nova Scotia specifically states that a screenshot of the payment confirmation page is not accepted as proof of payment.
What Happens If the Fee Is Not Paid on Time?
Failure to provide proof of payment within the required deadline can have serious consequences.
The EOI will be closed and the submission will not proceed to the assessment stage.
A candidate may submit a new EOI if they continue to meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
However, being selected again would generally mean paying the application fee again.
Are the New NSNP Fees Refundable?
In general, the application fees are non-refundable.
The province identifies limited exceptions where a refund is required by law or an administrative error has occurred.
Applicants should also understand that paying the fee:
- Does not guarantee a provincial nomination;
- Does not increase the likelihood of approval;
- Does not give priority over another candidate; and
- Does not result in faster processing.
Does the Atlantic Immigration Program Have a New Provincial Fee?
No.
Nova Scotia has confirmed that this change does not affect the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
The AIP will continue without a Nova Scotia provincial application fee.
Candidates should remember that the NSNP and the Atlantic Immigration Program are different immigration pathways with separate requirements.
Why Is Nova Scotia Introducing Immigration Application Fees?
Nova Scotia says demand for provincial nominations continues to exceed the number of nomination spaces it receives through its annual federal allocation.
According to the province, the application fees are intended to:
- Support efficient administration of the NSNP;
- Support application assessment processes;
- Recover part of the administrative cost of processing applications;
- Support program integrity; and
- Help ensure limited nomination spaces support Nova Scotia's labour market and economic priorities.
Nova Scotia also notes that introducing application fees brings the province more closely in line with most other provincial immigration programs in Canada.
Does Paying $1,000 Mean You Will Be Nominated?
No.
Paying the application fee only allows a selected submission to proceed to assessment.
The province must still assess whether the applicant satisfies the requirements of the selected NSNP stream.
A provincial nomination also does not by itself grant permanent residence.
Successful provincial nominees must complete the applicable federal permanent residence process, and final admissibility decisions remain with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
What Should Current NSNP Candidates Do?
If Your EOI Has Not Yet Been Selected
Keep your EOI information accurate and monitor your email for selection notices. There is currently no government fee simply to remain in the EOI pool.
If You Are Selected on or After September 1
Review the selection email immediately, confirm the fee applicable to your stream and ensure payment is completed within the required deadline.
If You Were Selected Before September 1
Candidates who received their selection letter before September 1, 2026 are not subject to the new provincial application fee.
If You Are Considering the Atlantic Immigration Program
The new NSNP fees do not create a Nova Scotia provincial application fee for the AIP. However, candidates must still independently satisfy all AIP eligibility requirements.
How Always Canada Group Can Help
Always Canada Group can help applicants understand Nova Scotia immigration options and prepare for the provincial and federal stages of the immigration process.
Support may include:
- Reviewing NSNP stream eligibility;
- Assessing Nova Scotia: Express Entry options;
- Reviewing Skilled Worker eligibility;
- Reviewing Nova Scotia Graduate options;
- Assessing Entrepreneur pathway requirements;
- Reviewing Expression of Interest information;
- Preparing supporting documents after selection;
- Reviewing provincial application deadlines;
- Preparing the subsequent permanent residence application; and
- Assessing Atlantic Immigration Program options where applicable.
Immigration eligibility and nomination decisions are determined by the relevant provincial and federal authorities. No immigration consultant can guarantee selection, nomination or permanent residence approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Nova Scotia's new immigration fees start?
The new NSNP application fees take effect on September 1, 2026.
How much is the new NSNP worker-stream fee?
Candidates selected under Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate and Nova Scotia: Express Entry will pay $1,000.
How much is the Entrepreneur stream fee?
The provincial application fee for the Entrepreneur stream is $2,000.
Is there a fee to submit an NSNP Expression of Interest?
No. Nova Scotia continues to allow candidates to submit an EOI without an application fee.
What if I submitted my EOI before September 1?
If the EOI is selected for assessment on or after September 1, the new fee applies even if the EOI was originally submitted earlier.
What if I was selected before September 1?
Candidates who received their selection letter before September 1, 2026 are not required to pay the new fee.
How long do worker-stream candidates have to pay?
Worker-stream candidates must pay within seven calendar days after receiving notice that their EOI has been selected for assessment.
Does the Atlantic Immigration Program now cost $1,000?
No. Nova Scotia has confirmed that the AIP continues without a provincial application fee.
Does paying the fee guarantee nomination?
No. Payment does not guarantee nomination, approval or faster processing.
Are dependents charged an additional provincial fee?
No. The fee is charged per principal applicant and does not change based on the number of dependents included.
Final Takeaway
Starting September 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will begin charging application fees for candidates selected for assessment through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
Worker-stream applicants will generally pay $1,000, while Entrepreneur stream applicants will pay $2,000.
Submitting an Expression of Interest remains free, candidates selected before September 1 are not affected, and the Atlantic Immigration Program will continue without a provincial application fee.
Candidates selected after the effective date should pay close attention to payment deadlines, particularly the seven-calendar-day deadline for worker streams.
