Nova Scotia to Get Major Immigration Allocation Increase After Cuts

(NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA) Nova Scotia will receive a major increase in its 2025 immigration allocation after earlier cuts, federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab confirmed on October 16, 2025, in Halifax. While Ottawa has committed to restoring and expanding spaces under the province’s nomination streams, the federal government has not yet released the exact number of new spots or the date the larger allocation will take effect. The province, which has been operating under a sharply reduced quota this year, is preparing for changes but remains in a holding pattern until details arrive later this month.

The reversal follows a turbulent year for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). In late 2024, the province’s combined allocation for 2025 was cut by almost half — from 3,570 to 1,785 NSNP nominations — as part of a national effort to moderate intake. The reduced immigration allocation quickly created capacity pressures across Nova Scotia’s programs. By early 2025, the province had reached or exceeded its quota and moved to pause or strictly prioritize most new applications, reserving limited room for cases that met urgent labour needs.

Officials prioritized people already living and working in the province, especially those with work permits expiring in 2025, to prevent disruptions for families and employers. Workers in healthcare, social assistance (NAICS 62), and construction (NAICS 23) received top attention. Some international candidates in critical sectors — such as healthcare, construction, trucking, science and technology, clean energy, and resource development — continued to see pathways through the AIP, but most new applications faced long waits.

Federal shift and provincial reaction

Minister Diab’s announcement signals a broader federal shift. Ottawa is responding to strong calls from Nova Scotia and other provinces for more flexibility to meet local labour needs. Provinces that also pushed for higher allocations after similar reductions include:

• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the policy course correction shows the federal government is willing to adjust mid-year when provincial backlogs and labour shortages intensify.

As of October 17, there are no firm figures for Nova Scotia’s expanded quota and no implementation date. The federal government is expected to provide clarity in the upcoming 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, due later in October. The plan will indicate national targets and provincial shares, shaping how quickly Nova Scotia can move from triage to normal intake. Until those details are released and put into effect, the 2025 quota remains full or nearly full, and the province continues to limit processing to the most urgent and in-demand cases.

Policy background and practical effects

Nova Scotia’s allocation picture in recent years shows sharp swings. Key figures:

The practical effect of the cuts was immediate:

• Employers in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and construction firms reported hiring plans on hold because provincial nominations were scarce.
• Temporary foreign workers with expiring permits faced tough choices: find a pathway under strict priorities or risk leaving the province.
• International graduates and other newcomers who expected to apply through the NSNP discovered that doors were temporarily closed unless they fit specific priority categories.

With Ottawa now pledging a larger allocation, provincial officials will need to decide how to reopen intake and in what order. Based on 2025 rules to date, the reopening sequence is likely to favor:

1. People already in Nova Scotia
2. Workers in healthcare, social assistance, and construction
3. Limited AIP pathways for critical sectors

New details will depend on federal numbers and how quickly the province can scale processing.

Impact on applicants and employers

For people already in Nova Scotia:
– Strong position for those with valid jobs and work permits expiring in 2025 once more nominations arrive.
– Workers in NAICS 62 and NAICS 23 should watch for updates that may allow employers to proceed with pending or paused files.
– International graduates in Nova Scotia may gain more options through the NSNP when the expanded allocation is activated.

For international applicants outside the province:
– Most cases in non-priority sectors will likely wait until the new allocation is active.
– Select AIP pathways in critical fields may remain available, but capacity is tight until numbers increase.
– Candidates with job offers in healthcare, construction, trucking, science and technology, clean energy, or resource development may see improved timelines once implemented.

For employers:
– Hospitals, clinics, long-term care homes, home support agencies, and construction firms facing chronic vacancies could resume recruitment planning as numbers rise.
– Short-term hiring remains constrained until the federal increase is formally assigned to Nova Scotia and the province reopens broader intake.
– Employers should prepare complete files in advance so they can act quickly when the province confirms new nomination spaces.

Provincial officials caution that until the federal levels plan is published and new numbers are allocated, processing priorities will not change. Applicants should monitor official updates closely.

Human and regional consequences

The human impact of this policy arc is tangible. Examples:

• A registered nurse in Halifax who has lived there for two years may have delayed a permanent residence pathway after the early-year cuts. A larger NSNP allocation gives that nurse and her employer a realistic chance to move ahead.
• A construction estimator in Sydney on a work permit set to expire in late 2025 could similarly regain a pathway to permanence.

For many families, permanent status is not just paperwork — it represents stability for children in school, the ability to buy a home, and the confidence to put down roots in Nova Scotia.

The federal move also speaks to Atlantic Canada’s demographics. An aging population and steady out-migration in some communities mean sustained immigration is a key part of workforce planning. The AIP and the NSNP were designed to connect employers with candidates ready to stay, work, and build careers in the region. Restoring and expanding the province’s allocation helps maintain that pipeline.

What to expect next and how to prepare

Ottawa’s next step is the release of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which sets national targets and informs provincial shares. Track updates on the IRCC page: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/immigration-levels.html.

Once the plan is public, Nova Scotia is expected to outline:
– How many new nominations it will receive
– How intake will be prioritized across streams
– Timelines for reopening and processing

Practical steps to prepare:
– Applicants already in Nova Scotia (especially in healthcare, social assistance, construction): gather documents, confirm job offers, and stay in regular contact with employers.
– International candidates in critical sectors: keep files ready but expect limited movement until the allocation is officially increased.
– Employers: prepare recruitment and compliance steps and ensure files are complete so submissions can be made promptly when intake expands.

Summary

Nova Scotia’s immigration story in 2025 has been defined by scarcity, triage, and now a planned rebound. The province moved to protect residents with expiring status and essential services under intense pressure. The federal government has acknowledged those realities and promised a larger share of nominations.

The coming weeks — and the details within the federal levels plan — will determine how fast Nova Scotia can shift from emergency measures to steady, predictable intake under the NSNP and the AIP.