Maple News reports that Nova Scotia is introducing new application fees for the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP). Beginning September 1, 2026, foreign nationals seeking to immigrate through the NSNP’s worker streams must pay a non-refundable $1,000 application fee. The change marks a shift from the previous policy, which did not require any application fee for these streams.
The province will also charge a $2,000 application fee for the NSNP entrepreneur stream, with the same September 1, 2026 effective date.
The Government of Nova Scotia announced the updates on August 6, 2026, via the NSNP updates page. The fees apply to candidates selected from the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool on or after September 1. Those invited before that date are exempt from the new charges.
Worker-stream applicants must pay the $1,000 fee within seven days of being selected from the EOI pool for assessment.
For entrepreneur pathways—Purchase of a New Business, Purchase of an Existing Business, and International Graduates—the deadline to submit the fee will depend on the specific pathway chosen.
Note that the new fees are not retroactive for invitations issued prior to September 1. The NSNP remains a key route for skilled workers and entrepreneurs seeking to immigrate to Nova Scotia, and applicants should factor these costs into their planning. Maple News will continue to monitor updates to provincial immigration policies.