The Physician Stream assists Nova Scotia’s public health authorities – the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) – to hire general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians to work in Nova Scotia. The stream helps the NSHA and IWK to recruit and retain physicians with the required skills for positions that they have been unable to fill with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
Education in Canada
You must submit a completed Canadian educational credential, or if the educational credential is from a foreign (non-Canadian) institution or authority, you must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by the Medical Council of Canada.
You have a valid Education credential assessment from the Medical Council of Canada OR proof that you meet all the criteria required to obtain a licence to practise medicine in Nova Scotia from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
Work Permit / Temporary Permits
If you are in Canada on a Work Permit, it must be valid at the time of application.
Job Offer
You must have an approved job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or the IWK Health Centre (IWK) for one of the NOC’s mentioned above.
The approved opportunity must be on official NSHA or IWK letterhead and must:
- Be signed and dated by a person authorized to hire physicians at the NSHA or IWK
- Be signed and dated by the applicant who is accepting the opportunity
- Indicate eligibility for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NS
- Indicate that the applicant is eligible to apply for privileges and credentials with NSHA and the IWK
Eligible NOC TEER Categories
The Physician Stream is only open to:
- NOC 31100: Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- NOC 31101: Specialists in surgery
- NOC 31102: General practitioners and family physicians
Adaptability / Accompanying members
Residing at time of Application
You must have proof of your immigration status in the country where you are currently living, including Canada.
Intention to live in Province
You promise to live and work in Nova
Scotia for at least 2 years
Ineligibility
This stream is part of an economic immigration program. You may NOT use it as a way to immigrate to Canada for any of these reasons:
- Family reunification
- Protected persons
- Humanitarian or compassionate grounds
You may also not apply if:
- You are currently living in a country in which you are NOT legally allowed to live.
- You have applied to immigrate to Canada on compassionate or humanitarian grounds or to claim refugee status.
- You have applied for refugee status in Canada and been refused.
- You have received a removal order from IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
- You have unresolved custody or child support issues affecting one or more of your dependents.
- You are currently studying at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- You received a scholarship or award that requires you to return to your home country upon graduation and you have not yet done so.
Application Period
Approximately 3 to 6 months
Submission of Application
- Apply to the NSNP Physician Stream
- Go to novascotia.ca/ensnp to submit your application
- You must complete the eNSNP 100 form online and ensure that you include all the documents we need.
- We assess your application
- You will either be nominated or refused
- If nominated: If you meet the Physician Stream criteria, we will email a nomination certificate to you or your representative. The certificate expires 6 months after the date of nomination. We will also send proof of your nomination directly to IRCC. You need to apply for this visa within 6 months of receiving your nomination certificate.
- If refused: We will refuse your application if you do NOT meet the criteria. You have 10 business days to submit new information for consideration.
- Ask for a Letter of Support for your Temporary Work Permit. This letter replaces the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Service Canada.
- You can use this letter to apply for a temporary work permit or to renew your existing work permit with IRCC.
- Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
- IRCC issues permanent resident visas
- Tell us when you become a permanent resident
- Contact us within 30 days of your arrival in Nova Scotia.