Immigration to Nova Scotia.

9,090 new permanent residents named Nova Scotia as their destination in 2025, 2.3% of Canada’s total, or 8.2 per 1,000 residents.

Data through July 2026Retrieved October 8, 2026Updated monthly, mid-month

Permanent residents 20259,090−35.7% vs 2024

New study permits 20259,765

New work permits 202518,515IMP + TFWP

Asylum claims 2025385

Permanent residents by category

Per year.

Category	Economic	Family	Refugees and protected persons	Humanitarian and other
2015	2,420	475	350	15
2016	3,370	615	1,425	15
2017	3,290	670	440	0
2018	4,550	685	640	5
2019	5,830	855	775	15
2020	2,665	450	315	10
2021	7,595	695	750	55
2022	10,160	1,035	1,345	35
2023	8,960	1,170	1,520	65
2024	11,580	1,205	1,240	110
2025	6,930	1,180	905	75
2026 (Jan–Jul)	5,115	710	505	25

Source: IRCC, Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates (open data). 2026 covers January to July only.

Top programs, 2025

Program	Value
Provincial Nominee Program	4,305
Atlantic Immigration Program	1,675
Spouses and partners	970
Canadian Experience Class	605
Government-assisted refugees	530
Privately sponsored refugees	365
Federal Skilled Worker	280
Parents and grandparents	160

Source: IRCC, Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates (open data).

Destination cities, 2025

Census metropolitan areas named as intended destination.

Metropolitan area	Value
Halifax	6,840
Cape Breton	510
Truro	350
Kentville	205
New Glasgow	130

Source: IRCC, Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates (open data).

Study and work permits

Period	Study permits	IMP work permits	TFWP work permits
2015	6,445	2,545	1,495
2016	7,285	3,585	1,575
2017	8,065	3,635	1,565
2018	10,255	3,855	2,005
2019	10,620	5,425	2,210
2020	5,295	6,105	2,105
2021	10,230	7,745	2,570
2022	13,480	10,165	3,415
2023	16,385	17,070	4,280
2024	11,185	15,985	3,935
2025	9,765	14,840	3,675
2026 (Jan–Jul)	4,730	12,795	2,685

Source: IRCC, Temporary Residents: Study Permit Holders – Monthly IRCC Updates; IRCC, Temporary Residents: TFWP and IMP Work Permit Holders – Monthly IRCC Updates. 2026 covers January to July only.

More context

Who lives here, who leaves.

Who lives in Nova Scotia today (origins, languages, recent immigrants): Census Atlas: Nova Scotia.
Statistics Canada estimates 2,112 people emigrated from Nova Scotia in 2025–2026. See emigration by province.
4,305 of the 2025 admissions came through Nova Scotia’s nominee program. PNP data.

About this data. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. IRCC rounds every figure to the nearest 5 and suppresses values from 0 to 5; we count suppressed cells as zero, so totals here can be slightly below IRCC’s published totals. “Rounded, not for calculations.” Not an official IRCC publication. These pages describe what happened, using official statistics. They do not predict policy, estimate anyone’s chances, or rank communities. Intended province of destination at admission. See methods and definitions.