'living in Nova Scotia' Expat  

living in Nova Scotia

Talk for and about Expats. Living in this Nova_Scotia? Let others know about it. Want to live here? Ask questions! Expat Interviews

reg fallin (63.165.181.120) -

am thinking of relocating to Nova Scotia and buying a home, just wondering what others say about living there, the pros and cons

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Reply #1 Stephen Boyd (205.188.116.202) -

I think settling in Nova Scotia is a wonderful idea. Afer reading and article about living there, I purchased a great eBook called Passport to Canada: The Complete Guide to Living and Retiring in Nova Scotia by Phillip Townsend (available at http://www.nsliving.info). Now, I'm planning to relocate there myself (I've already found a beautiful oceanside lot that I plan to build my dream house on). If this is your dream, follow it. I am.

Reply #2 Fred (208.155.146.42) -

Too bad his ebooks are only available via amazon. They have the most convoluted method for downloading. He should check out click bank and I think signifincantly increase his sales.

Reply #3 Joe (138.162.5.14) -

I am considering retiring in Nova Scotia. I am a U.S. citizen. What would I have to do to become a resident of Nova Scotia?

Reply #4 Gil (192.91.147.34) -

I am also an American and am thinking about the same thing. From what I've read, you can live in NS as a visitor for up to 6 months before you are required to return to the US. However, I've also read that all you have to do to reset the 6 month clock is to go back to the US and get your passport stamped as proof of your return. Then you just go back to NS for another 6 months. The other method is to try to become a permanent resident of canada, which I understand is difficult unless you are young, well-educated or well-off financially and willing to invest in a business in Canada.

Reply #5 Kathy (216.68.202.126) -

I have heard that it is possible to get dual citizenship (USA & Canada). In fact, I know someone who has it, although he may have obtained it several years ago. Does anyone else have information on this?

Reply #6 larry (69.249.77.3) -

Never been to NS before.

But, I think Halifax would probably be the best bet for me.

I have thought about moving there and opening up a coffee house in a middle to upper middle class neighborhood. I have also considered buying a small commercial building with a few residential units to both live in and rent out with some some commercial space attached for my business. Anyone have any thoughts of areas that I might want to consider?

Reply #7 kyla (24.67.253.204) -

am in kelowna bc right now having come a few months ago from uk. am thinking of relocating to n.s as its very expensive here but a bit aprehensive having never been. any advice

Reply #8 Carrie (24.222.107.198) -

Highly recommend Nova Scotia; it's been 13+ years for me now. You get the benefits of a smaller-town culture with the advantages of city living if you move to the Halifax-Dartmouth-Bedford area, the capital of the province with about 400,000 residents. Lots of opportunity for business owners, or employees looking to relocate. Check out www.halifax.ca for more information. A sample of job opportunities can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/careers, they are the provincial government job listings. To learn more about immigrating to Nova Scotia, visit the Office of Immigration website- start with www.gov.ns.ca. Good luck!

Reply #9 John (152.163.39.159) -

A couple questions:

1) Can you qualify for Canadian Residency based on a salary you earn in the USA (as opposed to a pension or investments)?

2) Are you taxed in Canada on income from elsewhere (the USA, etc)?

Reply #10 bill (68.1.160.212) -

I,ve been to Nova Scotia twice during Aug and Sept and its beautiful. However, before I move there, I wo0nder what the winters are like..... Terribly foggy, damp, chilly etc OR NOT??? Any comments on weather would be appreciated....

Reply #11 Nicks (65.92.242.231) -

There's a whole bunch of weather statistics on the weather network for many places in NS

www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/stats/north_america.htm

Reply #12 Lawrence Shields from Historic Jacksonville -

My wife and I are US citizens that have spent the last several years researching and learning about Canada and recently the Province of Nova Scotia. We at this point would like to make Nova Scotia our new home. If there is any assistance we can provide hopefully we can share some of what we have learned and experienced.

Reply #13 Alison Elliot (65.112.216.189) -

Am interested in finding out more about Nova Scota and Cape Breton Island as well as Prince Edward Island. Will be visiting in June and will be there for a 2 week stay. Any suggestions on how best to spend the time? I am also considering living in NS for at least 6 months to determine if a move is appropriate. Would love to hear from some of you who have already made the move. Thanks

Reply #14 Manoj (130.113.15.204) -

I'm so relocating to Nova Scotia!!!

I'm a permanent resident of canada... currently living in the suburb of Toronto, and attending McMaster University at Hamilton, Ontario.

However, the way I plan to relocate is a bit different. I plan to go as a visiting student to Dalhousie University, Halifax for an year and if I think life is just as I wanted it to be, then I'll considering transfering to Dalhousie during my fourth year. Then on, I can acquire a job in Nova Scotia and live there happily ever after. End of yet another story :D

Reply #15 out of place (24.89.206.223) -

i am an american living in nova scotia. i have found that many people here do not actually like americans. i am so dissapointed by the way people talk about us. i am a friendly outgoung person in my mid 20's, i thought it would be so different for me here.

Reply #16 dawn rebecca from uk -

hi, my family and i are currently trying to begin a new life in ns, and are using a company called "uk2novascotia". has anyone dealt with these before?

cheers from the uk.

dawn rebecca.

Reply #17 Anna (75.73.0.232) -

I fell in love with Nova Scotia about 30 years ago riding the Canadian rail. I returned 2 summers ago for a three week visit and am trying to get some information about how to go agout finding property there. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Also, I'd like to purhase Peter Townsend's book The Complet Guide to Living and Retiring In Nova Scotia but haven't been able to find it. Any ideas? Thanks

Reply #18 carolinagirl from southern USA -

I am interested in retiring to Nova Scotia. I can't find any information on the immigration sites that fits this category. Can anyone help me? Thanks,

Reply #19 Kyle re reply:15 (204.174.81.54) -

Hi,

In regards to your posting "Out of Place", I have to say yes, there is a lack of appreciation for what has come to have been called "The Americans". Whether or not you are a stereotypical, we're at a time where Americans all over the world are being disliked. It seems like everywhere we turn there is the USA army and thier politics trying to make a difference but with no positive results. With all due respect to you, our nieghbors in the south, we in Canada dont want an international image like that. Im sorry if people come here and experience animosity for the politics of thier homeland, but please be advised, Nova Scotians like thier culture just the way it is.

Reply #20 Violet (1) from Calgary -

I was born in Nova Scotia but haven't lived there since I was a child. Now I am thinking of moving to and partially retiring in either Halifax or Dartmouth. I would like to hear other's opinions on life in Nova Scotia.

Reply #21 Foggy Pete (74.115.141.13) -

I'm a just retired guy living in Ontario and I'm definitely moving to Nova Scotia. I've done all my research and it has everythingI need. Very low housing prices, good infra-structure, uncrowded and a small town feel to it. Also the summers are mild with very little humidity. Southern Ontario can be brutal. I've been house hunting a couple times out there this summer and enjoyed the people and experience. which surprises me to hear Mr "out of place" relate his. I do know there has been some resentment in some areas of NS because Americans have been buying up large oceanfront shorelines and putting up monstrous homes on them. And the taxes have gone up for the locals, who have less income. But otherwise the people seem pretty decent to me. I think NS will experience a wave of retirees once the retiring baby boomers discover it in the next few years.

Reply #22 Eileen (72.82.180.194) -

My husband and I are from the USA (New Jersey) and we started

vacationing in NS 10 years ago. We loved NS and 6 years ago

we purchased a very small oceanfront cottage. We have lived

in it during the summer "as is". We have plans to rebuild it

this year, as it is in poor condition and must be rebuilt.

We are only making it bigger by about 100 square feet. We

have found that if one does not go about acting like

"the ugly American" and is respectful of the NS culture,

the local people are quite lovely. I love it there...

the land, the culture, the people, room to breathe, the water.

We consider it a privelege to be in Nova Scotia. There are

many Americans, such as ourselves, who do not agree with

our president's policies, especially his policies abroad.

I am saddened by the way we are disliked in the world, but

I do understand it and hope that people realize that probably

most of us do not approve of our government's actions.

Reply #23 The Stones (141.154.160.5) -

Looking to see what the overall consensus is on Americans living in NS. I've performed the "test" to see if we qualify for citizenship, and we passed with a great score. Considering America today and it's politics, we just want to live our Christian homeschooled life in a rural setting with a family business (eventually). One post mentioned areas of dislike to Americans more than another...can you please list those areas of concern?

Thanks for now.

Reply #24 veronica grijalva Palmisano (69.137.178.242) -

We are thinking about emigrating to Canada. My husband and I are looking for a simpler and modest life along with finishing getting our daughter through high school and then on to university. We are not the typical rich, obnoxious and greedy americans. We are caring and sensitive of others' ways of thinking and living. We are disheartened with our governments policies which continue to invade and raid other countries resources while they impoverish future generations of the basics: clean air to breathe, clean water to drink; food to eat; and a simple place to live and raise a child. The US's military machine has now fully taken over as Eishower once forewarned in the 1950"s

How difficult is it to emigrate to Canada when you are 50 and 60? Both my husband & I are well-educated and/or have desirable technical skills. We appreciate any help you can give us. Thanking you in advance.

V & L Palmisano

Reply #25 Sydney blum (69.206.160.79) -

V & L--we share your thoughts and motives. We are in our late fifties and just completed the immigration process but haven't landed yet. I applied in the business category as a self employed artist--a category that may be phased out soon. The application process was long and grueling and I am very relieved to be done with it. The Federal process is right in the midst of being restructured so I don't know how that might effect your applying. I think that the younger of the two of you would have to be the primary applicant as I think the cut off age is 60. I think the best way would be through Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) even though the age cut-off is 55 now (since last summer). They have some discretion with this if they want you, and the provincial process is much quicker.

Reply #26 lau (79.196.34.145) -

hi i have read all the posts but most are from americans.

i am british and my husband is irish. we want to immigrate to NS and we dont know where to begin. i am 21 and my husband is in his late 20s. we are not sure what route to take and what educational or new skills we could get to improve our application. we have looked at all the avaliable websites but cannot extract the information i am looking for.so if anyone can help, please please do.

Reply #27 Bubba from deep in your mind -

What information are you looking for, specifically?

Reply #28 Essie (69.128.106.202) -

I am trying to find Passport to Canada: The Complete Guide to Living & Retiring in Nova Scotia by Phillip Townsend.

Reply #29 Alexandra Elcombe (78.92.58.98) - Fri May 30 04:33:08 2008

I was living in Zimbabwe and my farm was taken as well as my business, I pretty much was left with nothing, so I moved to Hungary where my family are. I have two small kids and a husband who has been fighting a Brain tumour for 4 years now.

All I want is a good job and a stable enviroment for my kids, does Nova Scotia have this to offer me ?

Can I work and live there if I have an EU Passport ?

Someone please help me I truly need awnsers - Fast !!

Regards

Alexandra Elcombe

Reply #30 sharon (13) from uk - Mon Jun 2 15:54:09 2008

alexandra/potje if thats you get in touch via facebook message

sharon

Reply #31 pamela cramond-malkin (24.86.25.24) - Tue Jun 10 20:56:44 2008

We are moving to Halifax in september..what are the pros and cons from those who have moved there?

Reply #32 Sheila Deveau (142.177.217.24) - Thu Jun 26 19:53:21 2008

If you are looking at Nova Scotia think about the Southwest. Real Estate is still very affordable and the area has access to both New Brunswick and Maine via ferries. I moved here from Cape Breton in 1986 and quickly fell in love with the area. I live in Meteghan, an Acadian community, and though I am not french the people were very welcoming. If I really need to shop Halifax is only 3 hours away but why would I go when I have Frenchies? Take a look at the area and the Bay of Fundy, it is amazing.

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