Nova Scotia

For Stream II, be incorporated in Nova Scotia or continued as a Nova Scotian company through a Certificate of Continuance and be in good standing with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies (the corporation may be owned by either foreign or Nova Scotian owners BUT Nova Scotian owners must own less than 50%); have a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia; submit a complete application PRIOR to commencement of principal photography anywhere; provide written evidence of a commercial license agreement and evidence of 75% confirmed financing for projects with budgets of CAD 1 million (approximately USD 740,000) or greater (50% for projects under CAD 1 million); and include an application fee equal to 0.5% of the Nova Scotia total eligible costs budget to a maximum of CAD 5,000 plus HST payable by a nonrefundable application charge of CAD 250 plus HST (at the time of the application) and the balance held back from the disbursement of funds under the Incentive Agreement. Where eight or fewer of the 16 eligible Head of Department (HOD) positions are filled, half of the positions, rounded to the highest whole number, must be filled by Nova Scotia residents. Where nine or more HOD positions are filled, a minimum of four must be filled by Nova Scotia residents. The overall incentive percentage will be reduced by 0.5% for each resident HOD below the minimum requirement that is not hired.

Qualified costs include all expenditures where the good or service is purchased from a Nova Scotia-based supplier with a permanent physical establishment within Nova Scotia, and is supplied, receipted, consumed or performed in Nova Scotia. Payments made to Nova Scotia residents for work done outside of Nova Scotia also qualify for the incentive. The maximum rebate that may be earned on the salary paid to each individual for services performed on the project is CAD 150,000.

This program is administered on a first-come, first-served basis. The Stream II program offers a refundable incentive equal to 25%–31% (with bonuses) of eligible Nova Scotia costs. Projects that are eligible for the Digital Media Tax Credit, the Digital Animation Tax Credit, or any other Nova Scotia tax credit program are not eligible for the Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive. The Fund shall be subject to a review no later than the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Animation
Award Shows
Commercials
Direct To Streaming
Documentaries
E-Sports
Game Shows
Industry/Corporate Training
Infomercials
Interactive Media & Video Games
Interactive Website
Internet Broadcasts
Music Videos
Postproduction (Standalone)
Reality Shows
Talk Shows
Theatrical Stage Productions
Trailers
Webisodes
Nova Scotia INCENTIVES
INCENTIVE RATES

25% Nonpayroll Spend & Resident Labor (1)
+ 2% Regional Bonus (2)
+ 1% Shooting Day Bonus (3)
+1.5% - 3% Local Content (4)

TYPE OF INCENTIVE

Rebate

PER PROJECT INCENTIVE CAP

10M

MINIMUM SPEND

25k

FUNDING CAP

39.247M
FY 3/31/25 (5)

QUALIFIED LABOR

Up to 150k
Rebate Per Resident

IS LOAN OUT WITHHOLDING/REGISTRATION REQUIRED No / No
SCREEN CREDIT Yes
AUDIT REQUIRED Yes (6)
SUNSET DATE None
ENACTED BILL NUMBER

See Guidelines

(1) Stream II—Service Productions. (2) A regional bonus of 2% is available for shoots where more than 50% of the principal photography is more than 30KM from Halifax City Hall. (3) A shooting day bonus of 1% is available for shoots of more than 30 days in Nova Scotia. (4) A content incentive of 1.5% up to 3% is available for shoots with Nova Scotia Content. (5) Annual funding budget was increased to meet demand. (6) If production costs are: ≤ CAD 250,000 an uncertified Final Production Cost Report supported by a Statutory Declaration is required; > CAD 250,000 but ≤ CAD 500,000 an engagement review is required; > CAD 500,000 an audit is required.
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