Updated March 2026 · Verified against Invest Nova Scotia guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement
Grant Provincial Active

Invest Nova Scotia — Export Development Program

Invest Nova Scotia
Maximum Funding
Up to $15,000
Open until June 12, 2026
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Invest Nova Scotia — Export Development Program provides Up to $15,000 (50% reimbursement). Reimburses NS businesses up to 50% of export development costs, max $15,000/year. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Open until June 12, 2026. (As of March 2026, verified against Invest Nova Scotia program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Reimburses NS businesses up to 50% of export development costs, max $15,000/year. Stream 1: trade shows, missions, conferences. Stream 2: consultants for market research, branding. Non-competitive, first-come first-served.

Eligibility Requirements

  • NS registered business in good standing
  • Permanent establishment and majority workforce in NS
  • Fully developed exportable product, service, or technology
  • Written business plan with export strategy
  • One application per business per fiscal year
Provinces
Nova Scotia
Industries
All
Business Stage
Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
Est. Hours
6h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $15,000 (50% reimbursement)
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Open until June 12, 2026

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Low
Effort
~6 hours
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Invest Nova Scotia — Export Development Pr... — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
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Applying for Invest Nova Scotia — Export Development Program? Our Business Plan Template ($29) is the Canadian-format business plan reviewers and lenders are used to seeing. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Apply as early as possible — intake closes when funding exhausted. First-time applicants need a Customer Number from a Regional Business Development Advisor first. Both streams stackable up to $15K combined cap.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Success Profile

Established NS business with developed product ready for export, pursuing specific international market opportunity.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Non-competitive, eligibility-based. Approved if: NS-registered business in good standing, permanent NS establishment, majority NS workforce, fully developed exportable product/service/IP, written business plan with export strategy, no outstanding claims or litigation, and no default on provincial obligations. Both streams can be used up to a combined $15,000 cap.

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Don’t waste 6 hours on a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 7 steps 4 docs

Application Steps

1 First-time applicants contact a Regional Business Development Advisor at Invest Nova Scotia to obtain a Customer Number
2 Download current program Guidelines and FAQ from investnovascotia.ca
3 Complete identity verification enter Customer Number and email verification code
4 Submit Stream 1 or Stream 2 online application form before project activity starts
5 Receive approval confirmation from Invest Nova Scotia
6 Complete approved export activities within the approved period
7 Submit claim form with supporting receipts to receive reimbursement

Required Documents 4

✓ Online application
✓ Customer Number from Regional Advisor
✓ Business plan with export strategy
✓ Receipts post-completion

Eligible Expenses 8

  • Stream 1: Travel to markets outside Nova Scotia to visit clients, partners, suppliers, or investors
  • Stream 1: Participation in government-organized trade missions
  • Stream 1: Trade show and conference attendance
  • Stream 1: Hosting first-time visits from international clients, partners, suppliers, or investors at NS facilities
  • Stream 2: Expert consulting services for market research
  • Stream 2: Business matchmaking services
  • Stream 2: Company rebranding for export markets
  • Stream 2: Promotional materials development for international markets

Ineligible Expenses 4

  • Businesses in default on other provincial financial assistance obligations
  • Costs not tied to a specific exportable product, service, or technology
  • Applications submitted after intake closes
  • Any costs not listed under eligible expenses in program guidelines

Intake Periods

Current intake (FY 2026-27): open until June 12, 2026 for projects completed April 1 – June 30, 2026. July–March window details announced separately. Apply early — intake closes when funding is subscribed.

Deadline Notes

Current intake open until June 12, 2026. Closes when funding subscribed — apply early.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Businesses not registered in Nova Scotia
  • Businesses without permanent NS establishment
  • Businesses with outstanding claims, litigation, or judgments
  • Businesses in default on other Invest Nova Scotia or provincial programs
  • Multiple businesses under common ownership seeking duplicate funding
Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 3 partners

Compatible Programs

CanExport SMEs ACOA — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) — Trade Market Export Development Program (MEDP)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 3 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
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How Invest Nova Scotia — Export Development Pr... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Invest Nova Scotia — Export Developme... Up to $15,000 (50% reimbursement) Easy Reimbursement Open until June 12, 2026
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Next deadline: May 29,...
Ocean Supercluster Up to $5 million Hard Reimbursement Call-specific — no open...
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... Varies Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
Business Development Program (BDP) - ... Varies (Repayable Contribution) Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

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Up to $50 million · Federal
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Black Entrepreneurship Program

Up to $250,000 · Federal
 Grant

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

Up to $1M typical (avg ~$94K) · $10M ceiling for major... · Federal

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Invest Nova Scotia — Export Development Pr...

Free
Can I apply if I'm a sole proprietor?
Yes, as long as you're NS-registered with a permanent establishment in NS and have a fully developed exportable product/service. Sole proprietors must provide a business plan with export strategy.
What's the typical award amount?
Most awards are $5,000-$15,000, but the program is first-come-first-served — early applications get priority before funding runs out.
Do I need to pay upfront for trade shows?
Yes, reimbursement requires you to pay costs upfront. You'll need receipts and a business plan showing export strategy to claim back 50% of eligible expenses.
Can I stack this with CanExport?
Yes, CanExport SMEs covers up to $75K for international market development — stack it with Invest NS for the same market to maximize funding.
Why do applications get rejected?
Common reasons: not NS-registered, no exportable product, missing export strategy, or applying after intake closes (funding runs out quickly).

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