🍁 Nova Scotia Fertility Funding: Provincial Options in 2026

Nova Scotia introduced a Fertility and Surrogacy Rebate in 2022, providing a 40 percent rebate on eligible fertility and surrogacy expenses up to a maximum annual rebate of $8,000 per family. Combined with the fact that Halifax hosts Atlantic Canada's primary IVF clinic (Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies, or AART), Nova Scotia has emerged as the most accessible Atlantic Canadian province for fertility care.

In 2026, the rebate continues to operate and is increasingly well-utilized by Nova Scotia families and by Atlantic Canadian patients who travel to Halifax for treatment.

How the Fertility and Surrogacy Rebate Works

The Nova Scotia rebate provides 40 percent back on eligible fertility and surrogacy expenses, up to $20,000 in eligible expenses per year, yielding a maximum annual rebate of $8,000.

Unlike a tax credit claimed on your annual return, the Nova Scotia rebate is applied for separately through a Service Nova Scotia rebate application. You submit receipts and documentation, and the rebate is paid directly.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include:

• IVF cycle costs
• IUI cycle costs
• Fertility medications
• Diagnostic testing related to infertility
• ICSI and other embryology procedures
• Embryo cryopreservation
• Surrogacy-related medical and legal expenses (a notable inclusion many provinces don't have)
• Donor sperm and donor egg costs in some configurations

The surrogacy inclusion is particularly meaningful. While Canadian law requires altruistic surrogacy (no compensation beyond reimbursement), the legal and medical costs of an altruistic surrogacy arrangement can run $30,000–$60,000. The Nova Scotia rebate is one of the few provincial supports that explicitly includes these costs.

Eligibility

To claim:

• You must be a Nova Scotia resident with a valid health card
• Expenses must be incurred at a licensed fertility clinic or in conjunction with a recognized surrogacy arrangement
• The rebate is per family per year (not per patient or per cycle)

LGBTQ+ families, single intended parents, and couples are all eligible.

How to Apply

Application process:

1. Complete fertility treatment or incur eligible surrogacy expenses
2. Gather itemized receipts, clinic invoices, pharmacy receipts, and (for surrogacy) legal invoices
3. Download the Fertility and Surrogacy Rebate application from Service Nova Scotia (https://novascotia.ca)
4. Submit the application with supporting documentation
5. Receive the rebate by direct deposit, typically within 6–8 weeks

Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (AART) — Halifax

AART in Halifax is Atlantic Canada's primary IVF and reproductive endocrinology clinic. The clinic serves patients from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Wait times for new patient intake have varied between 4 and 9 months in recent years.

In-province Nova Scotia patients benefit from local access plus the rebate. Out-of-province Atlantic Canadians traveling to AART can sometimes claim travel-related federal Medical Expense Tax Credit benefits.

Stacking with Federal Credits

The Nova Scotia rebate is paid separately from the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit, but you must reduce your federal claim by the rebate amount (you can't double-count the same dollar). Net of stacking, a typical Nova Scotia IVF cycle (around $15,000–$18,000 CAD all-in) can be reduced by 45–55 percent through combined rebate and federal credit.

What's Next

There has been ongoing advocacy for direct IVF cycle funding (the Ontario/Quebec/BC model) in Nova Scotia. As of mid-2026, the rebate remains the primary mechanism. Watch for provincial budget announcements that may signal expansion.

The Fertility Link Navigator (/navigator) can help you map Atlantic Canada options including AART and the Nova Scotia rebate.

Confirm Before You Claim

Rebate amounts, eligible expense categories, and application processes can change. Always confirm current details with Service Nova Scotia and consult a tax professional for your situation.