Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), which is part of the Atlantic Growth Strategy, is intended to fill labor shortages in the Canadian Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

What exactly is the Atlantic Migration Program?

Since its inception in 2017, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) has welcomed over 10,000 new permanent residents to Atlantic Canada.

Atlantic Canada is made up of four Canadian provinces:

• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island.

Based on the pilot’s success, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program was made permanent on December 17, 2021, and was retitled Atlantic Immigration Program. The new permanent program began on January 1, 2022.

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a type of immigration program in which employers in Canada’s Atlantic province can hire immigrants. This program also allows you to apply for permanent resident status.

Pilot Programs for Atlantic Immigration

The Atlantic Pilot has three programs. It is possible to qualify for all three programs, but you can only apply to one, so choose the best program for your situation. Learn more about these programs by reading on!

International Graduate Program at Atlantic

In general, you should:

• Possess a degree, diploma, or other credential from an Atlantic province’s publicly funded institution
• Have spent at least 16 months in an Atlantic province in the two years preceding your degree, diploma, or credential
• Take a language test to demonstrate language proficiency and demonstrate your ability to support yourself and your family when you come to Canada
• International graduates hired through Atlantic Immigration do not need any prior work experience.

High-Skilled Program in the Atlantic

In general you:

• Should have worked for at least a year in a management, professional, or technical/skilled position
• For highly skilled workers with National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill type level 0, A, or B work experience
• Must possess a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent education
• Able to demonstrate language proficiency, take a language test
• Able to demonstrate your ability to support yourself and your family when you come to Canada

Atlantic Intermediate Skill Development Program

In general, you should:

• Have at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent education
• For intermediate-skilled workers with NOC skill level C work experience obtained either abroad or in Canada.
• Have worked in a job that requires a high school education and/or job-specific training for at least a year
• Take a language test to demonstrate language proficiency and demonstrate your ability to support yourself and your family when you come to Canada

Candidate Prerequisites

To be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, you must be a recent graduate of a publicly funded institute in Atlantic Canada or a skilled worker who meets the program’s eligibility requirements. You must also provide the following documentation:

• Language ability
• Work experience
• Education
• Financial security

Once you’ve accepted a job offer, you must: request a copy of the employer’s Confirmation of Designation, or inform them about the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and request that they consider becoming designated, if they haven’t already.

Atlantic Immigration Program Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Canadian AIP:

Do I need a job offer in Atlantic Canada to be eligible for AIP?

If you match the following qualifying conditions and want to immigrate to Canada through the AIP, the next step is to look for work with a designated employer in Atlantic Canada.

Who are the people who are excluded from the AIP work experience requirement?

If you meet all of the following conditions, you are exempt from the work experience requirement.

You have to be:

• A graduate from another country
• With a degree, certificate, or diploma, for example, that required at least two years of study
• From any of Atlantic Canada’s 24 recognized post-secondary schools,
• For the entire duration, we were a full-time student.

Lived in any of the Atlantic Canada provinces for at least 16 months in the two years preceding graduation, and had the necessary visa or permit while in Canada

Atlantic Immigration Program documentation

The following are the essential documents:

• Passport must be valid.
• Language proficiency test results
• Clearance from the police Proof of Funds Certificate
• Certificate of Medical Fitness
• Evaluation of Educational Credentials (ECA)
• Genuine settlement strategy
• Certificate of Endorsement for Employment
• Payment receipt

Additional Documents:

• Evidence of experience (if needed)
• Marriage certificate (if needed)

Atlantic Immigration Program Application Process

• Obtaining a Settlement Agreement

You must obtain a settlement plan after receiving a job offer.

A settlement strategy will assist you and your family in adjusting to your new life in Atlantic Canada. It will provide you with free resources and contacts to help you feel at ease in your new town.

If you already have a job in Canada, you must engage with a settlement service provider organization in the region where you will be working. Your employer can assist you in finding one.

If you live outside of Canada, you can contact one of several settlement service provider organizations in Canada. Request recommendations from your designated employer.

Give a copy of your settlement plan to your employer and preserve a copy for yourself. If you are not currently in Canada, bring the plan with you when you relocate.

• Obtaining an Endorsement Certificate

Following the approval of your settlement plan, the province must approve your job offer. This will be handled by your employer. There is no need to file your permanent residence application until you receive confirmation from your company that your offer has been accepted.

If the province approves your job offer, you will receive a Certificate of Endorsement in the mail, which you must include with your application for permanent residence.

• AIPP Application for Permanent Residence

If you are interested in permanent residency, you should select the application package for the specific Atlantic program via which you applied:

The application package includes an instruction manual as well as all of the forms you’ll need to complete, including the following Atlantic Immigration Pilot documents:

• Offer of Employment to a Foreign National
• Endorsement Certificate
• Biometrics (if needed)

• Receipt Acknowledgement (AOR)

You will receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt, commonly known as an AOR, once the IRCC has received your PR immigration application. This AOR confirms that your application file was created. You may also be given “AOR date,” which is the start date of your 6-month processing duration.

• Obtaining a Temporary Work Permit

You may be eligible for a one-year work visa if you apply for permanent residency through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. This would allow you to work while your permanent residence application for the employer who made you a job offer is being processed.

To qualify, you must submit your permanent residence application within 90 days of submitting your temporary work permit application.

To be eligible for a temporary work permit, you must have the following:

• A job offer from a recognized employer that fits the program requirements

A referral letter from the Atlantic province where you’ll be working

How long does it take to acquire PR through AIP?

AIP applications are processed around 6 months. After receiving the endorsement certificate, the candidate must file the PR application within six months. Employers who need to fill an immediate job gap can obtain a temporary work visa, allowing the skilled immigrant to come and work right away while the application is being reviewed.

Note: If the Permanent Residency Visa is delayed, the applicant is awarded a one-year Temporary Work Permit (TWP).

What are the different areas that Canadian AIP focuses on?

The different areas the Atlantic Immigration Program focuses on are:

• Climate change
• Infrastructure
• Skilled workforce
• Clean growth
• Innovation
• Investment and trade

Why is a temporary work permit required for AIP Canada?

A temporary work permit allows you to continue working in Canada while your permanent residency application is being reviewed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Under the AIP, the Canadian work permit will be:

• Linked to the AIP
• Good for one year
• You are only permitted to work for the Atlantic Canada employer who made you the job offer.

You must submit your application for Canadian permanent residence within 90 days of submitting your temporary work visa application.

What are AIP Canada’s accredited post-secondary institutions?

The Canadian AIP pathway to Canada PR is recognized by 24 post-secondary institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. These are as follows:

Recognized Post-Secondary Institutions in the Atlantic Immigration Program

What is the minimum age for AIP Canada?

AIP Canada has no specific age requirements. Candidates between the ages of 18 and 35, on the other hand, have a better chance of immigrating to Canada. Because they are deemed ideal for the essential specialized vocations. In addition, individuals under the age of 50 can seek for permanent residency.