Atlantic Immigration Program
Overview
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is an employer-driven pathway for skilled foreign workers and international graduates to obtain permanent residence in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The AIP requires a job offer from a designated employer (an employer specifically approved by the province) and a settlement plan endorsed by a designated settlement service provider. The program operates outside Express Entry and has lower language requirements than the FSW program.
The AIP was made permanent in 2022 after operating as a pilot (AIPP) since 2017. It was designed to address demographic and labour market challenges specific to Atlantic Canada, where population decline and labour shortages have been more acute than in other regions.
Eligibility
Three streams
1. Atlantic High-Skilled Program
- Qualifying work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
- At least 1,560 hours (1 year full-time equivalent) of experience in the 5 years before applying
- Language: CLB 5 in all four abilities (R, W, L, S)
- Education: post-secondary credential, or equivalent assessed by a designated ECA organisation (no minimum level specified)
2. Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
- Qualifying work experience in a TEER 4 occupation (note: unlike Express Entry, TEER 4 is eligible here)
- At least 1,560 hours of experience in the 3 years before applying
- Language: CLB 4 in all four abilities
- Education: completed secondary school (high school diploma)
3. Atlantic International Graduate Program
- Graduated within the past 2 years from a designated public post-secondary institution in an Atlantic province
- Program of study was at least 2 years long (full-time)
- Language: CLB 4 in all four abilities
- No work experience requirement — the degree or diploma is the qualifying factor
Designated employer requirement
A job offer for the AIP must come from a designated employer — an employer that has been approved by the relevant Atlantic provincial government to hire through the AIP. The employer must offer full-time, non-seasonal employment at or above the prevailing wage for the position. Employers must be registered with the province and meet certain criteria (genuine job need, compliance history, etc.).
Settlement plan
Every AIP applicant must work with a designated settlement service provider in the Atlantic province to develop a settlement plan addressing their specific needs. The settlement plan is an unusual requirement that distinguishes the AIP from other programs — it is intended to increase retention rates in Atlantic Canada by ensuring newcomers have a plan for integration.
Selection criteria
Application process
Application process
- Find a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces willing to hire under the AIP
- Receive a qualifying job offer from the designated employer
- Engage a designated settlement service provider and complete a settlement plan
- Obtain the provincial endorsement from the Atlantic province
- Submit a complete permanent residence application to IRCC (application is outside the Express Entry system)
AIP applications are processed outside Express Entry. They do not require a CRS score or ITA. Processing times vary but are generally comparable to other economic class streams.