The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal-provincial permanent residence pathway designed to help employers in Canada's four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador — hire qualified foreign workers and international graduates for positions they have been unable to fill locally. It is an employer-driven program: an applicant cannot self-initiate an AIP application — they must first secure a job offer from an employer that has been designated under the program by the relevant Atlantic province.

The AIP is a permanent residence program — successful applicants receive Canadian permanent residence, not a temporary work permit. For current guidance, refer to the IRCC Atlantic Immigration Program page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and IRPR — the AIP is governed under the economic class provisions
• Federal-provincial agreements between Canada and each of the four Atlantic provinces — setting out the framework for the AIP in each province
• IRCC: Atlantic Immigration Program — canada.ca/atlantic-immigration
• IRCC: Who can apply — canada.ca/atlantic-immigration-eligibility
• IRCC: Guide 0154 — Atlantic Immigration Program — canada.ca/guide-0154

Step 1 — Employer gets designated

Before an employer can offer a job under the AIP, they must first be designated by the relevant Atlantic province. Designation is a status granted by the province (not by IRCC) that confirms the employer meets the requirements to participate in the program. Employers apply for designation through the provincial government. A job offer from a non-designated employer cannot be used for an AIP application. For employer designation information, refer to the provincial government portal for the applicable province.

Step 2 — Candidate meets eligibility requirements

The candidate (the applicant) must meet the following requirements:

• Work experience: At least 1 year of work experience (full-time equivalent) within the 3 years before applying, in an occupation relevant to the job offer. For international graduates, different experience rules may apply — refer to the IRCC eligibility page.
• Education: Meet the educational requirement relevant to the job offer and stream
• Language: Meet minimum language proficiency requirements in English or French (CLB/NCLC — refer to IRCC for current thresholds)
• Settlement funds: Demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their family on arrival in Atlantic Canada

Occupation and job offer requirements — TEER thresholds

The job offer must be in a qualifying occupation under the NOC system:

• TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations: The job offer must be for employment of at least 1 year from the date the candidate becomes a permanent resident
• TEER 4 occupations: The job offer must be for permanent employment — with no set end date

The job offer must be non-seasonal and meet the relevant wage and conditions requirements. An LMIA is not required under the AIP — the designated employer status replaces the LMIA requirement.

Step 3 — Settlement plan

Before the province will issue an endorsement, the applicant must prepare a settlement plan with a designated settlement service provider organisation (SSPO) in the relevant Atlantic province. The settlement plan outlines how the applicant and their family intend to settle in the province — covering housing, language services, community connection, and other settlement needs. The settlement plan is a commitment to settling in Atlantic Canada, not just to working there.

Step 4 — Provincial endorsement

The designated employer submits an endorsement application to the provincial government on behalf of the candidate. If approved, the province issues an endorsement certificate to the applicant. The endorsement certificate is required before the applicant can submit a PR application to IRCC.

Step 5 — Apply for permanent residence to IRCC

With the endorsement certificate, the applicant submits an application for permanent residence to IRCC. The application is processed under the AIP economic class. IRCC assesses the application against the standard admissibility requirements (health, character, identity, and the AIP-specific criteria). For current processing times, refer to the IRCC processing times tool.

Working in Canada while awaiting PR

Candidates can apply for a work permit to come to Canada and work for the designated employer while their PR application is being processed. The work permit is typically tied to the designated employer and the specific position offered.

The AIP is notable for not requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) — the designated employer status substitutes for the LMIA, simplifying the process for Atlantic employers. The program has a strong settlement component — the mandatory settlement plan reflects the policy goal of ensuring that immigrants settle and remain in Atlantic Canada rather than immediately moving to larger urban centres. For current employer designation procedures, settlement service provider listings, and provincial-specific requirements, refer to the provincial government portal for the relevant Atlantic province. For IRCC's current AIP guidance, refer to the IRCC AIP page.