Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) - A pathway to PR in Canada
What is Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal initiative designed to attract skilled overseas workers and international graduates seeking permanent residence in any of the four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Additionally, the program supports local employers in these regions by enabling them to recruit qualified international candidates for positions that cannot be filled by the local workforce.
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The Canadian government initiated the Atlantic Immigration Program as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot in the year 2017
Initially operating as a pilot program, it continued until the end of 2021, and on December 17, 2021, it was officially established as a permanent initiative
Eligibility Criteria for Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Must meet the following criteria:
- Hours of employment – You must have accumulated at least 1,560 hours of work over the past five years, which is approximately equivalent to one year of work at 30 hours per week. This requirement can be met through both full-time and part-time employment, and includes hours worked during periods of study.
- Occupation Classification – Your employment experience needs to be classified within TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. Additionally, the tasks and responsibilities you’ve undertaken should match the job descriptions specified for your respective NOC category.
- You must have completed a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certification that requires at least two years of study and is from one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador).
- You should have been a full-time student throughout your study program.
- You should have lived in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, or Newfoundland and Labrador for at least 16 months in the last two years before graduation.
- You must maintain legal status in Canada with a valid study or work visa or permit.
- Individuals who have secured a job offer in a profession categorized as TEER 0 or 1 according to the NOC 2021 framework are required to possess at least a post-secondary educational credential of one year or more.
or - Individuals with a job offer in roles classified under TEER categories 2, 3, or 4 need to have either a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent educational level from another country.
For those who have obtained their educational credentials outside of Canada, it’s necessary to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
- CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4
- You must have adequate financial resources to sustain yourself and your family members upon your arrival in Canada for the initial period.
- Individuals currently employed in Canada and holding a valid work permit are not required to demonstrate proof of financial support.
Must meet the following criteria:
- Hours of employment - You must have accumulated at least 1,560 hours of work over the past five years, which is approximately equivalent to one year of work at 30 hours per week. This requirement can be met through both full-time and part-time employment, and includes hours worked during periods of study.
- Occupation Classification - Your employment experience needs to be classified within TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. Additionally, the tasks and responsibilities you've undertaken should match the job descriptions specified for your respective NOC category.
- You must have completed a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certification that requires at least two years of study and is from one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador).
- You should have been a full-time student throughout your study program.
- You should have lived in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, or Newfoundland and Labrador for at least 16 months in the last two years before graduation.
- You must maintain legal status in Canada with a valid study or work visa or permit.
- Individuals who have secured a job offer in a profession categorized as TEER 0 or 1 according to the NOC 2021 framework are required to possess at least a post-secondary educational credential of one year or more.
or - Individuals with a job offer in roles classified under TEER categories 2, 3, or 4 need to have either a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent educational level from another country.
For those who have obtained their educational credentials outside of Canada, it’s necessary to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
- CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4
- You must have adequate financial resources to sustain yourself and your family members upon your arrival in Canada for the initial period.
- Individuals currently employed in Canada and holding a valid work permit are not required to demonstrate proof of financial support.
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Eligibility Criteria for Job Offers under Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
To initiate your application for the Atlantic Immigration Program, securing a job offer from a designated employer within one of the four Atlantic provinces is essential. The official provincial websites provide lists of employers authorized to participate in the program and current job vacancies. To be eligible for the AIP, your job offer must meet the following criteria:
- The position must be full-time, entailing at least 30 hours of paid work weekly.
- It should offer year-round employment, avoiding seasonal fluctuations in work availability.
- For job offers classified under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC), the position must extend for a minimum of one year post-obtaining permanent residency.
- Offers within the NOC TEER 4 category should indicate permanent employment without an explicit termination date.
- The offer should not originate from a business where either you or your spouse is a majority shareholder.
- The role should be equivalent to or exceed the skill level of your previous work experience, though exceptions may apply, particularly for international graduates and certain roles in healthcare.
- Upon receiving a job offer from a recognized Atlantic employer, expect to sign an Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Form. Keep a copy of this form, as it's required for your permanent residency (PR) application, along with the employer’s Confirmation of Designation document.
Remember: It’s crucial that your job offer complies with these specific conditions to be considered valid under the AIP for PR in the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Stay informed about any updates or modifications to the program’s criteria, as immigration regulations are subject to change
Atlantic Immigration Program Questions
The participating provinces are Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
You must have adequate financial resources to sustain yourself and your family members upon your arrival in Canada for the initial period.
Individuals currently employed in Canada and holding a valid work permit are not required to demonstrate proof of financial support.
The job offer must come from an employer in one of the Atlantic provinces and meet specific criteria. It should be full-time, non-seasonal, genuine, and adhere to additional guidelines.
Recent international graduates from eligible post-secondary institutions in the Atlantic provinces, who have a job offer in an NOC Skill Type 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 occupation, are eligible to apply for this program.
Each Atlantic province has its own application process for employer designation, and there is no cost involved. You can find the application forms on the respective province's website:
Below are the links of designated employers for each province: