The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is an immigration route designed for skilled workers who are looking to settle in one of the four provinces in Atlantic Canada:
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island (PEI)
The AIP is driven by employers, meaning that in order to qualify, a foreign national must secure a job offer from a designated employer in one of these Atlantic provinces.
Key Advantages of the AIP
Compared to other Canadian immigration programs, the Atlantic Immigration Program offers several benefits for individuals planning to settle in Atlantic Canada:
- Faster processing times
- The ability to work legally in Canada while applying for permanent residency (PR)
- Work permits that do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- Personalized settlement assistance
Faster Processing Times
The AIP is highly sought after in Atlantic Canada because it provides eligible candidates with a streamlined process to work in Canada and apply for permanent residency simultaneously. The current processing time for PR applications through AIP is around eight months—faster than many other PR options.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permits
Candidates who want to begin working before their permanent residency is finalized can apply for a temporary work permit. This work permit does not require an LMIA.
To qualify for this work permit, a candidate needs:
- A valid job offer from a designated employer
- A referral letter from the Atlantic province where they will be employed
The work permit is valid for up to two years and is job-specific, meaning the candidate can only work for the employer that provided the job offer. However, receiving this work permit does not guarantee approval of the PR application.
Personalized Settlement Support
A key feature of the AIP is its emphasis on helping newcomers integrate into their new province. Employers must work with settlement agencies to create a personalized settlement plan for the new hires, offering them tailored guidance and support to better adjust to life in their new communities.
Who Can Apply?
Each Atlantic province processes a limited number of applications annually based on regional labor market needs. Applicants can either be inside or outside Canada but must meet the eligibility requirements.
In addition to having a job offer from a designated employer, candidates must either be:
- A skilled worker (with experience either within or outside Canada), or
- A recent graduate from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
Skilled Worker Eligibility for AIP:
Skilled workers are eligible for the AIP if they have:
- At least 1,560 hours of work experience within the last five years, which equates to roughly 30 hours per week for one year.
- Work experience that falls under National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021’s TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Recent Graduate Eligibility for AIP:
International graduates qualify for the AIP if they:
- Have earned a credential from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the Atlantic provinces, after completing at least two years of study
- Were full-time students for the duration of their program
- Lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the last two years before graduation
- Held legal status to study, work, or train while in Canada.
Additional Criteria for AIP
In addition to the above, there may be other criteria that candidates must fulfill to be eligible for the program, based on the specific needs of the province or employer.
Educational Requirements
Education requirements vary depending on the NOC TEER of the candidate’s job offer:
| NOC TEER | Education requirements |
| 0 or 1 | One-year Canadian post-secondary educational credential or higher, or the equivalent from outside Canada |
| 2, 3, or 4 | Canadian high school diploma, or the equivalent from outside Canada |
All foreign degrees must undergo an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for recognition in Canada. The ECA report must be no older than five years when IRCC receives the application.
Language Requirements
Candidates are required to prove their language proficiency, which varies depending on the NOC TEER classification of their job offer.
| NOC TEER | Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) |
| 0, 1, 2, or 3 | CLB 5 |
| 4 | CLB 4 |
The language test results must be less than two years old from the date of application.
Settlement Funds
Applicants need to prove that they have money to support themselves and their family in Canada. The amount of money needed depends on the size of the family.
| Number of family members | Funds needed (in CAD) |
| 1 | $3,672 |
| 2 | $4,572 |
| 3 | $5,620 |
| 4 | $6.824 |
| 5 | $7,740 |
| 6 | $8,729 |
| 7 | $9,718 |
| If more than 7, add this amount for every additional family member | $989 |
What is the difference between the AIP and Provincial Nominee Programs?
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enables Canadian provinces to select and nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and plan to settle in a specific province.
With over 80 distinct provincial immigration streams, many PNPs differ from the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) in that they often don’t require candidates to have a job offer or prior Canadian work or study experience to qualify for a nomination.
The PNP typically involves a two-step process for obtaining permanent residency. First, candidates must secure a provincial nomination, then submit an application to the federal government for permanent residency.
Due to the additional steps and generally longer processing times, PNP applications may take longer to obtain PR status compared to AIP applications.
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Provincial Nominee Program | |
| Valid for | New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | All provinces except for Nunavut and Quebec |
| Need a job offer | Yes, from designated employer | Not necessary, depending on the PNP stream |
| Pathway to PR | One-step process. Eligible candidates can directly apply for PR | Two-step process. Candidates must first be nominated by the province, then invited to apply to the federal government. |
| Processing time until PR | 8 months (as of October 2024) | Varies according to province and stream. Approximate time for enhanced nominations: 8-12 months Approximate time for base nominations: 12-24 months |
| Settlement funds | Needed, but significantly lesser than proof of funds needed for Express Entry | Not all PNP streams require settlement funds. When needed, Express Entry minimum proof of funds is significantly higher than AIP settlement funds needed |
| Settlement support | AIP requires a settlement plan to help candidates, and their families integrate better | Most PNPs does not require a settlement plan |
Processing times are not guaranteed. Expected processing times can fluctuate based on application demand, and times can vary significantly among individual applications.
How can I apply for the AIP?
To be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), you must first secure a job offer from a designated employer in one of the Atlantic provinces. The job offer must meet specific conditions, including being:
- Full-time (not part-time or seasonal).
- For jobs under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, the offer must be valid for at least one year after you become a permanent resident.
- For NOC TEER 4, the offer must be permanent, meaning it has no specified end date.
The next step is to gather the necessary documents, which include:
- A valid language test;
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your education was completed outside of Canada; and
- Proof of financial support.
Following this, you can collaborate with a settlement agency to create a settlement plan, which is free and can be done whether you’re currently in Canada or abroad. Your designated employer may assist you in finding a settlement agency.
You’ll also need a Certificate of Endorsement, which your employer will apply for on your behalf.
Once your job offer has been endorsed by the province, you can proceed to apply for permanent residency. This process involves submitting an online application, filling out forms, uploading required documents and photographs, paying applicable fees, and providing biometrics in most cases.
What is a Designated Employer?
Designated employers are approved by provincial governments in Atlantic Canada to hire foreign workers under the AIP. These employers must meet specific standards, including adhering to employment regulations and health and safety laws. They must also have been operating continuously under the same management in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least two years, or in another location with provincial approval.
Becoming a designated employer does not incur any additional costs.
Demand for the AIP
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in immigrants choosing to settle in Atlantic Canada. According to the Atlantic Economic Council’s Atlantic Immigration Tracker, the region saw record immigration levels in 2023, with 32,000 new arrivals compared to just 5,800 in 2013.
“For the first time, the three Maritime provinces are attracting immigrants proportionate to their share of Canada’s population,” noted Patrick Brannon, a senior researcher with the council.
With the rising popularity of the Atlantic provinces among newcomers, some provinces have temporarily paused the program to better align with shifting labor market demands. For instance, New Brunswick announced on September 18 that it had reached its allocation for 2024 and would no longer accept new endorsement applications for the remainder of the year. The program is expected to reopen in New Brunswick in early 2025.
Similarly, Nova Scotia has implemented an indefinite pause on immigration applications for food service supervisor positions (NOC 62020).