Atlantic Immigration Program

Unlocking Opportunities: AIP

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) started as a Pilot program and has now transitioned into a permanent immigration program as it has proven to be major success for the Atlantic region. This program offers permanent residence to Foreign Skilled Workers and International Graduates of Canadian Post-secondary Institutions a pathway for permanent residence who want to settle in the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Prince Edward Island.

Know More About The Atlantic Immigration Program

The AIP helps employers hire qualified candidates for jobs that they haven’t been able to fill locally. It is an employer-driven program that requires the employers to apply for designation with their province – at no cost to the employer – in order to hire a foreign candidate, removing the need to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). If as an employer you have multiple locations in different provinces, you would need to apply for designation in each province.

Once a successful candidate has been identified and a job offer has been made, the employer also needs to help the candidate with a settlement plan and apply for an endorsement approval to the province. If the candidate is a foreign national, the employer needs to get a referral letter from the province which needs to be included in the work permit application by the candidate if the job vacancy needs to be filled urgently. Upon successful endorsement by the province, the candidates can then apply for permanent residency.

Candidate Eligibility Criteria

Have at least 1,560 hours of paid work accumulated over 12 months (volunteering and unpaid internships are not included) in the last 5 years, part-time or full-time hours. Self-employed work does not count towards work experience. The work experience should be match one of NOC (National Occupational Classification) 2021 TEER categories: TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

If you are an International Graduate who completed at least 2 years of full- time studies from a recognized institution from 1 of the 4 participating Atlantic provinces with authorization to study and lived in one of the provinces for 16 months out of 2 years, you do not need to meet the work experience requirement

If you completed your education outside of Canada, you need an Education Credential Assessment which should be less than 5 years old on the day the application is received. The educational requirements are as under:

Job Offer Noc	Education Required
Teer 0 or 1	1 year Canadian Post-Secondary, or equivalent
Teer 2,3, or 4	Canadian High School Diploma, or equivalent

You must meet the minimum language requirements either in English or French based on the NOC of the job offered. The results must be less than 2 years old.

Job Offer Noc	Language Required
Teer 0,1,2 OR 3	CLB/NCLC 5
Teer 4	CLB/NCLC 4

If you are currently working in Canada on a work permit, you do not need to provide proof of settlement funds. For all other applicants, the candidate needs to provide the proof that they will be able to support themselves and their family members. The table below shows the minimum amount you need to Immigrate to Canada as of April 25, 2023.

Number Of Family Members	Funds Required
1	$3,439
2	$4,281
3	$5,263
4	$6,391
5	$7,248
6	$8,175
7	$9,101
If more than 7 people, for each member	$926