Atlantic Immigration Program

What is the Atlantic immigration Program? (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program aims to attract more newcomers to the Atlantic Canada region to fulfill the needs of local employers and communities. It enables designated local employers to identify, recruit, and retain global talent, with goals including supporting population growth, developing a skilled workforce, and increasing employment rates in the region. The program has been highly successful for immigrants, employers, and the Atlantic region, granting permanent resident status to thousands each year and contributing to population, labor force, and economic growth.

After welcoming over 10,000 new permanent residents to Atlantic Canada since 2017 and achieving a retention rate exceeding 90 percent, the Atlantic Immigration Program has become permanent.

Initially launched as a pilot program, the Atlantic Immigration Program aims to attract skilled workers with job offers in Atlantic Canada, along with their families, to bolster the region's population, support communities, and enhance economic growth.

Atlantic Immigration Program Overview:

Atlantic Canada comprises Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Applicants with job offers from approved employers can move to these provinces, subject to meeting other criteria. They also need provincial endorsement before applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Applicants with a job offer and a referral letter from an Atlantic province may qualify for a one-year LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permit.

Since 2017, thousands of job offers have been made by participating employers in various sectors, including healthcare, accommodations, food services, and manufacturing. The program's success in matching skilled workers with employers has contributed to a retention rate of over 90 percent, significantly higher than other programs.

Minor adjustments are made as the Atlantic Immigration Program transitions from pilot to permanent status, including clarifying partner roles, enhancing employer support through training, and strengthening program requirements to ensure newcomers can establish themselves successfully.

Employer Designation:

Employers interested in hiring skilled immigrants under the program must apply to the province(s) for designation. Employers with multiple locations need separate designation for each province. They must meet specific requirements, including a commitment to support newcomers and their families as they integrate into Atlantic Canada.

Candidate Requirements:

To qualify for the AIP, you must:

• Have relevant work experience unless you are an international student who graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.
• Meet the educational criteria.
• Meet the language proficiency requirements.
• Demonstrate sufficient settlement funds. Proof of settlement funds is not required if you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit.

You can begin searching for a job with a designated employer in Atlantic Canada if you meet all the above criteria.

Work Experience:

You must have accumulated at least 1,560 hours of work, equivalent to one year of full-time employment at 30 hours per week, within the past five years. Volunteering, unpaid internships, and self-employment are not considered.

To calculate your hours:

• Include paid hours from part-time and full-time jobs.
• Exclude volunteering or unpaid internships.
• Exclude hours from self-employment.
• Include hours worked inside or outside Canada, provided you had authorized temporary residence status, such as a work permit or study permit.
• Include work experience gained during studies, as long as the hours do not exceed the authorized limit.
• Accumulate hours over a minimum period of 12 months.

Your work experience should align with one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories:

• TEER 0 (management positions like restaurant managers or mine managers)
• TEER 1 (professional roles typically requiring a university degree, such as doctors, dentists, or architects)
• TEER 2 (technical jobs and skilled trades requiring at least two years of college or apprenticeship, or roles with supervisory or safety responsibilities like police officers and firefighters)
• TEER 3 (technical jobs and skilled trades requiring less than two years of college or apprenticeship, or more than six months of on-the-job training)
• TEER 4 (intermediate jobs usually requiring high school education and/or several weeks of job-specific training, such as industrial butchers, long-haul truck drivers, or food and beverage servers)

Your work experience must involve tasks outlined in your NOC description and encompass most of the primary duties associated with your NOC.

Ø  International Graduates:

• International students graduating in Canada are exempt from work experience requirements if they:
• Hold a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade/apprenticeship certification from a recognized post-secondary institution in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador, with at least 2 years of studies.
• Were full-time students throughout their studies.
• Had the necessary visa or permit for work, study, or training in Canada.
• Resided in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months in the last 2 years before graduation.

Educational Requirements:

• For NOC categories 0 or 1 job offers, you need a one-year post-secondary educational credential or higher, or its equivalent outside Canada.
• For NOC categories 2, 3, or 4 job offers, you need a Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent outside Canada.
• If you studied outside Canada, you must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm equivalence to Canadian educational standards. The ECA report must be less than 5 years old when IRCC receives your application.

Language Requirements:

• For NOC categories 0 or 1 job offers, a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 is required.
• For NOC categories 2, 3, or 4 job offers, a CLB or NCLC level 4 is required.
• Submit test results from a designated language testing organization to IRCC. Results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.

Settlement Funds:

• No proof of funds is required for applicants already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit.
• Other applicants need to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their family in Canada, depending on family size. The family size includes anyone you support who is not immigrating with you.

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