Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal immigration program designed for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in the Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia). Through this program, employers in Atlantic Canada can recruit foreign skilled workers who want to immigrate to one of the four Atlantic Provinces. 

All principal applicants who come to Canada under this program must have a job offer from a designated employer and be able to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their families when settling in Canada.  A designated employer can hire foreign nationals without obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, designated employers are required to have the job offer endorsed from the province. Once the province endorses the job offer, they’ll send a Certificate of Endorsement to the applicant and the applicant can apply for permanent residence. The applicants may be eligible to apply for a temporary work permit which allows them work while their permanent residence application is being processed.

Requirements for Applicants

Work Experience:

• • You must have a minimum of 1 year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience within the last 5 years in a profession related to the job offer, except for candidates who are international students who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.

Educational Requirements:

• • You must have a one-year Canadian post-secondary educational credential or higher, or the equivalent from outside Canada if you have a job offer at TEER 0 or 1 category;
  • You must have a Canadian high school diploma, or the equivalent from outside Canada if you have a job offer at TEER 2, 3 or 4 category.

Language Requirements:

• • You must meet the minimum language requirements of your job offer when you apply;
    • • CLB / NCLC 5 for job offer in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 category;
      • CLB / NCLC 4 for job offer in TEER 4 category.