Atlantic Immigration Program

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada who want to work and live in the Atlantic provinces. Candidates applying for this program must be endorsed by a designated employer. The program helps employers to hire qualified candidates for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) has been introduced as a pilot program. Later, it was changed to a permanent program due to its popularity. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador are the provinces participating in the program.

Provincial Endorsement Requirements for Immigrants

An application for the Atlantic Immigration Program requires an endorsement certificate from an Atlantic province. Each province has its own endorsement process. Although the province endorses you, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has the authority to make the final decision. To be safe, ensure your endorsement is valid throughout your application process. Remember, these endorsements are only valid for one year, and they cannot be extended. For details on endorsement procedures and participating employers, visit the websites of the Atlantic provinces mentioned above.

• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

Eligibility Requirements of AIP

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) welcomes skilled immigrants who can contribute to the region’s economic growth. To be eligible for the AIP, candidates must meet specific requirements like, work experience, education, language skills, and financial stability. Let’s explore these areas:

Work Experience:

In the last 5 years, you must have at least one year continuous (1,560 hours) paid work experience in the NOC 2021 TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. When calculating the period of 1 year, it cannot include any breaks in employment like period of unemployment or leaves like sick leave etc.

International graduates who have recently completed a degree, diploma, certificate, trade/apprenticeship, or post-secondary program lasting at least 2 years at a recognised institution in Atlantic canada do not need to meet the work experience requirements if they,

1. Were a full-time student throughout your studies.
2. Lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the last years of your program.
3. had valid temporary resident status throughout your stay in Canada.
4. Held the necessary visa or permit to work, study, or get training in Canada.

Job Offer Requirements

• The job offer must be issued by a designated employer in one of the four provinces in Atlantic Canada
• The job offer must be full-time (30+ hours/week) and it must be consistent and regularly scheduled paid employment throughout the year.
• The job offer must be for at least 1-year duration for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 skill levels. For TEER 4 permanent employment is required.
• The job offer cannot come from a company where you (the applicant) or your spouse is a majority owner.
• The job offer must be at the same skill level as, or higher than, the work experience that qualified for the job.
• For certain healthcare occupations there is no need to have a job offer at the same skill level, or higher, than the qualifying work experience.

NOC Level Match Requirement

Education

• If the job offer is in TEER 0 or 1 , a Canadian one-year post-secondary credential (or equivalent outside Canada ) is required.
• If the job offer is in TEER 2, 3, or 4, a Canadian high school diploma (or equivalent outside Canada) is required.
• If you studied outside of Canada, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm that your studies are equal to or higher than the required level of education for your job offer.
• Your ECA report must be less than 5 years old.

Language Skills

The ability to communicate effectively in English or French is very important. The Canadian English Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) are used to assess language proficiency. And make sure your language test results are from a designated testing organisation. Also, these results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.If your job offer is TEER 4, your employer may provide language training to help you to reach CLB level 5.

• If the job offer is in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job offer: Minimum CLB/NCLC level 5 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• If the job offer is in TEER 4 job offer: Minimum CLB/NCLC level 4 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Financial Stability

You may need to show you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family when you get into Canada. If you are working in Canada with a work permit, you do not need to show proof of funds. The documents you need to submit are.

• Bank statements or bank certification letters.
• Savings balance proof
• A deposit statements.

You must be able to use this money to pay the living costs for you and your family in Canada . The amount of money you need to support your family is set by the size of your family.

Apply for the Permanent Residency

Once you receive the endorsement from the province you can gather other documents and apply for the PR

Documents required to apply for Canada PR

1. Completed application forms
2. Valid passport
3. Birth Certificate
4. Provincial Endorsement certificate
5. Police Clearance certificates
6. Medical certificates (if required)
7. Proof of funds
8. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) (if applicable)
9. Proof of work experience (if required)
10. Marriage certificate (if applicable)
11. Additional documents as requested by IRCC

Gather documents well in advance to avoid processing delays. Ensure all documents are valid and meet the IRCC’s requirements. Also, doublecheck if translations are needed for documents that are not in English or French.

Biometrics (fingerprints and photographs)

As part of the security screening process, you’ll be required to provide your fingerprints and a recent photograph. IRCC will provide instructions on how to submit your biometrics at a designated location.

• You and your dependents (except those who are under 14 years below) may need to submit fingerprints and a photo.
• This can be done at designated Service Canada locations after receiving a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL).

Medical Examination

You and any accompanying family members (if applicable) must undergo a medical exam by a physician approved by IRCC. This exam verifies that you meet the health requirements for immigration to Canada. You’ll receive instructions on how to find a designated medical practitioner (DMP) near you after submitting your permanent resident application.

Application Processing and Decision

Once IRCC receives your complete application with all necessary documents and the fee payment, they will review it thoroughly. Processing time may vary depending on current application volumes and individual circumstances. You can track the status of your application through your online IRCC account.

Temporary Work Permit (optional)

Candidates, those who meet the requirements for permanent residence can also apply for a temporary work permit. The eligible candidates meeting language, education, and work experience requirements can get temporary work permits to start working for your employer while their permanent residence application is being processed. These employer-specific permits are valid for 2 years and are only issued through the AIP program. To get the work permit:

• The employer should request a referral letter from the provincial government during your employer endorsement application.
• The applicant needs to include the referral letter in their application for work permit.