CANADA

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a Canadian permanent residence pathway for eligible skilled workers and international graduates who want to live and work in Atlantic Canada. The program covers four provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

AIP is an employer-driven immigration program. Eligible candidates generally need a qualifying job offer from a designated employer, along with the required work experience or applicable international graduate exemption, education, language ability and settlement requirements. The process also involves a settlement plan and provincial endorsement before the permanent residence application is submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

AIP can be relevant to both candidates outside Canada and eligible temporary residents already in Canada. However, meeting one requirement alone does not guarantee eligibility. Each applicant’s complete profile must be assessed against the current AIP requirements.

1. What Is the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The Atlantic Immigration Program is an economic immigration pathway created to help participating Atlantic provinces address labour-market needs by attracting eligible international workers and supporting their settlement in the region.

The program connects an eligible candidate with a designated employer in Atlantic Canada. Instead of relying only on a candidate’s personal immigration profile, AIP involves the employer, the province, a settlement service provider and IRCC at different stages of the process.

For an applicant, this means that obtaining a qualifying job offer is an important first step, but it is not the only requirement. The candidate must also satisfy the applicable immigration, settlement and admissibility requirements before permanent residence can be approved.

2. Which Provinces Are Covered Under AIP?

The Atlantic Immigration Program covers four Canadian provinces:

New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island

The program is specifically designed for employment and settlement in these Atlantic provinces. A job offer from an employer located in another Canadian province does not qualify as an AIP job offer.

Applicants should also understand that the province and employer involved in the application must follow the AIP process. Simply finding employment in Atlantic Canada does not automatically make a person eligible for the program.

3. Who Can Apply Through AIP?

AIP is intended for eligible skilled workers and certain international graduates who have a qualifying job offer from a designated Atlantic employer.

Most skilled-worker applicants need qualifying work experience. They must also meet the applicable education, language and settlement-fund requirements. Certain eligible international graduates from recognized post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada may qualify for an exemption from the normal work-experience requirement.

Eligibility therefore depends on the complete profile. A job offer, Canadian work experience, Canadian education or a particular language score by itself does not guarantee that an applicant qualifies for AIP.

4. Is a Job Offer Required for AIP?

Yes. A qualifying job offer from a designated employer is a fundamental part of the Atlantic Immigration Program.

The employer must be designated by the relevant Atlantic province, and the particular job offer must satisfy the AIP requirements. These requirements include conditions related to the occupation, TEER category, hours of work, duration and whether the position is seasonal.

Applicants should verify both the employer’s designation and the eligibility of the specific job offer before relying on it for an AIP application.

5. What Is an AIP Designated Employer?

A designated employer is an employer that has been approved by an Atlantic province to participate in the Atlantic Immigration Program.

Not every company operating in Atlantic Canada is automatically a designated employer. An employer must go through the applicable provincial designation process before it can participate in AIP.

A designated employer also has responsibilities during the AIP process. The employer must provide a qualifying job offer and participate in the endorsement process required by the province.

For applicants, confirming the employer’s designation is therefore an important step before proceeding with an AIP strategy.

6. What Are the AIP Job Offer Requirements?

The AIP job offer must meet specific program requirements. The position must generally be full-time, which means at least 30 paid hours per week, and it must be non-seasonal.

For TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 positions, the job offer must generally be for at least one year from the date the candidate becomes a permanent resident. For a TEER 4 position, the employment must generally be permanent, with no specified end date.

The job offer must also satisfy the applicable relationship between the job’s TEER category and the candidate’s qualifying work experience. Eligible international graduates are subject to specific provisions under the program.

Because job-offer requirements can be technical, applicants should assess the actual position and duties rather than relying only on the job title.

7. What Is the AIP Work Experience Requirement?

Most applicants applying as skilled workers need qualifying work experience. The current AIP requirement is generally at least 1,560 hours of related work experience in the previous five years.

The required experience must have been accumulated over a period of at least one year. It must be paid employment and must satisfy the program’s requirements concerning the occupation and duties.

Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count as qualifying work experience. Self-employed work is also not eligible as AIP work experience.

Where Canadian work experience is being used, the applicant must have been legally authorized to work in Canada.

Applicants should retain employment evidence such as reference letters, employment contracts and other supporting records because IRCC may require proof that the claimed experience meets the program requirements.

8. How Does NOC and TEER Affect AIP Eligibility?

Canada uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to classify occupations. The system also assigns occupations to different TEER categories based on training, education, experience and responsibilities.

For AIP, the NOC and TEER category of the job offer are important because they can affect the applicable language, education, work-experience and job-offer requirements.

Applicants should select the NOC that accurately reflects their actual employment duties. Choosing a NOC simply because its job title looks similar can create problems if the applicant’s actual duties do not correspond to the occupation.

The applicant’s previous work experience and the new AIP job offer must also satisfy the applicable program rules regarding the relationship between their TEER categories.

9. Can International Graduates Apply Without Work Experience?

Certain international graduates can qualify for an exemption from the normal work-experience requirement under AIP.

This exemption is not available to every international student or every graduate in Canada. It has specific requirements concerning the educational credential, the institution, the location of study, the duration and nature of the studies, and the applicant’s residence in an Atlantic province.

In general, eligible graduates must have completed a qualifying program at a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada and must satisfy the specific conditions established by IRCC.

Therefore, graduating from a Canadian college or university does not automatically remove the AIP work-experience requirement. The applicant’s complete study history and other eligibility factors must be reviewed.

10. What Are the Language Requirements for AIP?

Applicants must demonstrate their ability in English or French through an approved language test.

The minimum language level depends on the TEER category of the offered job. Currently, applicants need at least:

CLB 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 jobs
CLB 4 for TEER 4 jobs

The required level must be met in the applicable language abilities. Applicants should also make sure that their test results are valid when submitting their application.

A higher language score is not automatically required simply because someone wants to apply through AIP, but the applicant must meet the minimum level applicable to the offered position.

11. Which Language Tests Are Accepted for AIP?

For English, the currently accepted tests for AIP include:

IELTS General Training
CELPIP-General
PTE Core

For French, applicants can use:

TEF Canada
TCF Canada

Applicants should use the correct test version and verify the current IRCC requirements before booking a language test.

Language-test results must also satisfy IRCC’s validity requirements. Applicants should not rely on an old test result simply because it once met the required language level.

12. What Are the AIP Education Requirements?

The required education level depends on the TEER category of the job offer.

For a TEER 0 or TEER 1 position, the applicant generally needs a Canadian one-year post-secondary educational credential or higher, or an equivalent foreign credential.

For a TEER 2, TEER 3 or TEER 4 position, the applicant generally needs a Canadian high school diploma or higher, or an equivalent foreign credential.

Some occupations may have additional regulatory or educational requirements. Meeting the general education requirement does not automatically mean that the applicant is qualified to perform a regulated occupation.

13. Is an Educational Credential Assessment Required?

Applicants who completed their education outside Canada may need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to demonstrate the Canadian equivalency of their foreign education.

The ECA must be issued by an organization designated by IRCC for immigration purposes and must meet the applicable requirements.

An ECA establishes educational equivalency; it does not by itself establish AIP eligibility. The applicant must still meet the other requirements, including the qualifying job offer, language requirements and applicable work-experience or international-graduate requirements.

Applicants should therefore avoid treating an ECA as approval of their AIP application.

14. What Is the AIP Settlement Plan?

The settlement plan is an important part of the Atlantic Immigration Program. After receiving a qualifying job offer, the candidate and accompanying family members work with a designated settlement service provider organization.

The settlement service provider helps assess the settlement needs of the candidate and family and prepares a personalized settlement plan.

The plan is intended to help the applicant prepare for life in the Atlantic community where they will live and work. It can also connect the family with available settlement services and resources.

The settlement plan is separate from provincial endorsement and is one of the required stages before the employer proceeds with the endorsement application.

15. What Is Provincial Endorsement?

Provincial endorsement is another major stage of the AIP process.

After the candidate has the qualifying job offer and settlement plan, the designated employer submits the endorsement application to the relevant Atlantic province.

The province assesses the candidate and job offer according to the applicable AIP requirements. If approved, the candidate receives a Certificate of Endorsement.

The endorsement certificate is required for the permanent residence application. However, provincial endorsement does not mean that IRCC has already approved permanent residence. IRCC must still assess the permanent residence application and the applicant’s admissibility.

16. Is LMIA Required for AIP?

AIP has its own employer designation and provincial endorsement process. The AIP temporary work permit is processed under an LMIA-exempt category associated with the Atlantic Immigration Program.

This does not mean that every job in Atlantic Canada can be used for AIP. The employer must be designated, and the job offer must meet the specific requirements of the program.

Applicants should therefore be cautious about any person or company offering an “AIP job” without clearly establishing that the employer is designated and that the particular position qualifies under the program.

AIP should not be confused with a regular LMIA-based work permit or immigration pathway.

17. How Much Settlement Funds Are Required for AIP?

Applicants generally need to demonstrate that they have enough money to support themselves and their family after arriving in Canada.

The required amount depends on the size of the family and the current IRCC settlement-fund requirements. Because these amounts can change, applicants should always check the current IRCC table before submitting an application instead of relying on an old amount published online.

There is an important exception: a candidate who is already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit does not need to provide proof of settlement funds for AIP.

Family size is calculated according to IRCC’s rules and can include family members who are not accompanying the applicant.

18. Can You Apply From Outside Canada and Get an AIP Work Permit?

Yes. Eligible candidates can apply through AIP from outside Canada or, where applicable, from inside Canada.

An eligible AIP candidate may also apply for an optional temporary work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed. The current AIP temporary work permit can be issued for up to 2 years and is employer-specific.

This means the work permit is connected to the employer associated with the AIP job offer. A provincial referral letter is also required for this temporary work-permit process.

The temporary work permit is not a guarantee of permanent residence. The applicant must still meet the requirements for the permanent residence application, and IRCC makes the final decision.

19. Can a Spouse and Children Accompany the Applicant?

Eligible family members can be included in the permanent residence application according to Canadian immigration rules.

The principal applicant must provide complete and accurate information about their spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. Family information is important throughout the application process and can also affect the settlement-fund calculation when proof of funds is required.

There are also provisions under the AIP temporary work-permit process for eligible spouses or common-law partners to apply for an open work permit. Eligibility is subject to the applicable IRCC requirements and should not be assumed to be automatic in every family situation.

Applicants should also ensure that children’s eligibility is assessed according to the current Canadian definition of a dependent child.

20. What Is the Complete AIP PR Process?

The Atlantic Immigration Program involves several stages, and each stage should be completed correctly.

Step 1: Obtain a qualifying job offer

The candidate needs a qualifying job offer from an employer that is designated under the AIP.

Step 2: Confirm eligibility

The candidate must meet the applicable requirements for work experience or the international graduate exemption, education and language ability.

Step 3: Complete the settlement plan

The candidate and accompanying family members work with a designated settlement service provider to prepare the required settlement plan.

Step 4: Employer applies for endorsement

The designated employer submits the endorsement application to the relevant Atlantic province.

Step 5: Receive provincial endorsement

If the province approves the application, the candidate receives a Certificate of Endorsement.

Step 6: Apply for permanent residence

The candidate submits the permanent residence application to IRCC with the required documents and endorsement certificate.

Step 7: Complete additional requirements

Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, IRCC may require biometrics, medical examinations, police certificates or additional information.

Step 8: Wait for the PR decision

IRCC assesses the application and makes the final decision on permanent residence.

An eligible candidate may also have the option of applying for an AIP temporary work permit while the PR application is being processed.

21. Why Consider PR Through AIP?

The Atlantic Immigration Program can be an option for eligible skilled workers and international graduates who have a qualifying employment opportunity with a designated employer in Atlantic Canada.

One of the important differences between AIP and Express Entry is that AIP does not use the Express Entry CRS ranking system. Instead, AIP follows its own eligibility requirements involving the designated employer, job offer, work experience or applicable graduate exemption, education, language ability, settlement plan and provincial endorsement.

However, AIP should not be described as an automatic or guaranteed route to permanent residence. Every applicant must meet the applicable requirements, and IRCC makes the final decision on the permanent residence application.

22. Start Your Canada PR Journey Through AIP

If you are considering PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program, it is important to assess your complete profile before proceeding. Your job offer, employer designation, occupation and NOC/TEER, work experience, education, language results, settlement funds and family circumstances can all affect your eligibility.

Globexa Immigration can help you understand the AIP requirements and assess whether this pathway may be suitable for your Canadian permanent residence plans.

Canadian immigration rules can change. Applicants should always verify the requirements applicable at the time of application through the official Government of Canada and IRCC sources.