Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)

Principal applicant under the pilot program must have a job offer from a designated employer and an individualized settlement plan for themselves and their family.

Once a designated employer finds a candidate who meets their employment needs and the program criteria, that employer will need to first offer them a job. 

Once the candidate has accepted the job, the employer will connect the candidate with a designated settlement service provider organization for a needs assessment and to develop a settlement plan. Employers will also support the long-term integration of the new immigrant and his or her family, if applicable, so they can reach the goals of their settlement plan once they arrive in Canada.

Participating provinces are

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland

Provincial Endorsement

Applicants must be endorsed by an Atlantic province in order for the application to be complete and accepted by IRCC.An endorsement letter is issued by the province to persons who have been endorsed. Applicants should submit a copy of this letter with their application for permanent residence submitted to IRCC.

All endorsements are valid for six months after the date of issuance, and extensions are not permitted under these programs. The application for permanent residence must be submitted before the expiry date of the endorsement letter.

Applicants can submit the application in one of the categories mentioned below according to the eligibility:-

Atlantic High-Skilled Program

Job Offer

The is an employer-driven program, and therefore all applicants are required to obtain a valid job offer.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces;
• for full-time employment for at least one year;
• non-seasonal;
• skilled (i.e. in a managerial, professional, or technical/trades position at skill type 0, A or, B of the National Occupational Classification [NOC]); and
• Supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family.

Work Experience

Applicants to the AHSP must demonstrate that they have obtained work experience for at least one year (1,560 hours total/30 hours per week), non-continuous, full-time or an equal amount in part-time, within the last three years. This work experience must be:

• paid work (i.e. volunteer work, unpaid internships do not count); and
• in a managerial, professional, or technical/trades position (NOC 0, A, or B).

Additional notes on work experience:

• Applicants must have carried out the activities listed in the lead statement of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) description and a substantial number of the main duties.
• Canadian experience must have been obtained while the foreign national was authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident.
• Applicants do not have to be employed at the time they apply.
• Periods of self-employment will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience.
• Work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what the applicant was authorized to do for that period.

Education

Applicants must demonstrate they have one of the following:

• a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree; or
• a completed foreign educational credential.

Language Ability

Applicants to the AHSP must prove language ability of at least fluent basic level in either English or French in order to apply to the program. This is equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.

Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program 

Job Offer

Applicants must demonstrate that they have a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces;
• for full-time, indeterminate employment;
• non-seasonal;
• skilled or intermediate level (i.e. in a managerial, professional, technical/trades, or intermediate position at skill type 0, A, B, or C of the National Occupational Classification [NOC]); and
• Supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family.

Work Experience

Applicants to the AISP must demonstrate that they have obtained work experience for at least one year (1,560 hours total/30 hours per week) within the last three years. This work experience may be non-continuous, full-time or part-time, but must add up to a total of 1,560 hours. This work experience must be:

• in one occupation (work with different employers is permitted);
• paid work (i.e. volunteer work, unpaid internships do not count); and
• in a NOC C level occupation.

• Applicants can include work experience under skill level B obtained while working as a registered nurse (NOC 3012), registered psychiatric nurse (NOC 3012) and licensed practical nurse (NOC 3233). This experience can only be included if the applicant has a job offer as a nurse’s aide (NOC 3413), orderly (NOC 3413), patient services associate (NOC 3413) or home support worker (NOC 4412). 
• Applicants must have carried out the activities listed in the lead statement of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) description and a substantial number of the main duties.
• Canadian experience must have been obtained while the foreign national was authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident.
• Applicants do not have to be employed at the time they apply.
• Periods of self-employment will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience.
• Work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what the applicant was authorized to do for that period.

Education

Applicants to AISP must demonstrate they have one of the following:

• a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree; or
• a completed foreign educational credential.

Language Ability

Applicants to the AISP must prove language ability of at least fluent basic level in either English or French in order to apply to the program. This is equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.

Atlantic International Graduate Program

Job Offer

Applicants must demonstrate that they have a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces;
• for full-time employment for at least one year;
• non-seasonal;
• skilled (i.e. in a managerial, professional, or technical/trades position at skill type 0, A or, B of the National Occupational Classification [NOC]); and
• Supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family.

Education

Applicants must demonstrate that they:

• obtained a degree, diploma, certificate or trade or apprenticeship credential following completion of a post-secondary education program of at least two years from a recognized publicly-funded institution in Atlantic Canada (i.e. in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador);
• were enrolled as a full-time student in Canada for a minimum of two years;
• lived in either Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador for at least 16 months within the 24-month period before their credential was granted; and
• had valid or legal temporary resident status throughout their stay in Canada and had authorization for any work, study or training they engaged in while in Canada.

IRCC states that the educational credential must have been obtained within 24 months of the date on the application for permanent residence.

Language Ability

Applicants to the AIGP must prove language ability of at least fluent basic level in either English or French in order to apply to the program. This is equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.