Atlantic Immigration Program

The eligible provinces are:

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

Candidates must have at least 1560 hours of qualifying work experience in the five years before applying. The work experience must be paid; it cannot be volunteer, self-employed, or an unpaid internship.

Candidates can add hours in different part-time and full-time positions inside and outside Canada. If counting work hours in Canada, candidates must have been legally authorized to do so with a temporary work permit.

Eligible applicants must have a valid job offer from a participating employer and fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A, B, or C.

Official language requirements vary depending on which occupation category the applicant’s job falls under.

For NOC 0, A, and B occupations, candidates must meet Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) level 5 in all four categories (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).

For NOC C occupations, candidates must meet CLB or NCLC level 4 in all four categories.

Proof of language ability will be required when submitting your application.  Evidence must be obtained from a designated language testing organization and be under two years old.

One of the main requirements is that applicants must prove that they have access to settlement funds, which are funds that will help them cover the costs of living in their new province.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have enough money to support themselves, any family members who come with them to Canada, and any family members they support who aren’t immigrating to Canada.

Candidates living and working in Canada under a valid work permit do not need to provide proof of settlement funds.

Settlement Plan

A settlement plan is a package that helps immigrants settle and adjust to a new life in Atlantic Canada. The program assists with finding resources and contacts and integrating into the local community.

The settlement plan is free to obtain at a settlement service provider organization and is available to all immigrants, regardless of their country of origin or education level.

Certificate of Endorsement

To be eligible for the program, applicants must obtain an employer position endorsement (Certificate of Endorsement) from the province in which they’ll be living and working. This is usually handled by the employer that makes the job offer.

Once the job offer is endorsed, applicants can apply for permanent residency.

If the applicant is looking to work in Canada while their AIP permanent residency application is being processed, they may be able to apply for a temporary work permit.

Applicants must meet education, language, and work experience requirements to qualify. They need a job offer from a designated employer and a work permit referral letter from the Atlantic province where they will be working.

This work permit only applies to the Atlantic Immigration Program, is valid for one year, and the applicant can only work for the employer that has made the job offer.

The application for permanent residency needs to be sent within 90 days of applying for a temporary work permit.

To apply for permanent residency, foreign workers must submit an online application through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

The Foreign Worker Immigration Application consists of the following forms:

• Application form
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (if applicable)
• Background Declaration
• Economic Classes – AIP Program
• Supplementary Information (your travels)
• Declaration of Minors (if applicable)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (if applicable)
• Use of a Representative (if applicable)

The application must include supporting documents, such as proof of identity, an employment offer letter, and educational transcripts.

When applying for the Atlantic Immigration Program, there are a few key documents you will need to submit.

• Valid passport
• Two recent photos
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Job offer
• Certificate of Endorsement
• Proof of language proficiency
• Proof of education
• Proof of residence or intent to live in the selected province
• Proof of previous work experience
• Proof of funds
• Proof of temporary work permit (if already in Canada)
• Student visa (for international students)
• Accompanying family information
• Police certificate
• Proof of payment

If you have all of these documents ready, you can begin the application process for the Atlantic Immigration Program.

There is a processing fee of $1,365 for the principal applicant, $1365 for the spouse, and an additional $230 for each child.

Applicants may also have to pay an $85 ($270 for a family of 2 or more) biometrics fee if requested.

The processing time for AIP applications is typically 12 months.

If successful, applicants will receive a confirmation of Canadian permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. You’ll be sent a visa if your country requires one.

If in Canada, you might have to attend an interview to make sure you meet the requirements, and your documents are valid.

If outside of Canada, the Border Services Officer will check your documents and your admissibility when entering Canada.