Canada's East Coast: Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

As a country of immigrants, Canada offers various pathways for economic immigration. For candidates interested in Canada's East Coast, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) stands out as a unique and promising route for skilled workers and international graduates aspiring to make their mark in the four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Navigating the complexities of Canadian immigration can be daunting. Read on for a comprehensive guide to the AIP, drawing directly from the official information provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to help you determine if this program is the right fit for your Canadian dream.


What is the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The AIP is an employer-driven program designed to attract skilled foreign workers and international graduates to meet the specific labour market needs of the Atlantic region. It provides a pathway to permanent residence for eligible candidates who have a job offer from a designated employer in one of the four participating provinces. Unlike the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), it is a federal program and direct pathway to permanent resident status in Canada. With its limitation to designated employers in select provinces, it is similar to the Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilots.


Who Can Apply? Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program, applicants generally need to meet the following criteria:

  • Job Offer from a Designated Employer
You must have a valid, full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces. Designated employers are required to connect candidates with settlement service provider organizations. These organizations help newcomers and their families with personalized settlement plans to address their needs upon arrival, facilitating integration into their new community and workplace.
    • Atlantic High-Skilled Program: For TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs, the job offer must be for at least one year from the time you become a permanent resident.
    • Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program: For TEER 4 jobs, the job offer must be permanent (no end date).
    • The job must align with your skills and experience, unless you are an international graduate from an Atlantic institution.
    • The job cannot be from a business where you or your spouse/common-law partner holds a majority stake.

  • Work Experience

    • Skilled Workers: In the past five years, you must have accumulated at least 1,560 hours of paid work experience (equivalent to one year of full-time work at 30 hours per week). This experience can be full-time or part-time, and can be gained in Canada or overseas, as long as you were legally authorized to work in Canada if the experience was obtained here. Self-employment and unpaid work do not count. The type of work experience required depends on the TEER category of the job offer.

NOC 2021 TEER job offer categoryWork experience requirement
TEER 0TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
TEER 1TEER 1, 2, 3, 4
TEER 2TEER 2, 3, 4
TEER 3TEER 3, 4
TEER 4TEER 4
    • International Graduates: International graduates from recognized post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada may be exempt from the work experience requirement if they meet specific criteria (e.g., completed a program of at least two years, were a full-time student, and resided in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months during their studies).

  • Education

The educational requirements vary based on the TEER category of the job offer:
    • TEER 0 or 1: A Canadian one-year post-secondary credential or higher, or its foreign equivalent with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
    • TEER 2, 3, or 4: A Canadian high school diploma or its foreign equivalent with an ECA report. The ECA must be less than five years old at the time of application and confirm the credential's authenticity.

  • Language Proficiency

You must demonstrate sufficient English or French language ability through a designated language test (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP for English; TEF Canada, TCF Canada for French). The minimum required language proficiency level depends on the TEER category of your job offer:
    • TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5.
    • TEER 4: CLB/NCLC level 4. Your test results must be less than two years old when you apply.

  • Proof of Funds

You need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada. The amount required depends on the size of your family. This requirement is waived if you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit.

  • Intention to Reside

You must intend to live in the Atlantic province where you received the job offer.

 

The Application Process: Key Steps

  1. Secure a Job Offer
The first crucial step is to find a job with a designated employer in one of the Atlantic provinces. You can explore job boards like Job Bank, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Career Beacon, specifically looking for opportunities with designated employers.
  1. Obtain a Provincial Endorsement
Once you have a job offer, your employer will work with a designated settlement service provider organization to help you develop a settlement plan. The employer then applies to the respective provincial government for an endorsement certificate on your behalf.
  1. Apply for Permanent Residence
After receiving the provincial endorsement certificate, you can submit your permanent residence application to IRCC online. You will need to include the endorsement certificate and all other required documents, such as language test results, educational credentials, proof of work experience, and proof of funds (if applicable).
  1. Work Permit (Optional)
In some cases, if you are outside Canada or your current work permit is about to expire and your permanent residence application is in process, you may be eligible to apply for a temporary work permit to continue or start working in Atlantic Canada sooner.

 

Benefits of the AIP

For Individuals

  • Clear Pathway to Permanent Residence: Despite being restricted to the Atlantic provinces, the AIP offers a direct route to becoming a permanent resident of Canada in one application and with only one application fee to the federal immigration authority.
  • Opportunities for semi-skilled workers: Unlike Express Entry and many other immigration programs that focus on skilled work in TEER 0 to 3, the AIP accepts applications from workers in TEER 4 positions.
  • Lower Language Requirements: Compared to some other federal immigration programs, the AIP generally has lower minimum language proficiency requirements, particularly for TEER 4 occupations.
  • No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): Employers hiring through the AIP are exempt from the LMIA process, which can streamline the hiring of foreign workers.
  • Settlement Support: The program emphasizes settlement and integration, providing newcomers with valuable resources and support upon arrival.
  • Opportunity to Experience Atlantic Canada: The Atlantic provinces offer a unique blend of vibrant culture, stunning natural landscapes, and a welcoming community spirit.

For Employers

  • Access to a Wider Talent Pool: The AIP helps employers address local labour shortages by enabling them to hire qualified international candidates.
  • Simplified Hiring Process: The LMIA exemption streamlines the process of hiring foreign workers.
  • Support for Newcomers: The requirement to connect candidates with settlement services can contribute to better retention rates.
  • Contribution to Regional Growth: By attracting and retaining skilled workers, the AIP supports the economic development of the Atlantic region.

Let Us Support You

The Atlantic Immigration Program presents a significant opportunity for skilled individuals and international graduates to build a rewarding life in Canada's beautiful East Coast. However, navigating the eligibility requirements and application process can be complex. At From Far and Wide Immigration Consultancy, we are dedicated to providing you with expert guidance and support every step of the way. Ready to explore your options under the Atlantic Immigration Program? Contact us today for a personalized consultation and let us help you chart your course to a bright future in Atlantic Canada!

Popular posts from this blog

How Express Entry works

Image
The Express Entry online system is used to manage applications for Permanent Residence under three separate programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program Federal Skilled Trades Program Canadian Experience Class Each program has its own eligibility criteria. Candidates need to meet all requirements for at least one program to apply under Express Entry, and can't mix and match criteria from different programs. The following table shows the eligbility requirements for each of the three programs: Eligibility Criteria Canadian Experience Class Federal Skilled Worker Program Federal Skilled Trades Program Language skills English or French skills CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations English or French skills CLB 7 English or French skills CLB 5 for speaking and listening CLB 4 for reading and writing Type/Level of work experience Canadian work experience in an occupation...
Read more

Updated Settlement Funds for Express Entry

Image
Settlement funds required to immigrate to Canada increase as of May 28, 2024. These numbers are updated every year, based on 50% of the low income cut-off totals. The table below shows how much money you need to settle in Canada. If you are invited to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system, written proof is required that these funds are readily available to you.  Number of family members Funds required (CAD) 1    $ 14,690 2    $ 18,288 3    $ 22,483 4    $ 27,297 5    $ 30,690 6    $ 34,917 7    $ 38,875 For each additional family member    $ 3,958 Family Size The minimum settlement funds required depends on the size of your family that you support. To determine your family size, you must count: yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent child...
Read more

What's a CLB?

Image
In most cases, applicants for permanent residence in Canada need to prove their language skills in English or French. To do so, they must take an approved language test. There are five language tests accepted for immigration to Canada; three for English and two for French: •   Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program ( CELPIP) •   International English Language Testing System ( IELTS) •   Pearson Test of English ( PTE)  •   Test de connaissance du français ( TCF) •   Test d’évaluation de français ( TEF) IRCC will use the test results as proof of an applicant's language skills. In order to be valid, test results must be less than two years old at the time of application for permanent residence. There are provisions if a candidate cannot complete one or more sections of the language test because of a disability. The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) (or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French) was crea...
Read more