Atlantic Immigration Program

If you're looking for a way to build a life in Atlantic Canada, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) could be worth exploring. This permanent-residence pathway is designed to help skilled foreign workers and eligible international graduates settle in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. The Atlantic Immigration Program was launched in 2017. It was replaced by the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program on January 1, 2022. While the Pilot is now closed, the permanent AIP continues its employer-driven approach, connecting qualified newcomers with designated employers in Atlantic Canada.

For you, that means your journey starts with a qualifying job offer rather than simply submitting an expression of interest and waiting for an invitation. You'll also need to meet requirements for work experience or qualify for the international-graduate exemption, education, language ability, settlement funds when required, and settlement planning. If Atlantic Canada sounds like the right place for your next chapter, understanding how the program works can help you decide whether the AIP fits your immigration plans.

What Is the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a permanent-residence pathway for skilled foreign workers and eligible international graduates from recognized post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada. The program allows you to pursue permanent residence if you want to work and settle in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces:

• New Brunswick,
• Nova Scotia,
• Prince Edward Island, or
• Newfoundland and Labrador.

The AIP is employer-driven, which means you need a qualifying job offer from a designated Atlantic Canadian employer. The program does not simply match you with an employer. Instead, you need to find a designated employer that is willing to hire you for a job that meets the program's requirements.

Once you have a qualifying offer, you'll work through the settlement and provincial endorsement stages before submitting your permanent-residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The program can be particularly useful if you have skills that match labor needs in Atlantic Canada and you're prepared to make one of the region's communities your long-term home.

Who Can Apply for the Atlantic Immigration Program?

Before you start gathering documents or applying for jobs, you should make sure you can meet the main AIP requirements. In general, you must:

• Get a valid job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada;
• Have qualifying work experience, unless you qualify for the international-graduate exemption;
• Have the required level of education for the job you're offered;
• Prove your English or French ability through an approved language test;
• Show that you have enough settlement funds when proof of funds is required;
• Get a settlement plan from an approved settlement service provider organization; and
• Receive provincial endorsement before you submit your permanent-residence application.

Meeting one requirement does not automatically make you eligible. Your job offer, work experience, education, language results, settlement plan and provincial endorsement all need to line up with the program rules.

Work Experience Requirements

If you aren't eligible for the international-graduate exemption, you'll generally need at least 1,560 hours of qualifying paid work experience during the five years before you apply. Those 1,560 hours are equivalent to 30 hours per week for one year, but the hours must have been accumulated over a period of at least 12 months. Your experience can come from more than one job as long as it meets the program's requirements. Your qualifying work experience must:

• Be from paid employment;
• Have been accumulated during the five years before you apply;
• Include the actions described in the relevant National Occupational Classification (NOC) description;
• Include most of the main duties listed for that NOC;
• Not come from self-employment;
• Not include volunteer work or unpaid internships; and
• Have been authorized if the work was performed in Canada.

It's also important to understand how IRCC compares your previous work with your new job. Your qualifying experience must generally fall within the TEER category required for your job offer under IRCC's matching rules. For example:

This means you shouldn't assume that your previous occupation has to be identical to the job you're being offered. Instead, check the NOC and TEER requirements carefully to see whether your experience qualifies.

There are also special rules for certain healthcare occupations. For example, qualifying experience in certain nursing occupations can be used toward eligible job offers in specific healthcare support occupations. If your background is in healthcare, check the current IRCC requirements before assuming your experience does not qualify.

Work Experience Exemption for Atlantic Canadian Graduates

If you've recently graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, you may not need to meet the usual work-experience requirement. To qualify for this exemption, you must have completed a degree, diploma, certificate, trade certification or apprenticeship certification that took at least two years to complete. Your credential must have been issued by a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces. You must also:

• Have received your credential less than two years before applying for permanent residence;
• Have studied full-time for the entire period of your studies;
• Have lived in one of the four Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the two years before you graduated; and
• Have held the immigration status or authorization required to study, work or receive training in Canada.

Not every study program qualifies. For example, the exemption may not apply if English or French as a second language made up at least half of your program, if at least half of your studies were completed through distance learning, or if you received a scholarship or fellowship that required you to return to your home country to use the knowledge or skills you gained.

Education Requirements

The education you need depends on the TEER category of your job offer. You should therefore look at the job offer before deciding whether your current education meets the AIP requirement.

If you completed your education outside Canada, you'll normally need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes. Your ECA must be less than five years old when you apply. An ECA confirms how your foreign education compares with Canadian education standards. It does not, however, give you permission to work in a regulated occupation. If your profession requires licensing or certification in Canada, you'll still need to meet the applicable provincial or territorial requirements.

Language Requirements

You must prove your ability to communicate in English or French by taking an approved language test. The minimum level depends on the TEER category of your job offer.

Your test results must be less than two years old when you submit your permanent-residence application.

IRCC currently accepts the following tests:

• CELPIP-General for English;
• IELTS General Training for English;
• PTE Core for English;
• TEF Canada for French; and
• TCF Canada for French.

Make sure you meet the minimum level in all four abilities: reading, writing, listening and speaking. A strong score in one ability does not make up for falling below the required level in another.

How to Apply Through the Atlantic Immigration Program

The AIP application process has several stages. Your job offer comes first, but you should think about your documents, settlement plan and eligibility well before you reach the final permanent-residence application.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Start by reviewing your work experience, education and language results against the requirements for your proposed job. If you're an international graduate from Atlantic Canada, check whether you qualify for the work-experience exemption. You should also confirm that the job you're pursuing can meet the AIP's job-offer requirements before you accept it.

Step 2: Get a Job Offer From a Designated Employer

Your AIP journey depends on finding a qualifying job with a designated employer in Atlantic Canada. Each of the four Atlantic provinces is responsible for designating employers that can participate in the program. Your job offer must generally be:

• Full-time, meaning at least 30 hours of paid work per week;
• Non-seasonal, so the work is consistent and paid throughout the year;
• For a position you are qualified and able to perform;
• Located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Issued using Offer of Employment to a Foreign National: Atlantic Immigration Program (IMM 0157); and
• At the required skill level in relation to your qualifying work experience, unless an applicable international-graduate exemption applies.

For TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations, the job offer must last for at least one year from the date you become a permanent resident. For a TEER 4 occupation, the position must be permanent and have no set end date. The job offer also cannot come from a business in which you, your spouse or your common-law partner are a majority owner.

Keep in mind that the AIP does not match candidates with employers. You'll need to search for opportunities yourself, contact employers and make sure the employer is designated before moving forward.

Step 3: Get a Settlement Plan

Once you have a qualifying job offer, you'll need to work with an approved settlement service provider organization to develop a personalized settlement plan. The plan is designed to help you and your family prepare for life in Atlantic Canada. It can provide information and referrals for services such as housing, education, language training, healthcare and other settlement needs.

Your employer may recommend a settlement service provider, or you can choose one from the organizations approved for the program. Once your plan is completed, you'll give a copy to your employer. The employer uses it as part of the provincial endorsement process.

Step 4: Receive Provincial Endorsement

Your designated employer submits the required endorsement application to the Atlantic province where you'll work. The province reviews the job offer and other information before deciding whether to endorse you. If your application is approved, you'll receive a Certificate of Endorsement. Keep this document carefully because you'll need to include it with your permanent-residence application. Don't submit your permanent-residence application until you have confirmed that your job offer has been endorsed.

Step 5: Prepare Your Documents

Your exact document requirements depend on your circumstances, so you shouldn't rely on an old or generic AIP checklist. IRCC's current checklist should be your final reference before you submit your application. Depending on your situation, you may need documents such as:

• IMM 0155 – Document Checklist: Atlantic Immigration Program;
• IMM 5501 – Economic Classes: Atlantic Immigration Program;
• IMM 0157 – Offer of Employment to a Foreign National: Atlantic Immigration Program;
• Your provincial endorsement certificate;
• Confirmation of your employer's designation;
• Valid language-test results;
• Your educational credentials and ECA, where applicable;
• Proof of qualifying work experience, unless you qualify for the graduate exemption;
• Your settlement plan;
• Proof of settlement funds, where required;
• Police certificates; and
• Other forms and supporting documents requested by the current IRCC checklist.

Don't use older checklists that refer to the former Atlantic Immigration Pilot streams. For example, IMM 0113 for the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program is not part of the current AIP permanent-residence application process. Some documents can take weeks or months to obtain, so it's sensible to start collecting them as soon as you know you're pursuing the program.

Step 6: Apply for Permanent Residence

After you receive your provincial endorsement, you can move on to your permanent-residence application. You generally apply online through the Permanent Residence Portal. You'll complete the required forms, upload your endorsement certificate and supporting documents, pay the applicable fees and submit your application electronically.

IRCC will then review your application and conduct the required admissibility checks, which can include medical, security and criminality screening. Processing times can change, so you shouldn't rely on older claims that the AIP guarantees a faster permanent-residence decision. Always check IRCC's current processing-time information when you're preparing your application. Learn more about Canadian permanent residence.

Optional Temporary Work Permit Under the AIP

If you meet the requirements to apply for permanent residence through the AIP, you may also be eligible for an AIP-specific temporary work permit while your permanent-residence application is being processed. This can be useful if you want to begin working in Atlantic Canada while you wait for a decision on your permanent-residence application. The AIP temporary work permit:

• Can be valid for up to two years;
• Is employer-specific, meaning you can only work for the employer named on the permit;
• Requires an eligible AIP job offer;
• Requires a referral letter from the Atlantic province where you'll work; and
• Does not guarantee approval of your permanent-residence application.

Your spouse or common-law partner may also be eligible to apply for an open work permit, depending on the applicable requirements.

Why Consider the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The AIP is designed around more than simply getting you a job. It combines an employer-driven immigration process with settlement support and provincial involvement, giving you a structured route toward permanent residence in Atlantic Canada.

Work and Settle in Atlantic Canada

The program gives you a pathway to permanent residence if you want to live and work in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. You must be prepared to settle in the Atlantic province connected to your job offer.

Employer Support

Your employer has an important role throughout the process. The employer must be designated, provide a qualifying job offer and participate in the endorsement process. Your employer also helps connect you with settlement services.

Settlement Support for You and Your Family

Moving to another country involves much more than finding a job. Your settlement plan can help you understand what to expect when you arrive and connect you with services that can make the transition easier for you and your family.

A Route for Skilled Workers and Eligible Graduates

You don't necessarily need years of Canadian work experience to qualify. Skilled foreign workers can qualify through the work-experience requirements, while eligible international graduates from recognized Atlantic Canadian institutions may benefit from the work-experience exemption.

A Permanent Immigration Program

Unlike the former Pilot, the Atlantic Immigration Program is a permanent part of Canada's immigration system. The program officially replaced the Pilot on January 1, 2022, while retaining its focus on employers, settlement support and attracting newcomers to Atlantic Canada.

If you are considering Atlantic Canada, your next step should be to assess your occupation, education, language results and work experience against the current AIP requirements. From there, you can focus on finding a designated employer and building your application around a qualifying job offer.

Atlantic Immigration Program Settlement Funds

If you're required to show settlement funds, the amount depends on your family size. IRCC's current figures were updated on July 29, 2025, and these amounts can change, so check the latest IRCC guidance before applying.

When calculating your family size, you generally include yourself, your spouse or common-law partner and your dependent children. This can include family members who are not accompanying you to Canada. You don't need to provide proof of settlement funds if you're already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit.

FAQs

Is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Still Open?

No. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is closed. The Pilot ended after its transition to the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program, and new applicants should apply under the current AIP requirements rather than one of the former Pilot streams.

What Replaced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot?

The permanent Atlantic Immigration Program replaced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot on January 1, 2022. The current program continues to provide a permanent-residence pathway for skilled foreign workers and eligible international graduates who have qualifying job offers from designated Atlantic employers.

Can I Apply to the Atlantic Immigration Program Without a Job Offer?

No. You need a qualifying job offer from a designated employer to apply through the AIP. The program does not match candidates with employers, so you'll need to find and secure a qualifying position yourself. If you're interested in other Canadian immigration options that don't require a job offer, you can learn more about how to immigrate to Canada without a job offer.

How do I Find a Designated AIP Employer?

You can search for employers in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island that participate in the Atlantic Immigration Program. Check provincial government resources and employer career pages, and always confirm that the employer is currently designated before relying on a job offer for your immigration application. The AIP itself does not match candidates with available jobs, and settlement service providers should not be contacted as a job-placement service.

What Language Score do I Need for the Atlantic Immigration Program?

For a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job offer, you need at least CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all four language abilities. For a TEER 4 job offer, you need at least CLB 4 or NCLC 4 in all four abilities. Accepted tests include CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Your results must be less than two years old when you submit your application.

Do I Need an LMIA For an Atlantic Immigration Program Job Offer?

No. A designated employer does not need a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to make a qualifying job offer under the AIP. The AIP has its own employer designation and endorsement process. You should not assume that an LMIA is required simply because you are a foreign worker, as Canadian immigration rules include several LMIA-exempt work-permit categories.

How Much Settlement Money do I Need Under the AIP?

The amount depends on your family size. As of the IRCC figures updated July 29, 2025, the minimum is CAD 3,815 for one family member, CAD 4,750 for two, CAD 5,840 for three and CAD 7,090 for four. The amount increases with larger family sizes, and you should check IRCC's current figures because settlement-fund requirements can change.

If you're already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you don't need to provide proof of settlement funds. Your family size can still include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children even if they aren't coming to Canada with you.

Do I Need Work Experience if I Graduated in Atlantic Canada?

You may be exempt from the normal work-experience requirement if you meet IRCC's international-graduate exemption. Generally, you must have completed an eligible program of at least two years at a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces, studied full-time, lived in Atlantic Canada for at least 16 months during the two years before graduating and meet the other applicable requirements.

Can I Bring my Family Through the Atlantic Immigration Program?

Yes. Your eligible spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can generally be included in your permanent-residence application. Depending on their circumstances and the applicable rules, your spouse or common-law partner may also be eligible for an open work permit, while dependent children may be eligible for study authorization.

Can I Work in Canada While my AIP Permanent-residence Application is Being Processed?

You may be eligible for an AIP-specific temporary work permit while your permanent-residence application is being processed. The permit can be valid for up to two years, is employer-specific and requires a qualifying job offer and provincial referral letter.

Does a Temporary AIP Work Permit Guarantee Permanent Residence?

No. A temporary work permit only allows you to work in Canada while your permanent-residence application is being processed. IRCC must still approve your permanent-residence application before you become a permanent resident.