Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

An Overview

The Atlantic Immigration Program aims to bring in more immigrants to the Atlantic Canada area in order to meet the demands of local businesses and communities.

The initiative enables local firms to find, acquire, and retain international talent. Supporting population growth, building a trained workforce, and raising employment prospects in the region are additional aims of the program.

For immigrants, companies, and the Atlantic area, the AIP has been a huge success. Thousands of immigrants are granted permanent residence status each year, meeting the demands of local enterprises and promoting population, workforce, and economic expansion.

The Process

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a business-driven initiative that makes it easier for companies to hire international workers. All main candidates arriving in Canada under the program must have a work offer from a designated company as well as a personalized settling plan for themselves and their families.

Once an approved employer has found a candidate who satisfies their employment needs as well as the program’s requirements, they must first offer them a job. Employers are exempt from the requirement to complete a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

The employer will link the candidate with a certified settlement service provider organization for a needs assessment and to build a settlement plan once the candidate has accepted the position. Employers will also help the new immigrants and his/her family’s long-term integration so that they may achieve the goals of their settling plan after they arrive in Canada.

Employers who need to fill a position fast will be able to get a temporary work visa, allowing the applicant and his/her family to arrive in Canada as quickly as possible. Candidates must meet the following requirements to receive this work permit:

• A valid employment offer
• A letter from the province
• A pledge to apply for permanent residency within 90 days after applying for a temporary work visa

Employer Designation

Employers interested in hiring skilled immigrants through the program must apply to the province(s) for designation. Employers having locations in numerous provinces will need to designate each province separately. Employers must satisfy specific criteria, including a pledge to assist the immigrants and their families as they adjust to life in Atlantic Canada.

Candidate Requirements

To be qualified for the AIP, you must meet the following requirements:

• Unless you are an international student who has completed a recognized post-secondary school in Atlantic Canada, you must have qualifying job experience.
• Fulfill the educational requirements
• Meet the language requirements
• Demonstrate that you have sufficient settlement funds. If you already have a valid work visa and are residing and working in Canada, you do not need to present proof of settlement funds

Work Experience

In the previous five years, you should have worked for at least 1,560 hours.

To figure out how many hours you’ve worked, follow these steps:

• Count the number of hours you’ve worked in full and part-time positions.
• Only labor hours that are paid are counted. Volunteer and unpaid hours are not included.
• Hours worked as a self-employed individual are not counted.
• You can keep track of hours worked both in Canada and overseas. As a temporary resident, you must have been lawfully permitted to work in Canada.
• Count the number of hours you worked during toat least 12 months.
• Work experience gained while studying can be counted as long as the hours worked to meet the requirements of your study permit.

Work experience must be at a skill level of 0, A, B, or C in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

International Graduates

International students who have completed their studies in Canada are exempt from the work experience requirements if:

• Have a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship qualification from a recognized post-secondary school in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador that takes at least 2 years of study.
• Were a full-time students for the duration of their education
• Held the necessary visas or permits to work, study, or receive training while in Canada
• During the last two years before graduation, they spent at least 16 months in one of the Atlantic provinces.

Educational Requirements

• You should have a one-year post-secondary educational degree or higher, or the same outside of Canada if your proposal is at the NOC 0 or A skill level.
• You must have a Canadian high school diploma, or a comparable outside of Canada if your employment offer is at the NOC B or C skill level.

If you studied outside of Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required to demonstrate that your studies meet the Canadian educational requirements required for your employment offer. On the day IRCC receives your application, the ECA report should be less than 5 years old.

Language Requirements

• A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 is required for NOC 0, A, and B job opportunities.
• You must have a CLB or NCLC level of 4 to be considered for NOC C jobs.

Test results from a recognized language testing company must be submitted to IRCC. When you apply, the test results should be older than two years.

Settlement Funds

* Family members including those supported by the candidate, even if not included on the application
** You do not need to present evidence of money if you already reside in Canada and have a valid work permit.