What is AIP?

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal-provincial economic immigration program operating in the four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador.

AIP replaced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIPP) in 2022, making it a permanent program rather than a time-limited pilot.

How AIP works

To qualify, you need:

• A job offer from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces. (Employers must be designated by the provincial immigration office before they can hire under AIP.)
• The job offer must be for TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 occupations
• Meet language requirements (CLB/NCLC 5 for most occupations; CLB 4 for some TEER 4)
• Meet education requirements (Canadian high school diploma or equivalent foreign credential with ECA)
• Meet work experience requirements (1 year of relevant experience; international graduates of a recognized Atlantic post-secondary institution are exempt)
• Demonstrate settlement funds (varies by family size; some applicants are exempt if already in Canada)
• The employer prepares a settlement plan for you

AIP vs PNP

• AIP: federal program with provincial endorsement; based on designated-employer job offer
• PNP (provincial nominee program): provincial selection program; criteria vary by province

Both can coexist — many Atlantic applicants pursue AIP + provincial PNP in parallel where their occupation qualifies for both.

Why AIP

• Lower processing volume per applicant than larger PNPs (Ontario, BC)
• TEER 4 eligibility — broader occupation range than most Express Entry-linked streams
• Settlement plan = practical support for first-year integration
• Direct PR pathway — no need to clear federal Express Entry cutoff