Atlantic Immigration Pilot

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) is a program to encourage immigration to the Atlantic Region, specifically the provinces of:
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Newfoundland&Labrador

Specifically, this program seeks out workers to benefit these provincialeconomies, filling high-demand jobs foremployers where there is a lack of Canadian applicants.

Shabnam Akrami Managing Partner
video-icon

Is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot for you?

This program allowsdesignated employers in Atlantic provinces facing a Canadian labour shortage to supply their businesses employees. Applicants are given a job offer and assistance with immigrations settlement, while employers can skip the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which can be an onerous process in other immigrant employment streams.

There are 3 Streams to the Atlantic immigration Pilot program:

  • Atlantic High-skilled Program (AHSP)
  • Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program (AISP)
  • Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

All 3 streams have the same initial requirements:

  • Job Offer: Job offer must be full time (at least 30 hours a week), for a length of at least 1 year in the past 3 years
  • Language Skills: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in either English or French in each category (listening, speaking, reading & writing)

Atlantic High-skilled Program (AHSP)

Requirements

  • Applicants must have at least one year (1560 hours) of skilled work experience in the last three years
check mark blue

What Type of Skilled Experience?

Your main occupation must be within NOC A, B or 0. The focus must be your job duties within each NOC, not just the job title. You must have performed most of the job duties associated with your chosen NOC.
  • Work experience must be paid (volunteering or unpaid internship does not count)
check mark blue

Education

applicant must have at least completed high school (or secondary school)
(if your education is outside Canada, the Canadian equivalent according to your Education Credential Assessment)

Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program (AISP)

Requirements

check mark blue

Work Experience

Intermediate-skill Program applicants must be experienced in either:

  • NOC level C or
  • Have worked in the following occupations
    • registered nurse
    • registered psychiatric nurse
    • licenced practical nurse

Note: these 3 occupations apply if you have a job offer as a nurse’s aid, orderly, home support worker, or patient services associate.

  • Your experience must be specific to one occupation. You can work for other employers, so long as your occupation remains the same.
  • Self-employed work experience does not count
  • Education: of a Canadian secondary/high school degree or foreign equivalent

Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

In the International Graduate program, the emphasis is less on skilled work experience and more on transitioning students from a study permit to a path to permanent residency.

The primary difference with this stream is that applicants do not require work experience.

Requirements

  • A degree, diploma or other credential from a publicly funded institution in an Atlantic province
  • Must have lived in an Atlantic province at least 16 months in the 2 years before getting your degree, diploma or credential
  • You must have also graduated no more than 24 months before applying for PR status.
check mark blue

Language Assessment

There is no specific requirement, however you must score high enough to demonstrate a sufficient ability to speak English or French.
check mark blue

Proof of Funds

You must demonstrate that you can support yourself and any accompanying family members. The specific amount depends on the size of your family.

Note: If you are inside Canada as a legal worker, you do not need to satisfy this requirement.

Requirements for Employer

Applicants must ensure that are or will be working for a designated employer.

What is a Designated Employer?

An employer in an Atlantic province must meet the basic criteria of the program to be designated, specifically:

  • Be in good standing (comply with provincial business regulations).
  • Have been operating in the Atlantic region for at least 2 years.
  • Work with a settlement service provider organization to help candidates get settlement services (i.e. integration, language, school for children, etc.)

After a province has designated an employer by giving them a Confirmation of Designation (a copy of which the employer should send to any candidate), they will be listed publicly on the province’s website, and they can begin the process of seeing candidates.

Get a Work Permit While Your Application is Processing

You do not need to be idle while your application is processing. Especially in situations where the employer needs the position filled urgently, you may be to obtain a work permitfor up to 1 year while waiting for your application to be processed. 

How? You will need to request a referralletter from the Atlantic province where you wish to work. 

NOTE: The work permit wouldbe restricted to the Atlantic province employer who made your job offer.

Have a Question?

How We Can Help

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot program is a unique opportunity to obtain permanent residency and help with the demand for jobs in the Atlantic provinces.

If you have the skills these provinces are looking for, Visapath can help you! Our representatives are highly experienced with permanent residencyapplications, including the Atlantic Immigration Program, and will help youat every step of the way to ensure you compile a complete, strong and convincing application to give you the best chances of successin starting your new life in Canada!

VisaPath Immigraiton Law Firm logo Large

To get started, call to schedule a consultation!

Testimonials

I am very pleased with the team and their work. The lawyers I worked with to get the permanent residency were all professionals and very quick to respond to my questions. It was a long process but not because of the firm: all the papers needed for the application took time to get issued and then to be processed by the immigration office. Overall, thanks to the team, I was relieved of any stress related to the application as I just needed to follow their guidance. I definitely recommend their service for anyone who is applying for permanent residency.

Isabelle de Laigue

My thanks to you and your team, Shabnam. My wife and I have just entered Canada and received our documents. I am now a Federal Skilled Worker 😉 We couldn’t have done this without you.

Ernesto D