The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program provides permanent residence to skilled professionals who wish to settle in Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, etc. 

If you are interested in applying for Canadian immigration & wish to settle in any of the provinces mentioned above, then you need to have complete information regarding the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. 

So, let us begin with our discussion! 

 

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program: An Overview 

The AIPP, i.e., Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, is designed to welcome newcomers to the Atlantic Canada Region in order to fill in the needs of local communities & employers. 

The program allows designated local employers to recognize, recruit, & retain global talent. Moreover, the program also aims at supporting population growth, thus developing a skilled workforce & increasing employment rates in the province. 

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has proven to be a significant success for immigrants, employers and the entire Atlantic region. Moreover, it continues providing permanent inhabitant status to numerous immigrants yearly. In addition, this program addresses the needs of local employers & promotes population, labor force, as well as economic growth. 

 

How The Program Works 

The AIPP, i.,e., Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, is an employer-driven program that fosters the hiring/ recruiting of international applicants. In addition, all candidates coming to Canada under this program must have a job offer from a specified employer along with an individualized settlement strategy for themselves as well as their families. 

Once the employer finds an applicant who meets their program criteria & employment needs, that employer must first offer them a job. Employers do not need to go through the procedure of obtaining an LMIA, i.e., Labor Market Impact Assessment. 

Once the applicant has accepted the job offer, the employer will connect the applicant with designated settlement service organizations for a needs assessment & to develop a settlement plan. 

Moreover, employers will also support the long-term integration of newcomers/ immigrants along with their families (if applicable), so they can achieve the goals of their settlement plan the moment they reach Canada. 

Employers who need to fill job vacancies rapidly will have access to temporary work permits so that the applicants & their families can arrive in Canada as soon as possible.

Thus, to acquire this work permit, applicants will need the following: 

• A valid job offer
• A letter from the province/ region
• A commitment to apply for permanent accommodation within 90 days of the provisional/ temporary work permit application

 

Employers like to hire skilled professionals under the program. Thus, they must apply to the provinces in order to receive the designation. In addition, employers with locations in multiple provinces/ regions will need a separate designation for each province. 

For this, employers have to meet certain requirements, like a commitment to supporting newcomers/ immigrants & their families as they incorporate into their new Atlantic Canada province lives. 

 

Applicant Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, an applicant must: 

• Have qualifying work experience unless they are an international student who graduated from a reputed post-secondary institution in Canada
• Meet the education criteria
• Meet language criteria
• Show that they have enough settlement funds. Note that applicants do not need to show evidence of settlement funds if they are already living/ working in the country with a valid work permit 

 

So, let us discuss some crucial pointers for applicant requirements. 

 

• Work Experience 

An applicant must work at least 1,560 hours in the past five years. For calculating your hours: 

1. Count the hours you have worked in full-time/ part-time jobs.
2. Only count paid work hours. 
3. Do not count self-employed work hours.
4. Count hours accumulated over a period of 12 months. 
5. You can count the work experience you acquired while you were studying. Ensure that the work hours comply with the study permit conditions.
6. Count the number of hours worked in Canada & abroad.  

 

Your work experience needs to be under the NOC TEER category of 0, 1, 2, or 3. In addition, your work experience must include the actions in your description of NOC. 

 

• International Graduates 

Foreign nationals who graduated in Canada do not require to meet the work experience requirements if they: 

1. Have a degree, diploma, certificate, or apprenticeship certification, which took over two years of studies & is recognized from a post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, etc. 
2. Were full-time students during their studies
3. Lived in one of the Canadian Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the past two years before they graduated
4. Had the visa or permit they needed to study, work, or train while they lived in Canada

 

• Educational Requirements 

1. If the officer is in the NOC TEER category of 0 or 1, you must have at least one year of post-secondary educational credential or higher. 
2. If your job is at the NOC TEER category 2, 3, or 4, you must have a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent outside Canada.

 

If you studied outside Canada, you need to have an ECA to confirm that whatever you have learned is equivalent to Canadian educational standards to have a job offer. Ensure that the ECA report must be under five years old when IRCC reviews your application. 

 

• Language Requirements 

1. For NOC TEER category 0 or 1 job offers, you need a CLB or NCLC level of 5. 
2. For NOC TEER category 2, 3, or 4 employment offers, you need a CLS/ NCLC level of 4.

 

• Settlement Funds 

1. If you already reside in Canada & are working with a valid/ proper work permit, then you are not required to show evidence of funds. 
2. For all other applicants, you must show that you have enough money to support yourself & your family when you get to Canada. The amount you need depends upon the size of the family. Here is a reference table for you: 

 

Number Of Family Members	Funds Needed
1	$3,303
2	$4,112
3	$5,055
4	$6,138
5	$6,962
6	$7,852
7 or more	$8,742
Each Additional Family Member	$890

 

   

Who Is Exempted From Atlantic Immigration Program Work Experience? 

Applicants don’t have to meet the work experience requirement if they fulfill the following conditions: 

• Be an international graduate.
• Have a degree, diploma, certificate, etc.
• Admitted at least two years of study programs from designated post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada  
• Be a full-time student. 
• Should have resided in one of the Atlantic Canadian provinces for a minimum of 16 months during two years before graduation 
• Has visa/ permit while you were in Canada

 

Documentation Needed For AIPP

The primary documents required are: 

• Passport
• Test results for language skills
• Proof of funds
• Police clearance certificate 
• Medical certificate 
• Legit settlement plan
• ECA, i.e., Educational Credential Assessment 
• Employment letter 
• Certificate of endorsement 
• Proof of payments 

 

Some extra documents include: 

• Proof of experience (if needed) 
• Marriage license (if applicable)

 

Application Process For Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program  

Here is a step-by-step guide for AIPP. Have a look! 

• Step 1:

The applicant is connected to a settlement service organization. The organization will now conduct a needs assessment service to determine a settlement plan that the applicant & their family has to follow. 

• Step 2:

The chosen settlement plan is sent to the employer & the applicant. 

• Step 3:

The employer completes the endorsement application & identifies a program that suits the applicant’s work experience. The job offer & settlement plan is further submitted to the province/ area/ region. 

• Step 4:

The applicant submits the PR application to IRCC. Further, relevant documents & endorsement letters are submitted. 

• Step 5:

The applicant is submitted & if approved, the applicant & their family can now live in the Atlantic region of Canada. 

 

Additional Ways For Immigrating To Atlantic Canada 

The Atlantic region provinces have already been actively involved in immigration over recent years, mainly via Provincial Nominee Program. Through these programs, the provinces have welcomed a wide range of skilled professionals & graduates who have studied in Canada, along with business immigrants, like entrepreneurs. 

All Atlantic provinces have at least one PNP, i.e., the Provincial Nominee Program stream aligned with the federal Express Entry system, thus enabling candidates in the Express Entry pool eligible to relocate/ immigrate to the provinces through one of these streams to apply for immigration in the given province.  

The alternatives for Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program include: 

• NSNP – Nova Scotia Nominee Program 
• NL PNP – Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program 
• NB PNP – New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program 
• PEI PNP – Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program   

 

Conclusion 

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has been a game-changer for applicants aspiring to study, work, and settle in Canada’s Atlantic region. 

The program has an innovative & employer-driven approach that facilitates the hiring/ recruiting of foreign graduates & skilled professionals to fill in the labor market gaps. 

So, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is a fastrack approach to permanent residency, thus providing applicants & their families numerous opportunities to thrive in the dynamic & welcoming surroundings. After all, applying for this program is crucial for a promising future in Canada. 

 

FAQs 

• What is the age limit for AIPP?

There is no specific age limit for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. However, applicants who are between 18-35 years of age have more chances of immigrating to Canada. Well, that’s because they are considered perfect for the jobs available there. In addition, applicants till the age of 50 can apply to gain permanent residency in the region. 

 

• Does the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program require a job offer? 

In order to qualify for a temporary work permit, skilled immigrants/ newcomers will need a valid job offer. 

 

• How do I get a job offer for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program? 

To get a job offer for AIPP, an applicant has to fulfil specific criteria. The designated employers from four Atlantic provinces of Canada can offer them a job. 

When they offer you a job, they will also send an Employment Offer. In addition, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply: 

1. Match job requirements as posted in NOC, i.e., National Occupation Classification
2. Qualify for a specific program chosen by the employer 

 

• What are the various provinces in the Atlantic region? 

The different provinces in Canada’s Atlantic region include: 

1. New Brunswick
2. Newfoundland & Labrador
3. Prince Edward Island
4. Nova Scotia 

 

• What are the areas that the Canadian Atlantic Immigration Program focuses on?

The various sectors wherein the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program focus on are: 

1. Climate change
2. Infrastructure
3. Clean growth
4. Skilled workforce 
5. Investment & trade
6. Innovation