The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal initiative designed to help skilled foreign workers and international graduates from Canadian institutions to permanently settle in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. This program aims to address specific labor market needs, promote economic growth, and encourage the retention of newcomers in these regions.

Eligibility and Application Process

1. Employer Designation:

• Employers in the Atlantic provinces must first be designated by their respective provincial governments to participate in the AIP. This involves demonstrating their need for foreign workers and their commitment to supporting the newcomers’ settlement and integration.

2. Job Offers and Endorsement:

• Once designated, employers can offer jobs to eligible foreign workers or international graduates. These job offers must be full-time, non-seasonal, and meet the program’s criteria. After a job offer is made, the employer and candidate work together to obtain an endorsement from the provincial government, which confirms that the job offer meets local labor market needs and includes a settlement plan for the candidate.

3. Permanent Residency Application:

• With the provincial endorsement, candidates can apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The AIP is designed to expedite this process, allowing for faster and more efficient processing of applications.

Streams of the Atlantic Immigration Program

The AIP consists of three main streams, each catering to different categories of applicants:

1. Atlantic High-Skilled Program:

 For workers with experience in management, professional, or technical/skilled trades jobs. Applicants must have a job offer for a position that requires at least one year of prior work experience.

2. Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program:

• For workers with experience in jobs that usually require a high school education and/or job-specific training. Applicants need a job offer for a position that requires at least one year of prior work experience.

3. Atlantic International Graduate Program:

• For international graduates who have a degree, diploma, or other credential from a publicly funded institution in an Atlantic province. These applicants do not need previous work experience but must have a job offer and meet the other program requirements.

Settlement and Integration Support

1. Comprehensive Settlement Plan:

. A key feature of the AIP is its focus on settlement and integration. Employers must develop a settlement plan for each candidate, outlining the support they will provide to help the newcomer adapt to life in the Atlantic provinces. This may include assistance with housing, language training, and connecting with community resources.

2. Community and Government Services:

Newcomers have access to a range of services to aid their integration, such as orientation sessions, employment readiness programs, and social activities. These services are designed to help them build a network, understand their new environment, and thrive in their new communities.

It is worth to mention this new PR pathway replaces the successful Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which ended on December 31, 2021. Like the pilot, the Atlantic Immigration Program is employer-driven and aims to address labor needs in the four provinces by helping employers fill positions they haven’t been able to find skilled candidates for locally.