About the Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to work and live in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. It helps employers in the region hire qualified candidates for positions they haven’t been able to fill locally. There is no cap on the number of AIP applications IRCC accepts, though the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan targets roughly 5,000 AIP permanent residents per year (including family members).
How It Works
Step 1 — Get a Job Offer
You must receive a full-time (at least 30 hours/week) job offer from an employer designated by one of the Atlantic provinces. Employers become designated through their provincial government before they can extend a qualifying offer — there’s no cost to the employer to become designated.
Step 2 — Settlement Plan
You and your family complete a needs assessment with a settlement service provider organization to build a settlement plan for life in Atlantic Canada.
Step 3 — Employer Endorsement & PR Application
The province reviews and endorses the job offer, then you submit your application for permanent residence to IRCC, including your endorsement letter and settlement plan.
Step 4 — Decision
Immigration officers review your application against eligibility and documentation requirements. You may be asked for further documents or an interview before a final decision and, if approved, confirmation of permanent residence.
Eligibility Categories
- Skilled workers — you can be living abroad or already in Canada as a temporary resident, and must meet the employment requirements of your primary occupation
- International graduates — recent graduates of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada with a qualifying job offer
For TEER 0 or 1 jobs, a one-year post-secondary credential is generally required; for TEER 2, 3, or 4 jobs, a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent is generally sufficient. You’ll also need proof of language ability and enough funds to support yourself and your family on arrival (unless already working in Canada on a valid permit).
Working While You Wait
Eligible candidates — those with a qualifying job offer and either a job offer letter or proof of enrolment in a PGWP-eligible program — may apply for a temporary work permit and start working in Atlantic Canada while their permanent residence application is processed.
How We Help
We help candidates find and confirm designated-employer job offers, prepare the settlement plan, and manage the endorsement and PR application through to decision.