Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Requirements, Eligibility, Process & Documents for Indians
Canada's employer-driven PR pathway for skilled workers and international graduates settling in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
~6 months (federal)
CAD 1,525 (federal) + CAD 85 biometrics
Permanent
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a permanent residence pathway for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to settle in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. Unlike Express Entry or PNP streams, the AIP is entirely employer-driven — candidates cannot self-apply. You must first receive a job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province before you can submit a PR application to IRCC. The program has two streams: the Atlantic High-Skilled Program for workers in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations, and the Atlantic International Graduate Program for graduates of eligible Atlantic institutions. Both require the employer to provide a settlement plan and a third-party needs assessment before extending the job offer.
The AIP became a permanent program in 2022 after operating as a pilot from 2017. It is managed through a partnership between IRCC and the four Atlantic provincial governments. Each province has its own designated employer registry and endorsement process. Employers must apply to their provincial government to become designated before they can recruit through the AIP. Once the designated employer makes a job offer and the province endorses the application, the candidate applies directly to IRCC for permanent residence. Federal processing typically takes approximately 6 months for complete applications.
Eligibility
Who can apply for Atlantic Immigration Program?
- Foreign workers who have received a valid job offer from a designated employer in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation (Atlantic High-Skilled Program)
- International graduates who completed a full-time post-secondary program of at least 2 years (or 1 year for post-graduate programs) at an eligible public institution in an Atlantic province and have received a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer (Atlantic International Graduate Program)
- Applicants who meet the minimum language requirements — CLB 5 in all four abilities for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions under the High-Skilled Program, and CLB 5 for International Graduates
- Applicants with at least 1 year of work experience in the NOC group of the job offer within the last 3 years (Atlantic High-Skilled Program); International Graduates are exempt from the work experience requirement
- Applicants with sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their family in Canada (unless currently working legally in Canada)
- Applicants who have completed a pre-arrival needs assessment by a designated settlement service provider and have a settlement plan endorsed by the provincial government
- Applicants who genuinely intend to live and work in the endorsing Atlantic province after becoming permanent residents
- Spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children can be included on the same AIP application
Both AIP streams require a valid job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province. Employers must apply to their provincial government for designation — you cannot use an offer from a non-designated employer. Visit canada.ca/atlantic-immigration for the current designated employer list.
Requirements
What are the requirements and key details of Atlantic Immigration Program?
- Two Streams: Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP): NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job offer from a designated employer; Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP): graduate of eligible Atlantic institution + job offer
- Participating Provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Job Offer Requirement: Mandatory for both streams. Employer must be designated by the relevant Atlantic provincial government before extending the AIP job offer
- Language — AHSP (all TEER levels): Minimum CLB 5 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) for job offers at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
- Language — AIGP: Minimum CLB 5 in all four abilities
- Work Experience — AHSP: At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of work experience in the same NOC group as the job offer within the 3 years before applying
- Work Experience — AIGP: No work experience requirement for international graduates
- Education — AIGP: Full-time post-secondary credential of at least 2 years (or 1-year post-graduate program) from an eligible public institution in an Atlantic province
- Settlement Plan: Must complete a pre-arrival needs assessment with a designated settlement service provider; employer must develop and submit the settlement plan to the provincial government
- Provincial Endorsement: Province reviews the job offer and settlement plan and issues an endorsement letter before the candidate can apply to IRCC
- Federal Government Fee: CAD 1,525 per adult (CAD 950 processing + CAD 575 RPRF); CAD 260 per dependent child
- Biometrics Fee: CAD 85 (individual); CAD 170 (family of 2+)
- Federal Processing Time: Approximately 6 months for complete applications after IRCC begins processing
Documents
What are the documents required for Atlantic Immigration Program?
- Valid passport and travel documents for all applicants and accompanying family members
- Job offer letter from a designated employer in an Atlantic province on company letterhead, specifying the position, NOC TEER level, wage, hours, and start date
- Provincial endorsement letter issued by the relevant Atlantic provincial government confirming the job offer and settlement plan have been reviewed and approved
- Settlement plan developed by the employer in consultation with a designated settlement service provider
- Language test results from an IRCC-approved test (IELTS General Training, CELPIP, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, or PTE Core) demonstrating the required CLB level
- Educational credentials and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated ECA organization for post-secondary credentials earned outside Canada (AHSP applicants with foreign education)
- Proof of Atlantic graduation — official transcripts and credential from the Atlantic institution (AIGP applicants only)
- Work experience documentation: employment letters on company letterhead, pay stubs, and tax records covering at least 1 year of qualifying experience (AHSP applicants only)
- Proof of settlement funds if not currently working legally in Canada
- Medical examination results from an IRCC-approved panel physician
- Police clearance certificates from every country where you lived for 6+ months since age 18
- Biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) at a designated collection centre
- Proof of relationship for spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children (marriage certificate, birth certificates, adoption papers)
Application Process
How to Apply for Atlantic Immigration Program: Step-by-Step Process
Determine Which AIP Stream You Qualify For
Review both streams: the Atlantic High-Skilled Program if you have work experience in a NOC TEER 0–3 occupation, or the Atlantic International Graduate Program if you graduated from an eligible public institution in an Atlantic province within the last 2 years. Confirm your language scores meet the minimum CLB requirement for your stream and occupation level.
Find a Designated Employer
Search the provincial designated employer registries for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, or Newfoundland and Labrador. Approach designated employers in your NOC group. The employer must hold valid designation at the time they make you a job offer — you cannot use an offer from a non-designated employer.
Complete a Pre-Arrival Needs Assessment
Once an employer is interested in hiring you, your employer must connect you with a designated settlement service provider before the formal job offer. The settlement provider conducts a needs assessment to identify what settlement services you and your family will require upon arrival in the Atlantic province.
Employer Submits the Settlement Plan to the Province
Your designated employer develops a settlement plan based on the needs assessment results and submits it to the provincial government along with the job offer details. The province reviews the job offer and settlement plan to ensure they meet the AIP program criteria.
Receive Provincial Endorsement
If the province approves the job offer and settlement plan, it issues a provincial endorsement letter to you. This endorsement is required before you can apply to IRCC. Keep the endorsement letter — you will submit it as part of your federal PR application.
Submit Your Federal PR Application to IRCC
Using the provincial endorsement letter and all required supporting documents, submit your permanent residence application to IRCC online. Pay the federal processing fee of CAD 1,525 per adult and biometrics fee of CAD 85. Ensure all documents are complete — incomplete applications are returned without processing.
Complete Medical Exam and Biometrics
After submitting your PR application, IRCC will send a request for your medical examination from an approved panel physician. You will also be asked to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) at a designated Service Canada or IRCC office if you have not already done so in the last 10 years.
Receive PR Approval and Land in Canada
Once IRCC approves your application, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a PR visa (if outside Canada). Land at a Canadian port of entry to activate your permanent resident status. Settle in the endorsing Atlantic province and connect with the settlement service provider to begin your settlement plan.
Atlantic Immigration Program is one of Canada's most straightforward employer-driven pathways to permanent residence, designed specifically to address labour shortages in Atlantic Canada. Because it bypasses the points-based Express Entry pool, it is accessible to skilled workers who may not have a competitive CRS score. The two streams — Atlantic High-Skilled Program and Atlantic International Graduate Program — serve distinct profiles, and the settlement plan requirement means you arrive with support already in place.
The key constraint is finding a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces. Review each province's designated employer registry and apply directly to employers hiring in your NOC group. For full eligibility criteria and the current list of designated employers, visit canada.ca/atlantic-immigration.
For detailed insights on eligibility, document checklist, visa validity, and common refusal reasons, explore PR Visa FAQs guide to know the answers of all your questions.
Related Resources
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