What is the AIP?
The Atlantic Immigration Program is an employer-driven pathway to Canadian permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and qualifying international graduates who intend to live and work in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces.
The four provinces are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. A valid job offer from a designated Atlantic employer is a central program requirement.
AIP Eligibility Checker
This checker screens several major program conditions. It is not an IRCC eligibility decision and does not replace the full AIP application assessment.
Current AIP Job-Offer TEER Rules
The current AIP is not divided into AHSP, AISP and AIGP streams. The job-offer TEER category determines the applicable work-experience, language and education requirements, while qualifying Atlantic international graduates can receive an exemption from the work-experience requirement.
| Job offer | Qualifying work experience | Language | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEER 0 | TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 | CLB/NCLC 5 | At least a Canadian one-year post-secondary credential or equivalent |
| TEER 1 | TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4 | CLB/NCLC 5 | At least a Canadian one-year post-secondary credential or equivalent |
| TEER 2 | TEER 2, 3 or 4 | CLB/NCLC 5 | At least a Canadian high-school credential or equivalent |
| TEER 3 | TEER 3 or 4 | CLB/NCLC 5 | At least a Canadian high-school credential or equivalent |
| TEER 4 | TEER 4 | CLB/NCLC 4 | At least a Canadian high-school credential or equivalent |
Education Requirement for Your Selected TEER
At least a Canadian one-year post-secondary credential or equivalent
If your education is outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is generally required.
Qualifying Work Experience
Where work experience is required, it must generally be at least one year of full-time work or an equivalent amount of part-time work, accumulated within the relevant period and meeting the NOC duty requirements.
| Requirement | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Paid work | Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count. |
| Canadian work | Must have been performed with valid authorization. |
| Self-employment | Self-employed work does not qualify. |
| NOC duties | Must include the lead statement and a substantial number of the main duties, including essential duties. |
| TEER relationship | The required work-experience TEER depends on the TEER category of the job offer. |
Atlantic International Graduate Exemption
A recent international graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada may be exempt from the normal work-experience requirement. This is not an automatic exemption merely because a person studied in Atlantic Canada.
| Program length | At least 2 years |
|---|---|
| Institution | Recognized post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces |
| Timing | Credential received less than 2 years before applying |
| Study status | Full-time student for the entire program |
| Atlantic residence | At least 16 months in an Atlantic province during the 24 months before graduation |
| Authorization | Required authorization to study, work or receive training in Canada |
Certain study programs are excluded from the exemption, including programs where English or French as a second language made up at least half of the program, programs where distance learning made up at least half of the program, and certain scholarship arrangements requiring return to the home country.
Language Requirements
| Job offer TEER | Minimum language | Abilities |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 | CLB/NCLC 5 | Listening, speaking, reading and writing |
| TEER 4 | CLB/NCLC 4 | Listening, speaking, reading and writing |
Approved language-test results must generally be less than two years old when you submit the permanent-residence application.
The AIP Process
- Get a job offer from a designated employer: You must receive a qualifying job offer from an employer that is officially designated under the Atlantic Immigration Program.
- Confirm your eligibility: Check the job-offer TEER category, qualifying work experience or international-graduate exemption, education, language and settlement-funds requirements.
- Get a settlement plan: After receiving the job offer, you and your family members obtain a personalized settlement plan from a designated settlement-service provider. A copy goes to the employer and another copy is included with the permanent-residence application.
- Employer obtains provincial endorsement: The employer submits the endorsement application to the province. If the province endorses the job offer, you receive a confirmation of provincial endorsement.
- Apply for permanent residence: Submit the permanent-residence application with the required AIP forms, endorsement, settlement plan and supporting documents.
- Optional temporary work permit: Where eligible, an applicant may be able to obtain a temporary work permit while the permanent-residence application is being processed. This is a separate temporary authorization and is not itself permanent residence.
Settlement Funds
Applicants generally need proof of sufficient funds that are transferable and available for settlement in Canada. The funds generally need to be the applicant's own rather than borrowed money.
IRCC states that proof of funds is not required if the applicant is already working in Canada with a valid work permit. The amount required depends on family size and the applicable IRCC settlement-funds table.
Settlement Intent and Endorsing Province
AIP is designed for people who intend to live and work in the Atlantic province that endorses their application. The applicant makes a declaration of that intention as part of the AIP process.
This should not be described as a special post-landing citizenship residency obligation. The important issue for the AIP application is the genuine intention to settle in the endorsing Atlantic province.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Transfer Money with WiseAtlantic Provinces
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador