The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) offers a streamlined pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers and international graduates who want to live and work in Atlantic Canada — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
What Is the Atlantic Immigration Program?
The AIP is a federal-provincial partnership designed to address labour shortages in Atlantic Canada — one of Canada's most historically underserved regions for immigration. It became a permanent program in March 2022 after years as a pilot. The AIP focuses on employer-driven nomination, requiring a job offer from a designated employer in the Atlantic region.
Three Streams
Atlantic High-Skilled Program: For workers with a job offer in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation from a designated Atlantic employer. Requires at least one year of work experience in the last three years in a qualifying occupation, and language at CLB 4 or higher. Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program: For workers in NOC TEER 4 occupations with a qualifying job offer. Requires one year of work experience and CLB 4 language. Atlantic International Graduate Program: For graduates of a recognized Atlantic Canadian institution who have completed at least a two-year program and received a qualifying job offer from a designated employer. No prior work experience required.
Designated Employer Model
The key to AIP is the designated employer. Not all Atlantic employers can participate — they must apply to their province and be designated as eligible AIP employers. Designation means the employer has committed to supporting the settlement of new immigrants, actively promoting integration into the community. Once an employer is designated, they can extend job offers to foreign nationals through the AIP pathway.
No Minimum CRS Score Required
Unlike the federal Express Entry system, AIP does not have a minimum CRS score requirement. This makes it particularly valuable for candidates who have the skills and a job offer but who might not score high enough for an Express Entry ITA. After receiving a provincial endorsement through AIP, candidates apply directly to IRCC for PR — the process does not go through the Express Entry pool.
Settlement Plan
A unique AIP requirement is a settlement plan. Before receiving the endorsement, the employer connects the applicant with a settlement services organization in the Atlantic community. Together, they develop a plan covering housing, language support, and community integration. This step distinguishes AIP from other programs and reflects its focus on long-term settlement success.
Processing Times
AIP applications are generally processed faster than many federal pathways, often within six to nine months total (provincial endorsement plus IRCC processing). The federal government has prioritized Atlantic Canada immigration to support regional economic growth, which has helped maintain faster processing for AIP candidates.