Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program is designed to stimulate economic growth in Canada’s Atlantic provinces by attracting skilled workers. The Atlantic provinces include New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
To qualify for the Atlantic Immigration Program, applicants must have an official job offer. Usually, in order to obtain a Canadian job offer valid for immigration purposes, the applicant must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is not required for the Atlantic Immigration Program. Instead, the job offer must be from a designated employer.
The Atlantic Immigration Program started as a pilot program in 2017 and was made permanent at the beginning of 2022. The AIP is responsible for welcoming over 6,000 newcomers to Atlantic provinces each year.
Atlantic Immigration Program Requirements
The Atlantic Immigration Program facilitates immigration through connecting two parties:
- Foreign nationals interested in becoming residents of Atlantic Canada
- Employers designated by the government to hire foreign nationals
The Atlantic Immigration Program has different requirements for both of these parties.
Foreign National Requirements
Foreign nationals interested in immigrating to either New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island, may do so through the Atlantic Immigration program only if they meet certain requirements. First, the foreign national must have an official job offer from a designated employer. Please refer to each province’s designated employers in the following tables:
| Employer Name | Location | Date Designated | NOC | NAIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10113 Newfoundland Ltd. o/a Mary Brown’s | Clarenville | 2022-08-12 | 6322, 6311 | 72 |
| 10464 Newfoundland Ltd. o/a Jungle Jim’s Restaurant | St. John’s | 2022-05-06 | 6311, 6322, 6512, 6513 | 72 |
| 10565 NFLD Inc. o/a Hotel North | Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. Anthony | 2022-07-21 | 6312, 6322, 6513, 6525 | 72 |
| 13910 NF & Lab Inc. o/a Fewers Ambulance Service | Holyrood, Conception Bay South | 2022-03-15 | 3234 | 62 |
| 1949 Barber Shop Ltd. o/a 1949 Barber Shop | St. John’s | 2022-05-16 | 6341 | 81 |
| 3T’s Limited o/a 3T’s | Little Rapids & Woody Point | 2022-05-18 | 0711, 1123, 1225, 9463 | 31 |
| 64354 Newfoundland & Labrador Ltd. o/a Freedom Foods/McDonald’s | St. John’s, Mount Pearl | 2022-02-17 | 6311 | 72 |
| 70535 Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. o/a A&W Restaurant | Stephenville | 2022-06-22 | 6311 | 72 |
| 72351 NL & LAB INC o/a Reliable Ambulance Service | Stephenville | 2022-03-09 | 3234 | 62 |
| 72764 Newfoundland & Labrador o/a Mary Brown’s | Springdale | 2022-05-13 | 6322, 6311 | 72 |
| Employers |
|---|
| Shannex Inc. |
| Canadian Business Management Accounting Services Inc. |
| 3253587 Nova Scotia Ltd. o/a Thai Ivory Cuisine |
| Tarek’s Cafe Ltd. |
| Irving Shipbuilding Inc. |
| Magnicon Holdings Inc. o/a Halifax Bread Factory |
| Synthesis Design Build |
| Scotia Structures Inc. o/a Archadeck of Nova Scotia |
| MWGM Remodeling Inc. o/a Case Design/Remodeling Halifax |
| Motel Gisele Limited o/a Auberge Gisele’s Inn |
| TZ CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION LTD. |
| Employer name |
|---|
| 100556 PEI Inc. o/a GWR Visser Farms |
| 101775 PEI Inc. o/a Ta Ke Sushi Japanese Restaurant |
| 102157 PEI Inc. o/a Maid Marian’s Diner |
| 102216 PEI Inc. o/a Alexandra’s Pizza |
| 102221 PEI Inc. o/a The Wheelhouse in Georgetown |
| 102224 PEI Inc. o/a PEI Metal Solutions |
| 10941883 Canada Inc. o/a Taco Boyz Stratford |
| 11075616 Canada Ltd. o/a Ironwood Construction |
| 11865498 Canada Inc. o/a Spicey Chef Restaurant |
| 2108204 Alberta Ltd. o/a Montgomery’s Recycling Depot |
| Employers |
|---|
| 3D Property Management |
| A&J Hanna Construction Ltd |
| Accor Global Reservation Centre |
| AnyDay Plumbing & Renos Inc. |
| Atelier Gérard Beaulieu |
| Atlantic Lottery Corporation |
| Atlantic Windows |
| Aulac Big Stop Restaurant (W.J. Allen & Sons) |
| Ayr Motor Express Inc |
| Barrie Special Care Home Ltd (Nasonworth) |
Second, the foreign national must meet the eligibility requirements. These requirements vary depending on whether the candidate has completed qualifying post-secondary education in Atlantic Canada.
Work Experience Requirements
Candidates must have at least one year of paid, full-time work experience in the past five years. You may count hours worked abroad, or inside Canada on valid status. The work experience must be in National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, B, or C.
International Graduate Requirements
Candidates that qualify as eligible international graduates do not need to meet the work experience requirements. In order to meet the requirements of an international graduate, candidates must:
- Hold a minimum two-year degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certificate; from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the Atlantic provinces;
- Have been a full-time student for the entirety of their studies;
- Have lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the last two years before graduating;
- Have held the required study permit, and if required, work permit, during their studies in Canada
| Institution | Province |
|---|---|
| Acadia University | Nova Scotia |
| Atlantic School of Theology | Nova Scotia |
| Cape Breton University | Nova Scotia |
| Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick | New Brunswick |
| Collège de l’Île | Prince Edward Island |
| College of the North Atlantic | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Dalhousie University | Nova Scotia |
| Holland College | Prince Edward Island |
| Maritime College of Forest Technology | New Brunswick |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | Newfoundland and Labrador |
Educational Requirements
Educational requirements will vary depending on the occupational skill type of the job offer. Please see the chart below for educational requirements by skill type:
| Skill type | Minimum education |
|---|---|
| 0 | Minimum 1-year post-secondary credential (Canadian or equivalent) |
| A | Minimum 1-year post-secondary credential (Canadian or equivalent) |
| B | Minimum high school diploma (Canadian or equivalent) |
| C | Minimum high school diploma (Canadian or equivalent) |
If your education was completed outside of Canada, you must provide an Educational Credential Assessment.
Language Requirements
The minimum required Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level also depends on the skill type of the job offer. Please see the chart below for language requirements by skill type:
| Skill type | CLB level |
|---|---|
| 0 | 5 |
| A | 5 |
| B | 5 |
| C | 4 |
Proof of Funds
Candidates must also be able to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their families when settling in Canada.
Designated Employer Requirements
Employers interested in participating in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program must apply to become designated employers. As a designated employer, a business will have the ability to hire foreign nationals without obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Designated employers are required to assist employees hired through the pilot with settlement in their province of residence.
Employer Designation
In order to hire foreign nationals through the Atlantic Immigration Program, first an employer must apply to be officially designated. In order to become designated, the employer may apply directly to the province where the business for which they want to hire foreign nationals is located. The employer will have to demonstrate that they are in good standing with any provincial regulatory bodies. They will also have to submit a description of their labour needs, including their reason for hiring international workers.
Finally, designated employers must demonstrate that they can provide settlement support to the workers they hire through the Atlantic Immigration Program. In order to obtain applications to become a designated employer, businesses can consult the immigration webpages of the Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
New Brunswick Recruitment Events
The province of New Brunswick regularly organizes events overseas for foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to Canada. Please refer to our schedule of upcoming New Brunswick information sessions and job fairs. Those who are successful through these information sessions will be eligible to immigrate to Canada through the New Brunswick PNP or the Atlantic Immigration Program.