Atlantic Pilot Program

December 20 - Atlantic Immigration Program increased immigrant retention rate in atlantic provinces

Prince Edward Island had a low retention rate during the past five years but has the most new immigrants arriving here.

Nova Scotia had the highest retention rate during the past year that was more than 65%. It attracted both individuals in the trades and also skilled workers.

New Brunswick along with Newfoundland and Labrador also had an increase in the number of immigrants who settled in these provinces which was more than 20% in the last five years.

May 2 - Atlantic Immigration Program : NOC not eligible

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has temporarily paused the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry (NSEEE) stream to NOC 6311 – food service supervisors.The following are currently not eligible:

Under NSEEE, work experience with NOC 6311

Under AIP, job offers with NOC 6311

The following remain the same:

Candidates using NOC 6311 can apply through the Skilled Worker Stream

Businesses working in the food and hospitality sectors will continue to be able to use the Skilled Worker stream to recruit food service supervisors.

Employers are also able to recruit food and beverage servers (NOC 6513) and food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 6711) through the Occupations in Demand (OiD) stream.

Currently, transport truck drivers (NOC 7511) applications are not being accepted by Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Immigration Program. Transport trucking employers are encouraged to use the Nova Scotia Nominee Program’s Occupations in Demand stream, which is dedicated for transport truck drivers and continuing care assistants.

April 7 - Program delivery update: Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), was launched on January 1, 2022, is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in 1 of the 4 Atlantic provinces.

New Instructions

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Application process and who can apply

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Putting an application into processing

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Assessing the application against selection criteria

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Ability to become economically established and intent to reside in the endorsing Atlantic province

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Other situations

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Admissibility and making a final decision

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Examination before granting permanent residence

March 30 - Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs (AIPP) – Other situations

The steps to add dependants to an existing Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) permanent residence (PR) application has been updated.

March 10 - ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION PROGRAM

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has started accepting applications for the new permanent Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) starting March 6, 2022. The Atlantic Immigration Program replaced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

This is an employer-driven program designed to help employers in Atlantic Canada hire qualified candidates for jobs they have been unable to fill locally. You must receive a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada to participate in the program.

To immigrate to Atlantic Canada through this program, you must be either

*a recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, or
*a skilled worker
You can be living abroad or already be in Canada as a temporary resident.
Read more

January 16 - ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION PROGRAM - NEW PROGRAM STARTING MARCH 6, 2022

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot closed on December 31, 2021. If you received a valid provincial certificate of endorsement before December 31, 2021, you can still apply for permanent residence under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot until March 5, 2022.

The Atlantic Immigration Program has replaced the pilot. You can submit your permanent residence application to the new program starting March 6, 2022.
The Atlantic Immigration Program is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in 1 of Canada’s 4 Atlantic provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. The program helps employers hire qualified candidates for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally.
Read more

December 3 - Atlantic Immigration Pilot

There are 3 programs in the pilot that employers can hire you through. You may qualify for more than 1 program, but you can only apply through 1.

For all 3 programs, you have to show proof that you meet the language, education and work experience requirements and that you have enough money to support you and your family when you come to Canada.

June 30 - Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Employers in Nova Scotia can use the Pilot to hire foreign workers.

The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration and Population Growth (NSIPG) will be accepting designation applications under this pilot program until June 30, 2021. We are excited for the new Atlantic Immigration Program to launch January 1, 2022, and will be sharing information on the new program as it becomes available.

If you have immediate labour market needs, you may be interested in reviewing Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program.

June 14 - REGULATIONS AMENDING THE IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION REGULATIONS (ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION CLASS)

There are also many qualitative benefits of the proposal, including increased retention of immigrants to Atlantic provinces and employers in these regions, and benefits to newcomers due to the increased support provided via mandatory settlement plans. More broadly, the regulatory proposal benefits Canada by bringing immigrants with valuable skills to areas of the country that have traditionally been underserved by migration. The proposed program would also help to support Canada's reputation both as a leader in immigration and as a country that maintains a welcoming and inclusive society that values cultural diversity.
Read more

February 17 - AIPP Update

The government of Canada released a communication where in it stated that it is committed to making the Atlantic Immigration Pilot permanent.

Pilot requirements

There are 3 programs in the pilot that employers can hire you through. You may qualify for more than 1 program, but you can only apply through 1.

August 17 - International Mobility Program: Atlantic Immigration Pilot – Work Permit Stream Update

Effective August 17, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has started accepting online Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) work permit applications. Paper applications will be continuing to be accepted until September 1, 2020.

Eligibility for temporary work permit

Foreign nationals who obtain a job offer from an employer and a referral letter from one of the Atlantic provinces, are eligible to apply for a one-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt employer-specific work permit.

The referral letter will be issued once the province has:

• received the needs assessment and settlement plan as well as the job offer, provided by the employer

• received a confirmed receipt of a commitment by the applicant to submit an eligible permanent residence application within 90 days from the submission of the work permit application

• received all the documents

To be eligible to apply for a one-year employer-specific work permit, foreign nationals must submit an online work permit application. The application must include the following:

• referral letter, issued by one of the Atlantic provinces, requesting IRCC issue a work permit

• signed commitment form, undertaking for an application for a work permit exempted from a LMIA as part of the AIP, showing the foreign national will apply for permanent residence within 90 days of submitting the work permit application

• an offer of employment number

• proof of work experience

Spouses and common-law partners can apply for an open work permit.

Official language proficiency

The applicant must provide:

a copy of a language test approved by IRCC that shows the applicant meets the minimum language level of 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmarks in English or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens in French for each of the 4 language skill areas, and
the test results must be less than 2 years old on the date of application

Education

Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

The applicant must demonstrate that they meet all of the following minimum education requirements:

They obtained, as a full-time student, a degree, diploma, certificate or trade or apprenticeship credential following completion of a post-secondary education program of at least 2 years from a recognized publicly funded institution in the 4 Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador).
That they lived in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island for at least 16 months (cumulative) within the 24-month period before their credential was granted.
They had valid or legal temporary resident status throughout their stay in Canada and had authorization for any work, study or training they engaged in while in Canada.

Eligible educational credentials

Only certain educational credentials are eligible for the AIGP. An educational credential is not eligible if the credentials were obtained in a study or training program where:

the study of English or French as a second language was at least half of the program
distance learning was at least half of the program
where a scholarship or fellowship stipulated that the recipient return to their home country to apply the knowledge and skills gained

Atlantic High-Skilled and Intermediate-Skilled Programs

Applicants must demonstrate they have either of the following:

a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree
a completed foreign credential

In addition to either of the above, the applicant must have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by IRCC.

The report must show the foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.
The ECA must be less than 5 years old at the time of the application.

Work Experience

Atlantic International Graduate Program

Applicants do not require any work experience.

Atlantic High-Skilled and Intermediate-Skilled program

Applicants must demonstrate that they have obtained work experience

for at least 1 year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), non-continuous, full-time or an equal amount in part-time, within the last 3 years
that was for paid work (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count)
in an occupation with the following National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- for high-skilled program – at skill type 0, or skill levels A, or B
- for intermediate-skilled – at skill level C
that was obtained overseas or obtained in Canada
- To count, Canadian experience must have been obtained while the foreign national was authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident.

For the periods of work experience claimed in the application, applicants under the Atlantic High-Skilled and Intermediate-Skilled programs must demonstrate they performed both of the following:

the actions identified in the initial lead statement of the NOC description
a substantial number of the main duties, including all the essential duties, listed in the NOC description
- This means the applicant performed some or all of the main duties, including all the duties that distinguish a particular occupation from any other. For example, duties that begin with “may” in the NOC description are not usually considered to be essential duties.

Applicants do not have to be employed at the time they apply.

Work experience does not need to be continuous to qualify and can be accumulated within the previous 3 years. When calculating the period of 12 months of required employment, it cannot include periods of unemployment, prolonged sick leave or parental leave. However, a reasonable period of vacation time will be counted towards meeting the work experience requirement (such as, a 2-week period of paid vacation leave within a given 52-week period in which the applicant was engaged in qualifying work).

Any periods of self-employment will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience.

Work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what they were authorized to do.

Provincial letter issued in reference to a temporary work permit

Applicants under the AIP must include a referral letter, issued by an Atlantic province, with their work permit application. This letter should include the following information:

the date of issue of the letter
the applicant’s name and date of birth
the applicant’s citizenship
a designated employer name, address and contact information
an employment start date
the specific AIP program the applicant is applying under
a statement that the designated employer has submitted an endorsement application that includes a needs assessment and settlement plan for the applicant and each member of the family, signed by both the designated employer and the applicant
a request for IRCC to issue a 1-year employer-specific work permit, with the validity dates as indicated in the offer of employment
a statement that the employer urgently needs the applicant as an employee before the application for permanent residence is complete
a statement that the province has determined that
the job offer is consistent with the requirements of the Ministerial Instructions classes
the employment is not part time or seasonal
the wages and working conditions of the employment are sufficient to attract and retain Canadian citizens and permanent residents
the NOC classification
an occupation title
the unique identifying number of the letter

Work permit duration

The foreign worker will get an employer-specific LMIA-exempt work permit that is valid for 1 year from the date of entry to Canada or until the expiry of the travel document, whichever comes first. The 1-year validity from the date of entry is necessary for the applicant to obtain health care and other benefits, once they are in Canada.

If the passport expires before a 1-year work permit can be issued, the foreign worker may apply for the balance by submitting an application for a work permit extension.

Work permit extension

In some situations, the application for permanent residence may take more than 1 year to be processed. Applicants to the AIP are not eligible for a bridging open work permit. Applicants who require additional time in Canada while their application for permanent residence is being processed may apply to extend their work permit.

Work permits cannot be made invalid, revoked or cancelled if an employer is de-designated by a province. However, if an employer is found to be non-compliant with employer conditions, through an inspection, the work permit may be revoked. Officers may refuse work permit extension applications to work for an employer who has been de-designated by the province. Foreign nationals may work for another employer, provided the employer is designated, and the province has issued a referral letter to support the new work permit.

For work permit extension applications where the applicant has not submitted an application for permanent residence within 90 days of the initial work permit, the application must include a new referral letter, issued by a province.

Open work permits for spouses and common-law partners

Spouses will be issued an open work permit, to the spouse or common-law partner of an AIP participant if that participant is employed in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A, B or C position. The open work permit should have a validity that matches the principal applicant’s work permit, up to a maximum of 1 year or until the expiry of the spouse or common-law partner’s passport or travel document, whichever is earlier. The spouse or common-law partner’s work permit may be issued at a port of entry (POE).

January 14 - Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program - Prince Edward Island updates list of Designated Employers

Recently Prince Edward Island (PEI) updated the list of employers taking part in Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) by adding twenty-four new employers which bring the total to 300 employers who are able to join the program. There are now 2,351 employers participating the program who can hire qualified candidates for jobs that they have been unable to fill locally. As this is an employer-driver program candidate require to receive a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada to participate in the pilot. The candidates can be living in Canada temporarily or living out of Canada.

AIPP is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to work and live either in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Newfoundland and Labrador.

There are three programs in the pilot that employers can hire candidates. They may qualify for more than one program, but can only apply through one. The three programs are:

• Atlantic International Graduate Program

• Atlantic High-Skilled Program

• Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program

For all three programs, candidates need to show proof that they meet the language, education and work experience requirements and that they have enough money to support them and their families when they come to Canada.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot – New Requirements – May 1, 2019

Although the AIP has been extended by two years to December 2021, as of May 1, 2019, IRCC will require that applicants meet the language, education and work experience requirements of the AIP prior to being approved for a work permit.

The other recent changes to the AIP was beneficial to international students, employers in the healthcare sector and the provinces:

· International graduates will now have 24 months post-graduation to apply for the AIP. This change will increase the number of eligible international graduates that can participate in AIP and give them the time they need to complete the PR application process.

· Employers in the healthcare sector will be able to hire internationally trained nurses to work as continuing care and home care support workers in order to fill job vacancies.

· The Atlantic provinces will have new authorities to focus their AIP spaces on in-demand labour market needs. This change will lead to better oversight of the pilot and give provinces greater ability to manage designated employers.