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CRS Calculator →What Is the Atlantic Immigration Program?
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) became a permanent federal program in March 2022, after running as a pilot from 2017. It was designed to address chronic labour shortages in Canada's four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Newfoundland and Labrador — by giving employers in those provinces a direct pipeline to recruit and retain international talent as permanent residents.
AIP is employer-driven, not applicant-driven. The process begins with you finding a job — or your employer finding you — at a company that is registered as a designated AIP employer. The employer then endorses your application, the province endorses it, and you submit a PR application to IRCC. There are no points-based draws, no CRS competition, and no lottery.
The Four Atlantic Provinces
New Brunswick
Largest Atlantic province by area. Strong demand in healthcare, construction, IT, and agriculture. Population growth incentives make it active in AIP recruitment.
Nova Scotia
Largest Atlantic province by population. Halifax is a growing tech and business hub. Strong demand in healthcare, engineering, and skilled trades.
Prince Edward Island
Canada's smallest province. Acute labour shortages in agriculture, food processing, hospitality, and healthcare. PEI has been very proactive with AIP employers.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Major industries include oil and gas, fisheries, engineering, and healthcare. Growing demand for skilled trades and STEM professionals.
AIP Streams — Who Can Apply?
The Atlantic Immigration Program has two main streams, each targeting a different group of workers:
| Stream | Who It Is For | Work Experience Required |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic High-Skilled Program | Workers with a qualifying job offer in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation | 1 year of related full-time work experience in last 3 years (can be in Canada or abroad) |
| Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program | Workers with a qualifying job offer in a NOC TEER 4 occupation | 1 year of related full-time work experience in last 3 years (can be in Canada or abroad) |
| Atlantic International Graduate Program | International graduates from a recognized Atlantic institution | No prior work experience required — graduation from an Atlantic institution qualifies |
AIP Eligibility Requirements
All AIP applicants must meet the following criteria regardless of stream:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Job offer | Non-seasonal, full-time (30+ hours/week) job offer from a designated AIP employer in an Atlantic province |
| Employer designation | Employer must be officially registered and designated by their provincial government to recruit through AIP |
| Language — TEER 0/1/2/3 | CLB 4 in all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) in English or French |
| Language — TEER 4 | CLB 4 in all four language skills |
| Education | High school diploma minimum; Canadian ECA required for foreign post-secondary credentials if education points are claimed |
| Settlement plan | Must complete a settlement plan with a designated settlement service provider in the Atlantic province where you will live |
| Provincial endorsement | Must receive an endorsement letter from the provincial government of the Atlantic province |
| Admissibility | Must be admissible to Canada — no serious criminality, no medical inadmissibility |
What Is a Designated AIP Employer?
Not every employer in Atlantic Canada can recruit through AIP. To be eligible to hire through this program, an employer must apply to their provincial government for designated status. The province evaluates whether the employer is a legitimate business, has made genuine efforts to recruit locally first, and meets the program's standards.
Each Atlantic province maintains its own registry of designated AIP employers. Applicants can search these registries to find eligible employers before or during a job search:
| Province | Where to Find Designated Employers |
|---|---|
| New Brunswick | Population Growth Secretariat website (gnb.ca) |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (novascotia.ca) |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Office of Immigration (princeedwardisland.ca) |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | NL Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (gov.nl.ca) |
The Settlement Plan Requirement
One feature that makes AIP unique among Canadian PR programs is the mandatory settlement plan. Before you can receive a provincial endorsement letter, you must connect with a designated settlement service provider in your Atlantic province and develop a plan for settling there.
The settlement plan covers things like: language services you might use, employment support, community connections, housing resources, and local orientation programs. This requirement exists because the federal and provincial governments want to ensure that AIP immigrants actually integrate into Atlantic communities — not simply use AIP as a backdoor to eventually move to Toronto or Vancouver.
Step-by-Step: How the AIP Process Works
Find a Job Offer From a Designated Employer
Search for open positions at designated AIP employers through provincial registries, job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn filtered by Atlantic provinces, or by contacting employers directly. The job must be non-seasonal, full-time (30+ hours/week), and in a qualifying NOC occupation.
Employer Endorses Your Application
Once you have a job offer, your employer contacts the provincial government and begins the AIP employer endorsement process. The employer certifies that the job meets program requirements and that the position is genuinely needed. They provide you with an endorsement document.
Contact a Settlement Service Provider
Connect with a designated settlement service provider in your Atlantic province to complete your mandatory settlement plan. This can typically be done before or after the job offer. Keep your settlement plan document — you will submit it with your provincial endorsement application.
Receive Provincial Endorsement Letter
Your province reviews your employer's endorsement and your eligibility, then issues a provincial endorsement letter. This letter confirms that the province supports your permanent residence application under AIP. It is a mandatory document for the IRCC application.
Submit PR Application to IRCC
With your provincial endorsement letter in hand, submit your permanent residence application to IRCC online. Include all required documents: passport, language results, employment letter, settlement plan, police certificates, medical exam, and education documents.
IRCC Processes and Issues COPR
IRCC reviews your PR application, runs background and security checks, and issues your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). You then land in Canada (or confirm your status if already here) and become a permanent resident committed to living in your Atlantic province.
AIP vs. Express Entry — Key Differences
| Factor | Atlantic Immigration Program | Express Entry (FSW/CEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer required? | ✅ Yes — mandatory | ❌ No — optional (adds CRS points) |
| CRS competition? | ❌ No draw or CRS threshold | ✅ Yes — bi-weekly draw cut-offs 470–510 |
| Language minimum | CLB 4 (lower) | CLB 7 (FSW); CLB 5–7 (CEC) |
| TEER 4 jobs eligible? | ✅ Yes (Intermediate stream) | ❌ No — TEER 0–3 only |
| Settlement plan | ✅ Mandatory | ❌ Not required |
| Province restriction | Must intend to live in Atlantic Canada | Can live anywhere except Quebec |
| International graduates | ✅ Separate graduate stream | Eligible if they have 1 yr Canadian experience (CEC) |
| Processing pathway | Employer → Province → IRCC | Direct to IRCC after ITA |
Processing Times for AIP in 2026
| Stage | Approximate Timeline |
|---|---|
| Employer gets designated (if not yet designated) | 4–12 weeks (varies by province) |
| Provincial endorsement processing | 2–8 weeks |
| IRCC PR application processing | 6–14 months (varies by applicant country) |
| Total end-to-end (typical) | 8–20 months |
📚 Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions — Atlantic Immigration Program
What is the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)?
AIP is a federal-provincial permanent residence pathway for skilled workers and international graduates who have a job offer from a designated employer in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland and Labrador. It bypasses Express Entry draws entirely — no CRS score competition is required.
Do I need a job offer for AIP?
Yes — a qualifying, non-seasonal, full-time job offer from a designated AIP employer is mandatory. Without this, you cannot apply under AIP. The employer must be officially registered with their provincial government to recruit through the program.
What are the language requirements for AIP?
The minimum language requirement for AIP is CLB 4 in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) in English or French. This is significantly lower than Express Entry (which requires CLB 7 minimum). Higher scores are not required but may strengthen your application.
What is an AIP settlement plan?
A settlement plan is a free document prepared with a designated settlement service provider in your Atlantic province. It outlines the community supports you plan to use after arriving. It is mandatory — you cannot receive a provincial endorsement letter without completing it.
How long does AIP take to process?
End-to-end, AIP typically takes 8 to 20 months, depending on the employer's designation status, provincial endorsement speed, and IRCC processing times. IRCC PR application processing alone takes approximately 6 to 14 months.
Can international graduates apply for AIP?
Yes. The Atlantic International Graduate Program stream is specifically for people who graduated from a recognized institution in an Atlantic province. Work experience is not required — the graduation itself qualifies you, as long as you have a job offer from a designated employer.
Key Takeaways
- AIP is a direct PR pathway — no Express Entry pool, no CRS draw, no lottery
- A job offer from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces is mandatory
- Language requirement is CLB 4 minimum — much lower than Express Entry's CLB 7
- TEER 4 jobs are eligible under the Intermediate-Skilled stream — unique to AIP
- A mandatory settlement plan must be completed with a designated settlement provider before provincial endorsement
- International graduates from Atlantic institutions have their own stream — no work experience required
- End-to-end processing is typically 8–20 months from finding the employer to receiving COPR
- AIP applicants are expected to genuinely settle in Atlantic Canada — not use it as a route to other provinces