Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) was launched in 2017 as part of a joint initiative to stimulate economic growth in Canada’s Atlantic provinces, namely New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The creation of the pilot was aimed at curbing the population decline in Atlantic Canada, and bringing skilled, educated and experienced newcomers to fill the large local job gap.
Since its launching in 2017, it has been used to bring more than 4,000 immigrants to Atlantic Canada.

The pilot was extended an additional two years on March 1, 2019 by the government of Canada and is now expected to become a permanent program.
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 Pilot Program.
Instead, in order to qualify for the program, applicants must obtain a job offer from a designated employer in the Atlantic provinces. Applicants can apply in or outside of Canada.
If the applicant and the employer both meet the requirements, the applicant will be granted permanent residence.

Basic Requirements for Applicants

First, the applicant must get a job offer from a designated employer in the four Atlantic provinces. A valid job offer must meet all of these requirements:

• The job offer was made using the Offer of Employment to a Foreign National [IMM 5650] form.
• The employer must have a Confirmation of Designation from the province where the applicant will be working.
• The job must be full-time and non-seasonal.
• The job is skill type/level 0, A, B or C under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• The employer is offering a job that will last for at least 1 year from the time the applicant becomes a permanent resident in the case of international graduates and high-skilled workers. For intermediate-skilled workers, the job must be permanent with no set end date.

Second, the applicant must meet the eligibility requirements for one of the program streams. These requirements vary depending on which of the three streams of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program an applicant uses.
An applicant may qualify for more than one program, but they can only apply through one.

• International Graduate Stream
• High-Skilled Stream
• Intermediate-Skilled Stream

International Graduate Stream

To qualify for this stream, an applicant must:

• have at least a two-year degree, diploma or other credential from a publicly funded institution in an Atlantic province. This credential must be completed on a full-time basis within 2 years from the date of application submission
• have lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the 2 years before getting your degree, diploma or credential
• take a language test to show an adequate proficiency level in English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening)
• show you can support yourself and your family when settling in Canada

Work experience is not required for international graduates hired through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

High-Skilled Stream

To qualify for this stream, an applicant must:

• have at least 12-months (1560 hours) of full-time, skilled work experience (or the equivalent amount in part-time) at National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type/level 0, A, or B in the last 3 years. The work experience must be in one occupation, can be non-continuous, and can be gained inside or outside Canada.
• have a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, or an ECA-certified foreign equivalent
• take a language test to show an adequate proficiency level in English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening)
• show you can support yourself and your family when settling in Canada

Intermediate-Skilled Stream

To qualify for this stream, an applicant must:

• have at least 12-months (1560 hours) of full-time, skilled work experience (or the equivalent amount in part-time) at National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type/level 0, A, B, or C in the last 3 years. The work experience must be in one occupation, can be non-continuous, and can be gained inside or outside Canada.
  - Option 1
  work experience at NOC skill level C, such as industrial butchers, long-haul truck drivers, food and beverage servers;
  
  - Option 2
  work experience as one of the following:
  a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse (NOC skill level A 3012)
  a licensed practical nurse (NOC skill level B 3233)
  AND one of the following job offers:
  a nurse’s aide, orderly or patient services associate (NOC skill level C 3413)
  a home support worker (NOC skill level C 4412)
  
• have a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, or an ECA-certified foreign equivalent
• take a language test to show an adequate proficiency level in English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening)
• show you can support yourself and your family when settling in Canada

After meeting these requirements, you need to

• work with a settlement service provider organization to get a settlement plan
• wait for the province to endorse your job offer
• apply for permanent residence
• optional: apply for a temporary work permit

AIPP offers opportunities to people who want to immigrate to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador but are not eligible to enter the Express Entry pool or won’t be able to get enough points to receive an Invitation to Apply.

Are You Interested in Immigrating to Canada through AIPP?

If so, contact Springwind Immigration today. It is essential to get the information and start planning early in order to make your immigration dream come true.
An easy way to start your immigration process is to have an initial consultation with our licensed immigration professionals.
Our team has been well trained on the latest legal and immigration procedures, and has the expertise, knowledge and skills to advise you and guide you through the complex application process.