Federal · Atlantic Provinces

Atlantic Immigration Program

Page last edited: May 12, 2026·Official source

What is this program?

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a special federal pathway designed to bring skilled workers to Canada's four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The catch — you must already have a job offer from an Atlantic employer who's been approved by the government as a "designated employer." The Atlantic provinces have small populations and a shortage of skilled workers, so they actively recruit through this program.

Who is it for?

You have a job offer from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces
You have at least 1 year of relevant work experience (or you're a recent graduate of an Atlantic Canadian school)
You meet the language and education thresholds for your job's TEER level
You intend to live in the Atlantic province where you have the job offer

What does it lead to?

Permanent residence. The job offer doesn't need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which saves the employer a lot of paperwork. IRCC's current estimate is about 26 months after a complete application — this changes often, so check the official processing-times page.

Primary requirements

Job offer from an employer on the AIP designated-employer list, in one of NB, NS, PE, or NL.
1 year (1,560 hours) of skilled work experience in the last 5 years — OR — recent graduation (within 2 years) from a publicly funded school in an Atlantic province.
Job offer must match your work experience and be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (or specific TEER 4 occupations for healthcare and trades).
Language: CLB 5 for most jobs; CLB 4 for some TEER 4 occupations.
Education: at least a Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent (with ECA).
Settlement plan from a designated settlement organisation — the employer helps arrange this.

What you'll need to apply

Valid passport
Job-offer letter from the designated employer
Endorsement letter from the destination Atlantic province
Language test results
ECA report (or Canadian credential, if you studied in the Atlantic provinces)
Settlement plan
Police certificates and medical exam

Where to start

Check if you match this program (free)

Or visit the official federal · atlantic provinces page for Atlantic Immigration Program to read the government's own requirements.

If you want professional advice before applying, work with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a Canadian immigration lawyer.

How we keep this page current

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Informational only — not immigration advice. Always confirm requirements on the official government page.