Atlantic Immigration Program

Drafted from the official pages listed under Sources, last read on 29 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change: check the official page before you act. This is not legal advice and does not guarantee any outcome.

Who it is for

IRCC describes the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) as a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates of a recognized Atlantic Canada post-secondary institution who want to work and live in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. Candidates may live abroad or in Canada as temporary residents. A job offer from a designated employer is required.

IRCC’s program page showed the program as open when read. It does not describe an intake cap for 2026, so check the page for any change.

How it works

IRCC lists these steps. The employer’s steps happen first.

• The employer is designated by the provincial government before making a job offer (designation is free, per IRCC).
• You receive a job offer from the designated employer.
• You are connected with settlement services to get a settlement plan; you send it to the employer, who submits an endorsement application.
• You receive a provincial endorsement certificate and, if a work permit is required, possibly a work permit support letter.
• You submit your permanent residence application, the endorsement certificate and other documents to IRCC, and may apply for a work permit while it is processed if required.

Main requirements

• A valid job offer from an employer designated by the Atlantic province.
• Work experience: at least 1,560 hours of paid, related work in the past 5 years (equal to 30 hours a week for one year), spanning at least one year, not self-employment, matching the TEER of the job offer or higher. Eligible Atlantic Canada graduates may be exempt.
• The right level of education for the offered job; an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is needed if the education was completed outside Canada.
• Language: CLB 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 offers; CLB 4 for TEER 4 offers. Approved tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada; results under 2 years old.
• Settlement funds, unless you already work in Canada on a valid work permit: CAN$3,815 for 1 person, CAN$4,750 for 2, CAN$5,840 for 3, CAN$7,090 for 4, CAN$8,042 for 5, CAN$9,070 for 6, CAN$10,098 for 7, plus CAN$1,028 for each additional member.
• A settlement plan from a service provider organization (free), obtained after the job offer.
• A provincial endorsement certificate, sent after the province endorses the job offer, included with the permanent residence application.

Settlement-fund amounts were last updated by IRCC on 29 July 2025 according to the page; the funds you need are those in force when you apply and when the visa is issued.

Costs and timing

IRCC states that employer designation costs nothing. The page shows the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) of CAN$600.00 on the IRCC fee list, and biometrics of CAN$85.00 per person. IRCC’s AIP page did not display the AIP application fee when read, so confirm it on the fee list before paying. A temporary work permit while you wait costs CAN$155.00.

Processing times are estimates published by IRCC in its processing times tool; they are not promises.

Preparing your file

• Keep detailed work records: IRCC’s checklist names a work permit if applicable, reference letters, T4s or Notice of Assessment, contracts and pay stubs.
• Book an approved language test early and make sure the result will still be under 2 years old when you apply.
• Arrange an ECA for education completed outside Canada; the checklist says it must be under five years old.
• Prepare bank letters on letterhead showing your name, debts, account details and 6-month average balances.
• Do not rely on borrowed money or home equity as settlement funds; IRCC says they do not count.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Accepting an offer from an employer that the province has not designated.
• Counting unpaid work, volunteering, internships or self-employment as qualifying experience.
• Counting work in Canada without a valid work permit.
• Not declaring more than CAN$10,000 brought into Canada: IRCC warns of fines and seizure.
• Thinking an employer, the province or this platform can guarantee permanent residence: IRCC decides each application.