Atlantic immigration program
If you’re in Canada or outside of Canada and want to get permanent residency in Canada with a low language score, limited work experience, and low education, we recommend reading this. One way to obtain permanent residency in Canada is through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
With this program, you can get an Atlantic Canada visa, settle in the Atlantic provinces, and become a Canadian citizen after a few years. This program helps employers hire job seekers who are in Canada or abroad.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) closed in 2021, and the Atlantic Immigration Program replaced it with some changes to the requirements. As of March 6, 2022, applications for this program have been possible.
Where is Atlantic Canada?
Atlantic Canada consists of the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
The number of immigrants who entered each of the Atlantic provinces through the Atlantic programs:
| Province | 2020 | 2021 | January to October 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | 670 | 1580 | 1350 |
| Nova Scotia | 740 | 2675 | 2290 |
| Prince Edward Island | 120 | 265 | 310 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 170 | 410 | 625 |
Benefits of the Atlantic Immigration Program
Lower costs compared to other programs
Shorter processing times
Ability to choose from several provinces to find a job offer
No need for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment)
No points-based system
Age of the applicant is not important
Low required language scores
Possibility for semi-skilled applicants to immigrate
Very low proof of funds compared to other programs
Subcategories of the Atlantic Immigration methods
| Subcategories | Main program requirements | Initial processing time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. International Graduate | Graduating from an Atlantic university and having a job offer from an Atlantic employer | 6 to 12 months |
| 2. Skilled and semi-skilled Atlantic worker | Having one year of work experience and a job offer from an Atlantic employer | 6 to 12 months |
Requirements of the Atlantic Immigration Program for international graduate students
To participate in this program for immigration to the Atlantic provinces of Canada, you must meet the following conditions:
Educational Qualification
You must have at least a 2-year diploma from an accredited educational institution in the Atlantic region beyond high school and have studied full-time.
You should have lived in the Atlantic region for a minimum of 16 months within the 2 years leading up to obtaining your diploma.
Job Offer
You need to have a job offer from an employer in the Atlantic region.
The job offer must be for full-time work (at least 30 hours per week) and cannot be seasonal or temporary.
This position should fall under levels TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 in Canada’s job classification system. For levels TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3, the job offer duration should be at least one year (one year after you become a permanent resident). The job offer at level TEER 4 must be permanent and have no end date.
You must have the necessary licenses and requirements to work in that field.
The job offer cannot come from a company where you or your spouse are major shareholders.
Language
If you have a job offer at levels TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, you need to have an English or French language certificate at CLB 5 level.
If you have a job offer at level TEER 4, you should have an English or French language certificate at CLB 4 level.
Each language test has its own scoring system that can be converted to CLB levels. To convert scores from different language certifications to CLB, the scores for each skill must be reviewed.
Example: CLB 5 in English corresponds to a score of 5 in Speaking, Listening, and Writing skills, and a score of 4 in Reading in the General-IELTS test.
Financial Ability for the Atlantic Canada Immigration Program
If you are working inside Canada, you do not need to provide proof of financial ability. However, if you are outside of Canada, you must provide a certain amount as proof of financial ability. This amount varies depending on the number of family members (note that this count includes individuals who are not immigrating with the applicant).
| Number of Family Members | Financial Amount (Canadian Dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3327 |
| 2 | 4142 |
| 3 | 5092 |
| 4 | 6183 |
| 5 | 7013 |
| 6 | 7909 |
| 7 | 8806 |
| For each additional person | 896 |
Conditions for the Atlantic Skilled and Semi-Skilled Worker Immigration Program
To participate in the Atlantic Canada immigration program, you need to meet the following conditions:
Work experience for the Atlantic Canada immigration program
You must have at least one year of work experience in Canada or abroad.
One year of work is equivalent to 1,560 hours. This work experience must have been gained within the 5 years prior to your application. To calculate your work experience, the total hours of both full-time and part-time work are counted.
This work experience must have been accumulated over a 12-month period. If your work experience reaches 1,560 hours in less than 12 months, you must wait until a full 12 months have passed since your work to submit your application. This means that Canada only counts work hours over 30 hours a week. Keep in mind that 30 hours of work per week is considered full-time work in Canada.
What kind of work experience is needed for the Atlantic immigration stream?
In this program, it doesn’t matter what job the person has held. You can apply for this program with any job, as long as it falls within one of the TEER levels 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 in Canada’s NOC classifications.
Job offer
You must have a job offer from one of the employers in the Atlantic region.
The job offer must be for full-time work (at least 30 hours a week) and cannot be seasonal or temporary.
This job must be at one of the TEER levels 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 in Canada’s NOC system. For TEER levels 0, 1, 2, and 3, the duration of the job offer must be at least one year (one year after you become a permanent resident). Job offers at TEER level 4 need to be permanent with no end date.
You must have the necessary licenses and conditions to work in that field.
The job offer must not come from a company where you or your spouse is a major shareholder.
The level of the job offer and the level of work experience must match according to the table below.
Example: Arzhang has 2 years of work experience as a mechanical engineer (TEER 1) in Iran. He has now found a job as an administrative expert (TEER 3) in Nova Scotia. This job offer is not suitable for the Atlantic immigration program because, according to the table above, he can only find job offers at management levels (TEER 0) or specialized levels (TEER 1).
Individuals whose job offer is one of the following do not need their work experience and job offer level to match the table above.
Nursing aides and patient and elderly care assistants
Home care service workers
Registered nurses
Experienced nurses
Education
If your job offer is at TEER level 0 or 1, you must have at least one year of post-secondary education. If your job offer is at TEER level 2, 3, or 4, you must have at least a high school diploma. If you didn’t get your diploma from Canada, you’ll also need to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your qualifications.
What is an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)?
There are organizations that assess foreign educational credentials and determine which Canadian credential they are equivalent to. One of the best organizations for evaluating and equivalencing educational qualifications is World Education Services (WES).
Language Proficiency
If you have a job offer at TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3: you need to have an English or French language certificate at CLB 5 level.
If you have a job offer at TEER level 4: you need a language certificate in English or French at CLB 4 level.
Each test has its own scoring system that can be converted to the CLB level. You need to check the scores of each skill to convert different language test scores to CLB.
Financial requirements for the Atlantic Canada immigration program
If you are working within Canada, you do not need to provide proof of financial means. However, if you are outside of Canada, you need to provide a certain amount as proof of financial means. This amount varies depending on the number of family members (note that this number includes individuals who are not accompanying the immigration applicant).
| Number of Family Members | Amount of Financial Proof (Canadian Dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3327 |
| 2 | 4142 |
| 3 | 5092 |
| 4 | 6183 |
| 5 | 7013 |
| 6 | 7909 |
| 7 | 8806 |
| For each additional person | 896 |
Required documents for the Atlantic Canada immigration program
Language Certificate: Only one of the following certificates is accepted for this program.
English Language
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
Note that the CELPIP General-LS test is not accepted.
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
French Language
TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
Educational Documents: The main certificate and transcripts, as well as an assessment of educational credentials (if the degree was obtained outside Canada)
Financial Capability for the Atlantic Immigration Program (if you are residing outside Canada)
Settlement Plan
After finding a job offer, you need to get a copy of the Confirmation of Designation form from your employer to obtain your settlement plan. This plan helps you settle more easily in the Atlantic region and adapt to the conditions. To prepare this plan, you must contact the service-providing organizations. These organizations will provide you with this plan for free, tailored to your circumstances, after gathering your information.
Employment reference letter, pay stubs, work contract, and T4 tax slips (if you have worked in Canada)
Forms:
Job Offer Form for Foreign Individuals in the Atlantic Immigration Program (IMM0157)
Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]
Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]
Economic Class – Atlantic Immigration Program [IMM 5501]
Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]
Supplementary Information – Your travels [IMM 5562]
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
Criminal Record Check
This certificate must be obtained for all family members over 18 years of age, from any country where they have resided for more than 6 months (excluding Canada).
Passport, visas, and temporary residence permits for living in countries other than the country of citizenship, birth certificate, marriage certificate, national ID card, and recent photo
Confirmation of Provincial Endorsement
The employer sends the settlement plan for the relevant province, and then the province reviews the job offer and issues a confirmation certificate.
Documents that are not in English or French must be translated. A certified copy of the original document should also be provided. It’s best to include the translator’s certificate along with the translations.
Steps for the Atlantic Immigration Program
To obtain permanent residency in Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Program, you need to follow these steps.
Step One: Review the conditions for the desired sub-category and obtain a job offer from an employer in the Atlantic region
If you meet the immigration conditions for Atlantic Canada in your desired sub-category, you need to find a job offer. This job offer must be from one of the selected employers from one of the Atlantic provinces. The criteria and procedures for selecting employers for the Atlantic Provincial Nominee Program are specified on each province’s website. Generally, the employer must have followed labor regulations and operated for two consecutive years in one of the Atlantic provinces.
To find selected employers in the provinces, you should visit each province’s website:
New Brunswick website
Nova Scotia website
Newfoundland and Labrador website
Prince Edward Island website
Step Two: Gather documents and pay fees
After gathering the necessary documents for the Atlantic Immigration Program, you must pay the fees:
| Fee Item | Applicant | Spouse of Applicant | Each Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application processing fee | CAD 950 | CAD 950 | CAD 260 |
| Permanent residency fee | CAD 575 | CAD 575 | |
| Biometrics fee | CAD 85 | If the applicant has a spouse and child CAD 170 for the whole family (applicant and spouse and children). |
Step Three: Submit the application online or on paper.
You can apply for this program in two ways:
You can submit your application online by creating a profile on the Permanent Residency online portal. In this profile, you’ll need to upload scanned copies of all documents and fill out the forms digitally in the same profile. Alternatively, you can prepare your documents in paper format and send them to one of the following addresses:
Mail:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, Centralized Intake Office, PO BOX 8900, Sydney, NS, B1P 0H1, Canada
Courier:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, 49 Dorchester Street, Sydney, NS, B1P 5Z2, Canada
The secret sauce
If you’re outside Canada, you can apply for a one-year temporary work permit so you can work in Canada while your permanent residency application is being processed. Keep in mind that you must submit your permanent residency application within 90 days after applying for the temporary work permit. If you want to apply for this temporary work permit, you need to get a letter of approval from the relevant province.
Step Four: Review of the applicant's file and background
During the review process, all documents will be checked to determine if you are eligible. Initially, you will receive a receipt called the Acknowledgement of Receipt. This receipt confirms that your file review has started and includes your file number.
During the process, if necessary, you may receive a fingerprinting letter and you will need to get fingerprinted. The federal immigration office will also check your security and criminal history.
After reviewing these issues, if approved, you will receive a letter stating that you need to undergo certain medical tests with doctors approved by immigration in your country or in Canada and send the receipts to immigration. Then, after reviewing your medical status, if you are deemed not a risk to public health in Canada, you will receive the confirmation of permanent residency.
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Frequently asked questions
Is work experience combined with education considered for the Atlantic immigration pathway?
Yes, work experience alongside education is accepted for this program.
Is the Atlantic immigration pilot program closed?
Yes. This program started as a pilot in 2017 and was closed and made permanent in 2021. However, the Atlantic immigration program has replaced it and started in March 2022, continuing permanently.
How long does it take to process an Atlantic immigration application?
It takes between 6 to 12 months.
Can you apply for the Atlantic immigration program without a job offer?
No. You need to have a job offer from one of the Atlantic provinces.
Can you apply for the Atlantic immigration program without a language certificate?
No. If your job offer is at TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3 in the Canadian job classification system, you need an English or French language certificate at CLB5 level. If the job offer is at TEER level 4, you need an English or French language certificate at CLB4 level.
Can you get permanent residency through the Atlantic immigration program with semi-skilled work?
Yes. You can obtain permanent residency through this program with one year of semi-skilled work experience or at TEER level 4 in the Canadian job classification system.
What’s the difference between provincial immigration programs and the Atlantic program?
Eleven out of Canada’s thirteen provinces (excluding Quebec and Nunavut) attract immigrants through their own specific provincial immigration programs who contribute to the labor market and employment in that province.
The four Atlantic provinces of Canada also have their own specific programs that you can learn about through the links below: