The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal pathway to permanent residence designed to help employers in the four Atlantic provinces hire qualified candidates. AIP requires a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer plus a settlement plan with a participating service provider.
AIP at a glance
- Participating provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island
- Annual target: ~6,500 endorsements across the 4 provinces
- Processing time: ~6 months federal after endorsement
- Minimum language: CLB 5 (high-skilled/intermediate) or CLB 4 (entry-level)
- Application fee: CAD $1,365 federal PR (no separate provincial fee)
Step-by-step AIP application
- Find a designated AIP employer. Only employers approved by the province can offer AIP jobs. Each province maintains a public list (see official links below).
- Get a qualifying job offer. The offer must be: full-time, non-seasonal, at TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 (entry-level allowed), at least 1 year for high-skilled or indeterminate for intermediate/entry, and at the prevailing wage.
- Get a settlement plan from a designated settlement service provider. This is unique to AIP — you must work with a settlement organization to map out housing, schools, healthcare registration, etc.
- Apply for provincial endorsement. Submit your application package (job offer + settlement plan + supporting documents) to the province where the job is located.
- Receive endorsement from the province (typically 3–6 months).
- Apply for federal PR with IRCC. The endorsement letter goes with your federal PR application. Processing: ~6 months.
- Optional: temporary work permit. AIP candidates can apply for a 2-year employer-specific work permit while the PR application is processed, so you can start working in Canada immediately.
Eligibility — work experience + education
| Category | Min work experience | Min education | Min language |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Skilled (TEER 0/1) | 1+ year in last 5 years | Canadian high school or foreign equivalent | CLB 5 |
| Intermediate-Skilled (TEER 2/3) | 1+ year in last 5 years | Canadian high school or foreign equivalent | CLB 5 |
| Entry-Level (TEER 4) | 1+ year in last 5 years | Canadian high school or foreign equivalent | CLB 4 |
| International Graduates | None (recent NS/NB/NL/PEI grads) | 2+ year credential from a recognized Atlantic post-secondary | CLB 5 |
Why AIP works for many candidates
- TEER 4 occupations accepted — unusual among federal PR programs. Hospitality, food service, retail, and other entry-level jobs qualify.
- No proof of funds required for AIP if your employer-designated job has been in Canada (current employment).
- No CRS scoring — base-stream program, not tied to Express Entry pool.
- Atlantic provinces have lower competition — fewer applicants than Ontario/BC PNPs.
- Strong path for international students who graduated from Atlantic post-secondary institutions.
Required documents
- Designated employer's offer of employment (AIP-specific Form: IMM 5650)
- Endorsement letter from the province (issued after step 4 above)
- Settlement plan from designated service provider
- Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF)
- Education Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign credentials
- Work experience reference letters with NOC duties
- Police certificates from every country lived in 6+ months
- Medical exam by IRCC panel physician
- Passport and biometric photos
Settlement service providers — what they actually do
This is unique to AIP and often confuses applicants. Settlement providers offer free services including:
- Settlement plan creation (required document)
- Pre-arrival support (job market info, housing, schools)
- Post-arrival integration (language classes, networking, mentorship)
- Family integration (spouse employment support, child registration)
Each province has its own list of designated settlement organizations. Your employer or our team can connect you with the right provider for your destination community.
Common AIP refusal reasons
- Employer not properly designated under AIP at the time the offer was made
- Job offer doesn't meet AIP-specific format requirements (Form IMM 5650 errors)
- Settlement plan missing or inadequate
- Work experience hours not meeting full-time threshold (30+ hours/week)
- Education credential not recognized at the right level
- Misrepresentation of job duties or NOC alignment
Useful official resources
- IRCC — Atlantic Immigration Program overview
- Nova Scotia AIP portal
- New Brunswick AIP portal
- Newfoundland & Labrador AIP portal
- PEI AIP portal
Atlantic-based job offer? AIP is one of the most accessible PR pathways in Canada — TEER 4 jobs qualify, no CRS required. Book a free AIP assessment to see if your offer qualifies.
