The Atlantic Immigration Program, A brief overview of the Program

Atlantic Immigration Program

What is the Atlantic Immigration Program?

Source: IRCC, 2022

The Atlantic Immigration Program provides a pathway toward permanent residence to skilled foreign workers and international graduates students from a Canadian institution who want to reside in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada’s 4 Atlantic provinces).

The program was changed to the Atlantic Immigration Program this year (2022), it was formerly known as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. The new program will be accepting applicants in March 2022.

To immigrate to one of the Atlantic provinces in Canada under the Atlantic Immigration Program, Applicants must either be:

  • a recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, or
  • a skilled worker

This program requires that Applicant’s receive a job offer from a designated employer in one of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada to participate in the program.

Why should I live in the Atlantic Provinces?

Atlantic Canada is a beautiful place to live, with a rich culture and history, access to the ocean, affordable housing, and a sense of community. Maritime cities were also on the top annual list of best places to live in Canada.

What are the requirements to be eligible under the Atlantic Immigration Program?

To be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program you must

  • have in the last 5 years, one year of work experience, you must have worked at least 1,560 hours unless you’re an international graduate (see below)
    • The work experience must be acquired under a NOC O, A, B or C;
    • International students do not need to demonstrate that they have at least one year of work experience if the person has a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certification that took at least 2 years to complete and is from a recognized post-secondary institution in 1 of the 4 Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador). The person must have been a full time student and lived in one of the provinces for at leas 16 months in the last 2 years before graduating
  • Meet the minimum education requirement under the program by providing an Education Credential Assessment or a Canadian Diploma demonstrating:
    • An education level at least equal to a Canadian one-year post-secondary certificate if you have a job offer at the NOC 0 or A skill type or level
    • An education level at least equal to a Canadian high school certificate if you have a job offer at the NOC B or C skill levels
  • Meet the language requirements:
    • CLB/NCLC 5 for NOC 0, A and B
    • CLB/NCLC 4 for NOC C
  • Have the necessary settlement funds if you are living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you don’t need to show proof.

If you meet all of these requirements, you must find a job offer from one of the 4 Atlantic Provinces.

How to find a designated employer under the Atlantic immigration Program?

Applicants will need to seek job opportunities with designated employers. To see a list of designated employers participating in the program, check the provincial websites, please note that the links are updated regularly and therefore ensure to contact the provinces for updated information.

The job offer must meet all of these requirements

  • The job offer must be full time, non-seasonal.
  • For NOC 0, A or B level job offers, the employer is offering you a job that will last at least 1 year (1 year from the time you become a permanent resident).
  • For NOC C level job offers, the employer is offering you permanent employment, that is, there is no set end date.
  • The job offer cannot come from a company where you (the applicant) or your spouse is a majority owner.
  • The job offer must be at the same skill level as, or higher than, the work experience that you qualified for, unless you’re an international graduate from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.
    • You don’t need to have a job offer at the same skill level, or higher, if you have a job offer in any of these health-care sector jobs:
      • NOC 3413 (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates)
      • NOC 4412 (home health care workers)
      • NOC 3233 (practical nurses)
      • NOC 3012 (registered nurses)

How long is the PR process under the Atlantic Pilot Program?

Processing time can be verified here.

If you would like to learn more about the Atlantic Pilot Program you may want to book a paid consultation to discuss your matter with a lawyer.

Please note that this should not be construed as Legal Advice. This is General Information and should not be acted on.

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