With an immigrant retention rate of 22%, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is one of Canada’s most successful immigration programs. AIP was launched to help employers in the provinces of Atlantic Canada (namely Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick) recruit, internationally, the talent they can’t find within their local populations.
Additionally, the program aims to foster workforce development, increase employment rates, and encourage population expansion in Atlantic Canada. Read on to learn how you can immigrate to Canada through this program.Â
Before you go on, we have written several articles for students seeking to relocate to Canada and you may find them helpful:
- How to Migrate to Canada with a study visa
- List of Schools with fully funded scholarships in Canada
- Universities offering postgraduate diploma courses in Canada
- How to secure scholarships for masters scholarship in Canada
- Work opportunities for international students in Canada
- Accommodation for international students in Canada
- Canadian universities that offer admission without IELTS
- Top Canadian universities for masters in Data Science
How the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) works
The AIP is an employer-driven program. This means that you must first obtain a job offer from a designated employer in any of the 4 provinces in Atlantic Canada to immigrate through this program.
There are two ways you can use the AIP to move to Atlantic Canada:
- As a recent international graduate from a recognized tertiary institution in Atlantic Canada
- As a skilled international worker
Atlantic Immigration Program Requirements
Whether you’re applying to the AIP as an international graduate or skilled worker, there are specific requirements you must meet.
Work experience OR proof of graduation from a recognized tertiary institution in Atlantic Canada
Qualifying work experience means that in the last 5 years, you must have put in a minimum of 1,560 hours of work. It’s the number of hours you’d work in 1 year if you worked 30hrs/week. Note that self-employment and unpaid work such as volunteering and unpaid internships do not count.
As an international graduate, you must have spent at least 2 years studying with a degree, diploma, or certification. Also, it’s expected that you were a full-time student with a permit; and that you lived in any of Atlantic Canada’s 4 provinces for up to 16 months.
Read also: List of schools offering fully-funded scholarships in Canada
Academic requirements
If your job offer is in the 0 or 1 NOC TEER category, you’re required to have a 1-year post-secondary educational qualification or higher. For a job offer at NOC TEER category 2, 3, or 4, a Canadian high school diploma is required. If you’re using certifications from institutions outside Canada, you’ll need to take an educational credential assessment (ECA) to determine their equivalence to the Canadian standards.
Language requirements
If your job offer is in the 0 or 1 NOC TEER category, a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) score of 5; and 4 for a job offer at NOC TEER category 2, 3, or 4. Do ensure that your language test result is from one of the designated testing organizations; and that they (your results) aren’t over 2 years old.
Proof that you have adequate settlement funds – unless you already live and work in Canada.
Settlement funds are certain amounts of money that you must prove you have in order to support yourself in Canada. These funds must be yours; they must be readily available to you, and can’t be borrowed from another person or financial institution. The amount of money you’ll need for your settlement fund depends on your family’s size – including those who aren’t relocating with you.
If you’re immigrating alone, you’ll need to prove that you have up to $3327 CAD as settlement funds. It rises to $4,142 CAD, $5,092 CAD, and $6,183 CAD for 2, 3, and 4 people respectively. Check the government website if you’ve got more family members to consider.
Related: Immigrate to Canada as an entrepreneur
How much does immigration via the Atlantic Immigration Progam cost?
You’ll need to pay the permanent resident application fees of $1,365, which includes the Processing fee ($850) and the Right of Permanent Residence fee ($515). You must also include the cost of settlement funds and additional fees like language tests, medical exams, and courier services.
In view of the above, immigrating to Canada through the AIP will cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 for a family of 2.
How to apply
Applying to the AIP is a 2-stage process that involves: firstly, getting an endorsement from a designated or approved employer in Atlantic Canada; secondly, applying for permanent residence. We’ve broken each stage into steps below:
Endorsement
Step 1:
Get a job offer from a designated or approved employer in your preferred Atlantic Canada province.
Step 2:
With your employer’s help, obtain a provincial endorsement certificate, and if necessary, a work permit, from a settlement service provider.
Apply for permanent residence
Step 3:
Create a permanent residence portal account and apply for permanent residence.
Step 4:
Apply for a work permit (if required) while your permanent residence application is being processed.
Step 5:
Travel and start your life as a successful Canadian immigrant if your application is approved.
The whole process will take about 12 months. Feel free to contact your employer and settlement service provider for help when you need it.
Pros & Cons of Immigrating via the Atlantic Immigration Program
The AIP provides a number of government-funded services for immigrants, such as free language classes, employment and settlement assistance, as well as financial support. Moreover, immigrating through the AIP is cheaper and less complicated than some of the other immigration programs Canada offers.
On the flip side, the job market in the Atlantic provinces can be competitive and the number of available jobs may be limited. What’s more, the selection process is stricter and longer than the Express Entry immigration program. However, considering that with AIP you’d already have a job waiting for you in Canada, it’s worth the wait. If you think the AIP isn’t for you, you can consider other ways to immigrate to Canada.
Conclusion
The Atlantic Immigration Program provides numerous benefits to both immigrants and employers in the Atlantic Canada region. It may take longer than the Express Entry program but it costs less. It doesn’t matter if you’re living abroad or are already in Canada with a temporary resident visa, you can become a permanent resident via AIP if you meet the criteria.