One of the ways foreign nationals can apply for Permanent Residency in Canada is through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. However, this program is only available if you meet certain conditions and for certain regions of Canada.
1. What is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot for Canada?
Skilled foreign workers and international students can apply for permanent residence in Atlantic Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP). AIPP Canada allows applicants to live and work in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Employers in one of these four provinces can hire foreigners to do jobs they cannot do locally.
Potential immigrants can live in Canada temporarily or live abroad to qualify for the program. If you want to participate in the program, you must have a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada.
Canada’s Atlantic Immigration Pilot has three programs you can apply:
– Atlantic International Graduate Program
– Atlantic Skilled Worker Program
– Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Worker Program
2. What are the eligibility criteria for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program to Canada?
There are certain eligibility requirements that all foreigners applying for permanent residence must meet. Then there are specific requirements for each of the three programs.
The criteria that applicants from all three programs must meet are:
– Proof that you meet the language criteria. You must take a language test to prove you can communicate in one of Canada’s two official languages: English or French. Canada has a list of approved agencies on the IRCC website, such as IELTS or CELPIP for English, or TEF Canada or TFC Canada for French.
– Proof of sufficient funding. You must be able to provide for yourself and any family members who are migrating with you.
– Have a job offer
+ Your employer must offer you employment through the Employment Offer for Foreigners form [IMM5650].
+ Your employer must have Confirmation of Designation from the Atlantic provinces. To see which designated employers are applying to AIPP Canada, you should visit each province’s official page.
+ You must work full-time (at least 30 hours per week).
+ You cannot do seasonal work.
+ Your job must be skill type/level 0, A, B or C according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
+ For international graduates and highly skilled workers: Your job must last at least one year.
+ For Intermediate Level Workers: You must have a long-term contract (i.e. no fixed end date).
See additional, specific requirements for each program in Canada’s Atlantic Immigration Pilot below:
Atlantic International Graduate Program
If you are applying through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot’s International Graduate program, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
– During the two years before receiving your diploma, you must have lived in Atlantic Province for at least 16 months.
– You will need to have at least a two-year diploma/degree or trade/apprenticeship degree from a recognized and publicly funded educational institution in one of the Atlantic provinces.
+ You must be a full-time student.
+ You must have graduated within 24 months immediately before applying.
+ You have studied/worked with a valid permit or visa.
– You do not need to have previous work experience.
Remember:
If you study through a scholarship/fellowship that requires you to return to your home country after graduation, you cannot apply for this program.
If you have educational qualifications from outside Canada that you want to include, you must have them evaluated (demonstrate they are equivalent to Canadian educational qualifications). Otherwise, only the study you have done in Canada will count.
Atlantic High Skilled Worker Program and Atlantic Mid-Skilled Worker Program
To apply as a skilled or mid-skilled worker through Canada’s Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, you must meet the following eligibility information:
– You must have worked at least 1,560 hours in the past three years (30 hours a week).
+ You must work in one occupation but can work with many different employers.
+ Time that can be in or outside Canada.
+ Hours must be paid. Hours of self-employment, volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count.
– You must have:
+ Secondary (high school) certificate/diploma or post-secondary education in Canada.
+ A diploma/certificate from a foreign institution is equivalent to a Canadian degree. This means you must assess your qualifications through an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) report.
Additionally, for mid-level workers, you can use one of the following options to qualify for AIPP Canada:
– You must have work experience at skill level C in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). IRCC uses the National Occupational Classification to classify jobs based on a person’s job duties and the work they do. Skill level C in the NOC includes jobs that require secondary (high school) education and/or job-specific training. This could be a long-haul truck driver, a food/beverage server, or an industrial butcher, among others.
– You must have experience as a registered nurse/psychiatric nurse (skill level A 3012) or experience as a licensed practical nurse (skill level B 3233).
Additionally, you must have a job offer as a nursing assistant, patient services associate or orderly, or home support worker.
3. How to apply for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot to Canada?
If you meet all the requirements to apply for one of Canada’s Atlantic Immigration programs, including a job offer, you must start gathering your documents, find a settlement plan, and confirm your job offer. You can then apply for permanent residence.
Find a solution
After receiving a job offer from the nominated employer, you will have to find an organization that provides settlement services in the area where you will live. This organization provides you with a settlement plan to help you settle into your new community.
Your nominated employer can help you find a settlement organization. You can work with one of these organizations regardless of whether you are in or outside Canada.
Confirm job offer
Once you have plans to settle, the province in which you will work must confirm your job offer. This is handled by your employer. You cannot apply for permanent residence until the province confirms your job offer and issues you a Certificate of Endorsement.
You must include this certificate with your application for permanent residence.