Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Employer-driven pathway to permanent residence
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
AIP is a permanent residence pathway for skilled foreign workers and eligible recent graduates who want to live and work in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. The core of the program is a valid job offer from a designated Atlantic employer followed by provincial endorsement.
Employer-drivenNo LMIA for AIP endorsementCLB 4–5 minimum2-year optional AIP work permit
4 provincesNew Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
1,560 hoursqualifying related work experience over the past 5 years for most skilled-worker applicants.
No LMIAis required for an AIP-designated employer to use the program’s endorsement process.
First correction
It is AIP — not the old Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIPP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program is the permanent employer-driven program. The existing SIA URL can remain unchanged for continuity, but the visible page title, H1, menu label and content should say Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
Designated employerSettlement planProvincial endorsementFederal PR application
Where the program operates
Atlantic Canada’s four participating provinces
New Brunswick
Employer designation and endorsement are handled by the province. A job offer must be from an employer designated in the province where the candidate will work.
Nova Scotia
Designated employers can recruit eligible candidates through AIP, subject to provincial endorsement and the federal requirements.
Prince Edward Island
PEI participates in AIP with its own employer designation and endorsement process while the permanent residence application is decided federally.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Employers must be designated in Newfoundland and Labrador if that is where the AIP candidate will work.
Interactive eligibility direction
Which AIP requirements apply to your situation?
This is a planning tool, not a final eligibility decision. It highlights the key federal requirements that need to be checked next.
Next: confirm endorsement-ready job offer + skilled-worker requirements.
For a TEER 0–3 offer, check at least CLB 5, the education requirement, 1,560 hours of related experience unless exempt, settlement plan, funds if required, and provincial endorsement.
For a TEER 0–3 offer, check at least CLB 5, the education requirement, 1,560 hours of related experience unless exempt, settlement plan, funds if required, and provincial endorsement.
Job offer rules
The job offer has to meet AIP’s own requirements
TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- Full-time: at least 30 paid hours per week.
- Non-seasonal.
- At least 1 year in duration from the time the candidate becomes a permanent resident.
- Normally at the same or higher TEER level than the qualifying work experience, subject to the program’s table and health-sector exceptions.
TEER 4
- Full-time and non-seasonal.
- The offer must be permanent, with no set end date.
- Qualifying work experience generally needs to be TEER 4, unless the applicant qualifies for the Atlantic-graduate exemption.
Ownership restriction: IRCC says the job offer cannot come from a company in which the candidate, their spouse or common-law partner is a majority owner.
Skilled worker requirements
For most candidates, five federal pieces must line up
1. Work experience
At least 1,560 hours of related paid work experience over the past 5 years, accumulated over at least 1 year. Self-employment does not count.
2. Language
CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0–3 job offers; CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4. Approved test results must be less than 2 years old when you apply.
3. Education
TEER 0–1: Canadian one-year post-secondary credential or higher. TEER 2–4: Canadian high school or higher. Foreign education generally needs a valid ECA.
4. Settlement plan
After the job offer, the candidate needs an individualized settlement plan from an approved settlement service provider organization.
5. Proof of funds
Required to support the family after arrival unless the candidate is already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit. The amount depends on family size and changes over time.
6. Provincial endorsement
The province must endorse the job offer before the candidate submits the AIP permanent residence application to IRCC.
Atlantic international graduates
Some recent graduates can be exempt from the work-experience requirement
The exemption is specific. It is not available just because someone studied anywhere in Atlantic Canada.
1
At least a 2-year eligible credential
Degree, diploma, certificate, trade or apprenticeship certification from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
2
Recent graduation
The eligible credential must have been received less than 2 years before the permanent residence application.
3
Full-time study + Atlantic residence
The student must have studied full-time and lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months during the final 2 years before graduation.
4
Valid temporary status
The graduate must have had the visa or permit required to work, study or train in Canada. Certain language-study, distance-learning and return-home scholarship situations are excluded.
Application journey
From employer designation to permanent residence
1
Employer becomes designated
The Atlantic province designates the employer. Designation is provincial and must cover the province where the candidate will work.
2
Employer makes a qualifying job offer
The employer uses AIP’s Offer of Employment to a Foreign National form and provides proof of designation.
3
Candidate gets a settlement plan
A designated settlement organization prepares the plan for the candidate and accompanying family members.
4
Province endorses the job offer
The employer submits the endorsement package. If approved, the candidate receives a Certificate of Endorsement.
5
Candidate applies to IRCC for PR
Only after endorsement should the candidate submit the federal AIP permanent residence application with the required documents.
Optional work permit
AIP can support a 2-year employer-specific work permit
If the candidate meets the PR requirements and has the required provincial referral letter, they may qualify for an AIP-specific LMIA-exempt work permit valid for 2 years. It only authorizes work for the AIP employer. A spouse/common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work permit.
No guarantee
A work permit does not guarantee PR approval
IRCC expressly states that receiving the temporary AIP work permit does not mean the permanent residence application will be approved. The PR file must independently meet all program and admissibility requirements.
Current settlement funds
Funds depend on family size — unless the exemption applies
IRCC’s current AIP table was last updated July 29, 2025. Because these amounts can change, the official IRCC source link is kept on this page and SIA should verify the live table before every filing.
| Family size | Current minimum | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAN$3,815 | Not required if the applicant is already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit. |
| 2 | CAN$4,750 | |
| 3 | CAN$5,840 | |
| 4 | CAN$7,090 |
Common questions
AIP details that are often misunderstood
Does AIP require an LMIA?
No LMIA is required for the AIP endorsement process. The employer must instead be designated and obtain provincial endorsement for the qualifying job offer.
Can I apply without a job offer?
No. A valid job offer from a designated Atlantic employer is central to AIP eligibility.
Does studying at any Atlantic school remove the work-experience requirement?
No. The graduate exemption has specific requirements, including an eligible 2-year credential from a recognized institution, full-time study, recent graduation and the 16-month Atlantic residence rule.
Can a TEER 4 job offer be for only one year?
No. IRCC requires a TEER 4 AIP job offer to be permanent with no set end date. TEER 0–3 offers must last at least one year from the time the candidate becomes a permanent resident.
Official verification: IRCC — Atlantic Immigration Program, Who Can Apply, Job Offer Rules, Optional Work Permit. Verify provincial intake and employer-designation rules at the time of filing.
Have an Atlantic job offer or employer?
SIA can review employer designation, NOC/TEER, work experience, language, education, graduate exemption, settlement funds and the endorsement-to-PR sequence before submission.
Visit us in British Columbia
Our Locations
Meet our team in Surrey or Kamloops. Choose the office most convenient for you.
