The Atlantic Immigration Program only works through approved — “designated” — employers. Here are the official lists for all four Atlantic provinces, what designation actually means, and how to turn a job offer into permanent residence.
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is an employer-driven permanent residence pathway for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador. Unlike Express Entry, you do not enter a pool and wait to be ranked — the process starts with a job offer.
To hire through the AIP, an employer must first apply to their province and be approved, or “designated.” Designation belongs to the employer, not to you, and it is what allows their job offer to support a PR application. A job offer from a business that is not designated cannot be used for the AIP — which is why finding a designated employer is the single most important step.
One significant advantage: a designated employer does not need an LMIA to hire you through the AIP. That removes a slow, expensive step that blocks many other employer-driven routes.
Each province maintains its own list. Always check the official source — designations are added and removed regularly.
Published by the Government of New Brunswick as a downloadable PDF, updated periodically.
Official NB designated employer list (PDF) →Live in Nova Scotia hosts the province's AIP information and employer designation details.
Nova Scotia AIP & designated employers →Maintained by the PEI Office of Immigration.
Official PEI designated employer list →Maintained by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Official NL designated employer list →Why we don’t republish the lists here: employer designations change often, and an out-of-date copy can send you chasing a company that can no longer hire through the AIP. The four links above go straight to the provinces that maintain the real lists.
Requirements vary by the TEER level of your occupation, so check your NOC before assuming which category applies to you.
Atlantic employers hire heavily in early childhood education (ECE) and childcare, healthcare and continuing care (PSW, DSW, nursing support), food service and hospitality, skilled trades, and transport. Early childhood educators in particular remain in sustained shortage across all four provinces — which is why the AIP is often the most realistic PR route for ECEs whose CRS score is not competitive in federal draws.
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal or case-specific immigration advice, and requirements change. Confirm current criteria on canada.ca and with the province. Case-specific advice is provided through an independent licensed RCIC.
A designated employer is a business that the provincial government has approved to hire foreign workers through the Atlantic Immigration Program. Designation is granted to the employer, not to you, and only a designated employer can make a job offer that supports an AIP permanent residence application.
Each of the four Atlantic provinces publishes and maintains its own list: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Always use the provincial list rather than a third-party copy, because designations are added and removed regularly.
Yes. The Atlantic Immigration Program is employer-driven: you need a genuine job offer from a designated employer before anything else happens. There is no way to apply to the AIP first and find an employer later.
A settlement plan is prepared with a designated settlement service provider for you and any family members coming with you. It is a required part of the AIP process and must be completed before the province issues your endorsement.
No. One of the main advantages of the Atlantic Immigration Program is that a designated employer does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment to hire through it, which usually makes hiring faster and simpler than other employer-driven routes.
In many cases yes. Once you have an endorsement and a valid job offer, you may be able to apply for a temporary work permit so you can start working while your permanent residence application is being processed. Confirm current eligibility on canada.ca.
The Solution Hub works directly with designated employers in Atlantic Canada hiring early childhood educators, healthcare support workers and skilled staff. Placement is free for job seekers — employers pay us.