Employer-driven pathway to permanent residency in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador. Ideal for ECE, PSW, and healthcare professionals.
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a permanent federal program (permanent since 2022) that helps employers in the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador) hire skilled workers and international graduates for jobs they can't fill locally.
AIP is employer-driven: you need a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer, and no LMIA is required. The province endorses your job offer, then you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Its language and education bars are lower than Express Entry, which opens it up to more candidates. And unlike a points-ranked pool, if you meet the requirements and have an endorsed offer, you can apply.
It's a strong fit for in-demand roles across health care, early childhood education (ECE) and skilled trades. A mandatory settlement plan and your commitment to live in the endorsing province are built into the program.
Have an occupation in mind? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll tell you which AIP category fits and what you'd need.
The AIP is built around a designated employer and a provincial endorsement, not a points-ranked pool. Here's the full sequence.
Land a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an Atlantic employer that holds provincial AIP designation. The role must match your experience and a NOC TEER 0–4 occupation. No LMIA is needed.
Your employer connects you with a designated settlement service provider for a needs assessment and a settlement plan for you and your family. This is a mandatory part of the application.
The employer submits your job offer to the province for endorsement. Once approved, you receive a Certificate of Endorsement.
With your endorsement, language, education (ECA if studied abroad), work experience and proof of funds, a licensed RCIC files your PR application to IRCC.
With your endorsement and a provincial referral letter, you can apply for a temporary, employer-specific work permit to start the job while your PR is processed, provided you apply for PR within 90 days. Your spouse may qualify for an open work permit.
What you need depends on the NOC TEER category of the job you're offered. Language and education step down for lower-skilled roles; the work-experience rule is the same across the board.
| Requirement | TEER 0 or 1 | TEER 2 or 3 | TEER 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language (CLB / NCLC) | 5 | 5 | 4 employer trains you up to 5 |
| Education | 1-year post-secondary or higher | Canadian high-school diploma | Canadian high-school diploma |
| Job offer | Full-time and non-seasonal, from a designated Atlantic employer (no LMIA) | ||
| Work experience | 1,560 hours (about 30 hrs/week for a year) in the last 5 years, in a NOC TEER 0–4 occupation | ||
Studied outside Canada? You'll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) less than 5 years old. Language test results must be less than 2 years old.
International graduate exemption. If you graduated from a recognised Atlantic Canadian institution you can be exempt from the work-experience requirement, provided your credential took at least 2 years, you studied full-time, held valid status, and lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 of the 24 months before you graduated.
Across all categories, these are the building blocks the AIP assesses.
Each province runs its own employer designation and endorsement, sets its own priority occupations, and can pause or limit intake. You apply to live in the province that endorses your job offer. Every province also publishes its official list of designated employers. Download or view each one below to see which businesses can hire through the AIP.
Runs AIP through a candidate pool with monthly, priority-based selection. New employer designations are currently paused, and some sectors are restricted. See our NB guide →
Designated employers (PDF)The busiest Atlantic province for AIP, with strong demand in health care, early childhood education and skilled trades through designated Nova Scotia employers. See our NS guide →
Designated employersEndorses AIP job offers from designated PEI employers, prioritising health care, trades and other in-demand roles across the island.
Designated employersEndorses AIP offers from designated NL employers, with demand in health care, trades and technology in St. John's and regional communities.
Designated employersThese are the official provincial lists (updated regularly by each government). Being on the list means an employer is designated to hire through the AIP. It does not mean they're currently hiring. We help you approach the right designated employers in your field.
The AIP is designed for employers who can't fill roles locally. Here's what your side of it looks like.
We work with both sides, matching candidates to designated Atlantic employers and helping prepare the offer, settlement plan and endorsement package so nothing stalls.
Our AIP package covers the full process from employer matching to permanent residency approval.
We connect you with designated Atlantic employers actively hiring in your occupation across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland.
Complete preparation of your AIP application package including all forms, supporting documents, and employer documentation.
We guide you through the provincial endorsement process, ensuring all requirements are met for your chosen Atlantic province.
A mandatory settlement plan is developed with a designated settlement service provider to demonstrate your commitment to life in Atlantic Canada.
We review your job offer letter and employment contract to ensure they meet AIP program requirements and protect your interests.
After provincial endorsement, a licensed RCIC prepares and submits your federal PR application to IRCC with all required documentation and fees.
Track your document preparation progress. Click each item as you gather your documents.
Here is a typical timeline from your first consultation to PR approval through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
We evaluate your qualifications, work experience, and language scores to determine your AIP eligibility and best-fit province.
Day 1We connect you with designated Atlantic employers hiring in your occupation and secure a qualifying job offer.
2 – 4 weeksYour endorsement application is submitted to the province along with the settlement plan and employer documentation.
1 – 2 monthsThe province reviews your application and issues a provincial endorsement, confirming your eligibility for PR through AIP.
2 – 3 monthsA licensed RCIC submits your federal PR application to IRCC, monitors progress, and handles any additional requests until approval. IRCC's service standard is around 11 months, but actual times have run longer (closer to two years in 2026) and fluctuate.
~11–26 months* Processing note: IRCC's published AIP service standard is ~11 months; real-world times in 2026 have been longer and change month to month. Getting the job offer, settlement plan and endorsement in place happens before this and adds a few months.
Below is an estimated breakdown of government, third-party, and service fees for an Atlantic Immigration Program application.
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Provincial Endorsement Fee | $0 |
| IRCC Processing Fee | $990 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600 |
| Biometrics | $85 |
| Language Test (IELTS / CELPIP / PTE) | ~$300 |
| Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) | ~$200 |
| TSH Service Fee | $499 |
* Fees are approximate and subject to change. Provincial endorsement through AIP has no government fee. Amounts may vary depending on country of origin and number of dependents. IRCC fees are current as of 2026.
A designated employer is an Atlantic Canadian employer that has been approved by their provincial government to hire foreign workers through the Atlantic Immigration Program. The designation confirms the employer has met specific requirements and is committed to supporting newcomers. TSH maintains an active network of designated employers across all four Atlantic provinces and can connect you with employers hiring in your field.
Jobs classified under NOC TEER 0 through TEER 4 are eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program. Popular qualifying roles include Early Childhood Educators (ECE), Personal Support Workers (PSW), Developmental Service Workers (DSW), healthcare aides, registered nurses, truck drivers, skilled tradespeople, and various other essential service occupations in demand across Atlantic Canada.
Yes, you must commit to living and working in the Atlantic province where you received your job offer. A settlement plan is a mandatory component of the AIP application, developed in partnership with a designated settlement service provider. This plan demonstrates your commitment to integrating into the community and building your life in Atlantic Canada.
Yes, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can be included in your permanent residency application through AIP. Your spouse is also eligible to receive an open work permit, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada while your PR application is being processed. Dependent children can attend school in Canada during this time as well.
It depends on your job's NOC TEER category. Language: CLB/NCLC 5 for a job in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, and CLB 4 for a job in TEER 4 (your employer then provides language training to help you reach CLB 5). Education: a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or higher for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, and a Canadian high-school diploma for TEER 2, 3 or 4 jobs. If you studied outside Canada, you'll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) less than five years old, and your language test must be under two years old.
You need at least 1,560 hours (about 30 hours a week for a year) of work in the last five years, in a NOC TEER 0–4 occupation. International graduates of a recognised Atlantic institution can skip the work-experience requirement entirely if their credential took at least two years, they studied full-time, held valid status, and lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 of the 24 months before graduating.
Yes. Once your job offer is endorsed and you have a provincial referral letter, you can apply for a temporary, employer-specific work permit to start your Atlantic job while your PR application is processed, as long as you commit to submitting your PR application within 90 days. This is a popular way to relocate and begin working quickly.
IRCC's service standard for AIP permanent-residence applications is around 11 months, but real-world times have run longer (closer to two years in 2026) and change from month to month. Before the federal application, getting a job offer, settlement plan and provincial endorsement in place typically adds a few months. We'll give you a realistic, up-to-date timeline for your situation.
Get a free profile review and discover how the Atlantic Immigration Program can be your path to permanent residency.