Last verified: August 29, 2026 · Official source: canada.ca/atlantic-immigration
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
What is the Atlantic Immigration Program?
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal program that creates a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to work and live in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces:
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island (PEI)
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Importantly, the AIP is not a traditional PNP. Unlike provincial nominee programs where the province nominates you for PR through IRCC, the AIP is a federally administered program with provincial employer designation. You apply directly to IRCC for PR once you have an endorsed job offer — there is no separate provincial nomination process.
2026 target: approximately 4,000 new permanent residents through AIP.
→ All provincial nominees → Express Entry overview
How the AIP works
The AIP is employer-driven. The process begins with the employer, not with you:
- Employer becomes designated by the provincial government of the Atlantic province where the position is located (free process, each province administers independently)
- Employer offers you a job — must be full-time, non-seasonal, and in an eligible occupation (TEER 0–4)
- Province endorses the position — the employer submits an endorsement application; the province confirms the role meets AIP requirements
- You apply to IRCC for a work permit and PR — with the endorsed job offer and an endorsement certificate
The key: you need a qualifying job offer from an AIP-designated employer before you can apply. The program is not a pool or points-based selection — it starts with an employer finding you.
Eligible occupations
Job offers must be:
- Full-time (non-seasonal)
- In a NOCNOC: National Occupational Classification — the federal job classification system. AIP covers TEER 0 to TEER 4. TEER 0–4 occupation
- In one of the four Atlantic provinces
Workers in healthcare, skilled trades, construction, and French-speaking roles are particularly well-positioned given Atlantic labour shortages — but the program is not limited to these sectors.
Who can apply?
The AIP is not a points system. It checks whether you meet requirements, and you need all of them.
Work experience
At least 1,560 hours within the past 5 years. IRCC describes this as "working 30 hours per week for 1 year", and the hours must be spread over a period of at least 1 year. Only paid work counts; volunteer work, unpaid internships and self-employment are excluded.
The TEER level of your job offer decides which TEER levels of experience are accepted.
| Job offer TEER | Experience TEER accepted |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| 1 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| 2 | 2, 3, 4 |
| 3 | 3, 4 |
| 4 | 4 |
Education
- A TEER 0 or 1 job: a Canadian 1 year post-secondary credential or higher
- A TEER 2, 3 or 4 job: a Canadian high school diploma or higher
A credential earned outside Canada needs an educational credential assessment (ECA), and it has to be less than 5 years old on the date you apply.
Language
| Job offer TEER | Minimum CLB/NCLC |
|---|---|
| 0 | 5 |
| 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
Results must be less than 2 years old when you apply.
Settlement funds
| Family members | Amount required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,815 |
| 2 | $4,750 |
| 3 | $5,840 |
| 4 | $7,090 |
| 5 | $8,042 |
| 6 | $9,070 |
| 7 | $10,098 |
| Each additional | $1,028 |
You do not have to show these funds if you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit.
International graduates are exempt from the experience requirement
You can skip the work-experience requirement above if you meet all of these:
- You earned a degree, diploma, certificate or trade or apprenticeship credential from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces, from a program of at least 2 years
- You received that credential less than 2 years before applying for permanent residence
- You were a full-time student for the whole time you studied
- You lived in one of the four Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the 2 years before you graduated
- You held the study or work authorization you needed while in Canada
Programs where English or French as a second language made up at least half the program, or where distance learning made up at least half, do not qualify.
2026 provincial status
The four provinces are moving in different directions, and this is what actually decides outcomes.
New Brunswick — the tightest
Three things changed at once on February 3, 2026.
- A candidate pool. Applications are no longer first-come, first-served; the province selects from the pool monthly against its own priorities. Applications not selected expire after 365 days and have to be resubmitted in full.
- New employer designation applications are paused.
- Sector and occupation restrictions. Endorsement applications are not considered at all for positions in accommodation and food services (NAICS 72). Some occupations are excluded regardless of sector — shippers and receivers, retail and wholesale trade managers, retail sales supervisors, retail and wholesale buyers, retail salespersons, and fish and seafood plant workers.
Prince Edward Island — three sectors only
PEI accepts new endorsement applications only for workers in health care, construction and manufacturing. Transport truck drivers are excluded. The province states that its federal allocation was reduced and that it is handling a high volume of applications.
Nova Scotia — the only province publishing its allocation
Nova Scotia's published annual allocations:
| Year | AIP | NSNP |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,630 | 3,570 |
| 2025 | 1,240 | 3,369 |
| 2026 | 1,365 | 2,344 |
Nova Scotia has also moved to an expression of interest process. Its published AIP EOI assessment times for 2026 Q2 were 40 days at the median and 55 days at the 80th percentile.
Newfoundland and Labrador — invitation rounds
Newfoundland collects expressions of interest and selects through invitation to apply rounds. Nearly every 2026 round has included an AIP share, generally somewhere between 20 and 50 invitations per round. Round results are published on the provincial immigration site.
🔴 The federal target is 4,000 for 2026 (2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan, range 3,000 to 5,000). Nova Scotia is the only province that publishes its own allocation.
Each Atlantic province also runs its own PNP
The AIP is a shared federal pathway — but in addition to it, each of the four Atlantic provinces operates its own Provincial Nominee Program, with Express Entry–linked (Enhanced) and Base streams that are separate from the AIP. If an AIP employer job offer isn't your route, one of these provincial streams might be:
- New Brunswick — New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), including an Express Entry stream and skilled-worker/strategic-initiative streams.
- Nova Scotia — Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), including Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry and Labour Market Priorities draws.
- Prince Edward Island — PEI PNP, which runs a regular Expression of Interest draw system.
- Newfoundland and Labrador — NL PNP and the Newfoundland and Labrador Priority Skills stream.
Eligibility, streams, and draw schedules for these provincial programs change often — confirm current criteria on each province's official immigration site before applying.
Settlement plan
A unique AIP requirement: applicants must have a settlement plan in place before applying. This means connecting with a designated settlement service provider in the Atlantic province and creating a plan for your integration. Your employer typically helps facilitate this.
Is the AIP linked to Express Entry?
No. The AIP is a direct-to-IRCC pathway — not a PNP nomination that adds CRS points. There is no Express Entry pool integration; AIP has its own separate application process. This can be advantageous if your Express Entry score is low but you have a qualifying Atlantic job offer.
How to apply (summary)
- Secure a job offer from a designated AIP employer in an Atlantic province.
- Employer applies for endorsement from the province.
- Once endorsed, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence and a work permit (if not already in Canada or on a work permit).
- Complete a settlement plan with a designated service provider.
- IRCC processes your application — biometrics may be required.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Atlantic Immigration Program a PNP?
No. The AIP is a federal, employer-driven program — not a provincial nomination. You apply to IRCC directly once an Atlantic province endorses your job offer; there is no CRS boost or Express Entry pool step.
Is the AIP linked to Express Entry?
No. The AIP is a separate, direct-to-IRCC pathway with no Express Entry integration — which can be an advantage if your CRS score is low but you have a qualifying Atlantic job offer.
Do I need a job offer for the AIP?
Yes. You need a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an AIP-designated employer in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland & Labrador, in an eligible NOC TEER 0–4 occupation.
Do the Atlantic provinces also have their own PNPs?
Yes. Alongside the AIP, each Atlantic province runs its own Provincial Nominee Program (for example, Nova Scotia's NSNP) with Express Entry-linked and Base streams — a possible route if an AIP employer job offer isn't available.