Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

Candidates must have a valid job offer that meets the following criteria:

• The job offer must be from a designated employer in one of the Atlantic provinces.
• The job must be full-time (at least 30 hours per week).
• The job must be non-seasonal (i.e., stable year-round).
• The job must be for at least one year (for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions).
• The job must be permanent (no end date) for TEER 4 positions.
• The wage offered must meet or exceed the provincial median wage for the occupation.

For Skilled Workers:

Candidates must have at least one year (1,560 hours) of work experience within the last five years in a qualifying occupation:

• The work experience must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 jobs under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
• The work experience can be accumulated through full-time or part-time work, but it must total at least 1,560 hours (approximately 30 hours per week for one year).
• Self-employment experience does not count unless it was in Canada and meets specific eligibility requirements.

For International Graduates:

International students who graduated in Canada do not need work experience if they meet the following criteria:

• Has a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certificate that took at least two years long from a recognized post-secondary institution in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Were full-time student for entire time of the study.
• The study program was completed within the last 24 months before applying.
• The graduate had legal status in Canada during the period of study.
• Lived in one of Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the last 2 years before the graduated.

Candidates must meet one of the following education requirements:

 For Skilled Workers:

• For TEER 0, 1:
  • A Canadian one-year post-secondary education or higher.
  • If the education was completed outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required to confirm its equivalency to Canadian standards.
• For TEER 2,3, or 4:
  • A minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential (confirmed by an ECA).

Candidates must demonstrate language proficiency in either English or French by meeting the following Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scores:

Accepted language tests include:

• IELTS (General Training) – for English
• CELPIP (General) – for English
• PTE CORE – for English
• TEF – for French
• TCF – for French

Note: Language test results must be less than two years old at the time of application.

Candidates must show that they have enough funds to support themselves and their family members after moving to Canada (unless they are already working in Canada under a valid work permit).

The minimum settlement funds depend on family size and are updated yearly. For 2025, the approximate amounts are:

• Settlement funds must be readily available, such as savings or investment accounts (not real estate or personal property).
• Candidates already working in Canada under a valid work permit are exempt from this requirement.

• Candidates must develop a settlement plan with the help of a designated settlement service provider.
• The settlement plan outlines how the candidate and their family will adjust to life in the Atlantic province, including housing, health care, and community resources.