Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) in Canada

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is largely aimed at employers in the Atlantic provinces of Canada. The main goal of the program is to help local employers fill vacancies that are difficult to fill locally.

The employer must be appointed and approved by the government. They select the candidate and send them a job offer. The employer then helps the candidate develop a plan to settle in the new job. Unlike many other immigration programs, the AIP job offer does not require a positive Labour Market Assessment (LMIA).

Basic requirements:

• Experience. You must have 1560 hours of work (the equivalent of one year of full-time employment) in the last 5 years. This can be full-time or part-time paid work in certain NOC categories (TEER 0–4). The work must be in the same occupational category but may include experience from different positions. Experience as a self-employed or unpaid worker does not count.
• Knowledge of language. You must pass the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French. For NOC TEER 0–3 categories, this is a minimum of 5 points, and 4 points for TEER 4. Language test results must be recognized by IRCC and must be taken within two years prior to application.
• Financial resources. You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family when you move to Canada. This amount varies depending on the size of your family and must be verified before entering the country. The exception is for people who are already in Canada and have a work permit. A detailed table of the required amount can be found on the official website.
• Education. For NOC TEER 0 or 1 occupations, the applicant needs a college degree or a certificate from a post-secondary education program (the program must be at least one year long). For NOC TEER 2, 3, or 4 occupations, the applicant needs a Canadian high school diploma.

Equivalent educational qualifications obtained abroad are also acceptable. However, in this case, the applicant must undergo an Educational Qualification Assessment (ECA). This confirms that the level of education is equal to or higher than the level required for the job offer.

The ECA report must be no more than 5 years old on the date the application is received by immigration authorities in Canada. The educational document itself must be obtained within 24 months before the date of application for permanent residence.

International graduates who have earned a degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized institution in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador) after at least two years of full-time study are exempt from the work experience requirement. The requirement is that they have lived in one of these provinces for at least 16 months during the last two years before graduation and hold the required visa or permit to work, study, or intern in Canada.

Application steps:

1. Register with IRCC. Create an account on the Immigration and Refugee Community of Canada (IRCC) website. This is necessary to access online forms and track the status of your application.
2. Filling out the questionnaire and forms:
   • IMM 0008 (Generic Application Form for Canada): the basic form for applying for permanent residence.
   • IMM 5669 (Schedule A — Background/Declaration): required to provide information about your background.
   • IMM 5406 (Additional Family Information): includes information about immediate family members.
   • IMM 5650 (Atlantic Immigration Program Offer of Employment): a document confirming a job offer from a Canadian employer.
3. Collecting the necessary documents, including language test results, Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), criminal record certificates, and medical certificates.
4. Submitting an application through the IRCC online platform. All completed forms and collected documents are uploaded to the IRCC online system.
5. Payment of fees. It is carried out through the Official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

After submitting an application, you can track the status of your application through your account in the IRCC system. Through your personal account, migration authorities can send the applicant a request for additional documents or information. The most common type of feedback is a request from migration authorities for biometric data (fingerprints, photographs).

While your permanent residence application is being processed, you can obtain a temporary work permit in Canada. To do this, you must have a job offer from an employer in one of the Atlantic provinces and a certificate of approval from the provincial government.

However, this permit can only be obtained within the Atlantic Immigration Program and for a period of no more than 2 years. It limits the applicant, allowing him to work only for the applicant who offered the job.
If the application is approved, the applicant will be sent a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if required). They will also be contacted to confirm permanent resident status.

After that, you need to come to Canada. To do this, you need to have with you:

• Valid passport and/or travel documents.
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
• A permanent resident visa (if issued) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
• Proof of financial self-sufficiency.

Upon entry, there will be a meeting with an immigration officer who will verify the identity of the visitor. Following a short interview and assessment of documents, he will make the final decision on entry into Canada and the length of stay.