Updated September 2026. The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a permanent residence pathway for skilled workers and recent Atlantic Canada graduates who have a job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. It is employer-driven, not points-based: there is no CRS score and no draw. What matters is a valid job offer, a provincial endorsement, and meeting IRCC’s minimum requirements.
Quick Answer
To immigrate through the AIP you need a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer, at least 1,560 hours of paid work experience in the last 5 years (unless you are an eligible Atlantic graduate), the education and language level required for your job, a settlement plan, and an endorsement certificate from the province. Only then do you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Since July 23, 2026, if your job changes while your PR application is in processing, IRCC gives you 90 days to send an updated endorsement and offer of employment, or the application is refused.
This guide explains general rules. It is not legal advice. AIP files depend on the employer’s designation and the province’s endorsement, both of which can change. Confirm every requirement on the official IRCC pages linked below, and consider a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer for anything unusual.
How the AIP Works, Step by Step
- Get a job offer from a designated employer. Only employers the province has designated under the AIP can make qualifying offers. Each province publishes its own list.
- Get a settlement plan. A designated settlement service provider organization assesses your needs and gives you a plan. This is free and required.
- Your employer applies for endorsement. The employer submits the job offer and your settlement plan to the province.
- You receive an endorsement certificate. This is the province confirming it supports your job offer.
- You apply to IRCC for permanent residence with the endorsement certificate and your supporting documents.
If you need to start working before PR is granted, the province can issue a referral letter so you can apply for a temporary work permit while you wait.
Eligibility Requirements
Work experience
IRCC requires at least 1,560 hours of related work experience over the past 5 years — the same as 30 hours a week for one year — worked over a period of at least one year. The work must be paid; self-employment, volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count. Your job offer must be at the same or a higher skill level than your qualifying experience.
Atlantic graduate exemption. You do not need work experience if you completed a program of at least 2 years at a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, graduated less than 2 years before applying, studied full time for the whole program, and lived in one of the four Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the 2 years before graduating.
The job offer
| Job offer level | Required length | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 | At least 1 year from the time you become a permanent resident | Full-time (30+ hours a week), non-seasonal |
| TEER 4 | Permanent, with no set end date | Full-time (30+ hours a week), non-seasonal |
Not sure of your job’s TEER level? Look it up with our NOC Code Finder before your employer submits the endorsement.
Language and education
You must take an approved language test. IRCC sets the minimum at CLB 5 for TEER 0–3 job offers and CLB 4 for TEER 4 job offers. You also need the education level required for the job — generally at least a Canadian secondary school diploma or a foreign credential assessed as equivalent through an Educational Credential Assessment (how ECAs work).
Proof of funds
You must show enough money to support yourself and your family — unless you are already living and working in Canada on a valid work permit, in which case you are exempt.
What Changed in 2026
- Employment changes during processing (IRCC, July 23, 2026). If your employer changes ownership, your role or wage changes at the same employer, or you move to a different designated employer, you must tell IRCC through its web form and provide an updated provincial endorsement certificate and an updated Offer of Employment (IMM 0157). IRCC puts the application on hold and sends a procedural fairness letter; if the documents do not arrive within 90 days, the application is refused.
- New Brunswick has paused new employer designation applications for the rest of 2026 and now places endorsement applications in a candidate pool with monthly selections based on provincial priorities. Applications not selected within 365 days expire.
- Nova Scotia introduced a 12-month validity period for Expressions of Interest from May 1, 2026.
Provincial rules move faster than IRCC’s. Always check the endorsing province’s AIP page before your employer applies.
If Your Job Changes or Ends Mid-Application
This is the situation where AIP applicants most often lose their file, because the endorsement is tied to a specific job. We walk through each scenario — new employer, new role, change of ownership, and job loss — in AIP: changing or losing your designated employer.
AIP vs Other Pathways
- No CRS score. Unlike Express Entry, your ranking does not matter — your job offer and endorsement do.
- TEER 4 is eligible. That makes the AIP one of the few federal routes open to intermediate jobs. See PR routes for TEER 4 and 5 workers.
- Community pilots. Outside the Atlantic region, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot works in a similar employer-led way.
Common Mistakes
- Accepting an offer from an employer that is not (or is no longer) designated
- Skipping the settlement plan, which the endorsement requires
- Counting self-employment or unpaid work toward the 1,560 hours
- A TEER 4 offer written as a one-year contract instead of permanent
- Changing jobs during processing without getting a new endorsement and IMM 0157
FAQ
Is the AIP points-based?
No. There is no ranking system. You qualify by meeting the minimum requirements with an endorsed job offer.
Can I apply for the AIP from inside Canada?
Yes. Many AIP candidates already work in Atlantic Canada on a work permit, and they are exempt from the proof-of-funds requirement.
Can I change employers after I apply?
Only to another designated employer, and only with an updated endorsement certificate and IMM 0157 submitted within IRCC’s 90-day deadline.
Do I need Express Entry for the AIP?
No. The AIP is a separate application; it does not use an Express Entry profile.
