The Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. This program helps regional employers hire qualified candidates for jobs that they have been unable to fill locally. 

Note: The Atlantic Immigration Program has replaced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. 

You must receive a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada to participate in the program. 

To immigrate to Atlantic Canada through this program, you must be either:

  • A recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, or
  • A skilled worker.

You can be living abroad or already be in Canada as a temporary resident.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program, you must:

  • Have qualifying work experience unless you are an international graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada
  • Meet minimum educational requirements 
  • Meet minimum language requirements 
  • Demonstrate proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and your family upon your arrival in Canada. If you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you do not need to show proof of funds.

If you meet the above requirements, you can start looking for a job with a designated Atlantic Canada employer.

Work experience

In the last 5 years, you must have worked at least 1,560 hours (part-time or full-time paid work). Note that:

  • Volunteering or unpaid internship work does not count.
  • Self employment work does not count.
  • Work inside or outside Canada can count. However, you must have been legally authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident.
  • Work experience acquired while studying can count, as long as the work hours do not exceed what was authorized.
  • Your work experience must include the actions described in your NOC, and most of the main duties of your NOC.

Your work should be at one of these NOC skill levels:

  • NOC Skill Type 0 (typically management jobs) 
  • NOC Skill Level A (typically professional jobs)
  • NOC Skill Level B (typically technical jobs and skilled trades)
  • NOC Skill Level C (typically intermediate jobs that require high school and/or job-specific training)

International graduates

You do not need to meet the work experience requirements if you are an international graduate who:

  • Has a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certification that
    • lasted at least 2 years of studies 
    • is from a recognized post-secondary institution in an Atlantic province (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • Was a full-time student for the entire duration of study.
  • Lived in an Atlantic province (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador) for at least 16 months during the last 2 years before you graduated. 
  • Held the visa or permit required to work, study or get training while you were in Canada.

Educational requirements

You must have one of these:

  • If you have a job offer at the NOC 0 or A skill type or level, you must have a Canadian one-year post-secondary educational credential or higher, or the equivalent outside Canada.
  • If you have a job offer at the NOC B or C skill level, you must have a Canadian high school diploma, or the equivalent outside Canada.

Note that if you studied outside Canada, you need an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm that your studies are at least equal to the required level of education for your job offer.

Language requirements

You must meet the minimum language requirements based on the NOC category pertaining to your job offer. It can be either Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).

The minimum language requirements for each NOC category are: 

  • CLB/NCLC 5 for NOC 0, A and B 
  • CLB/NCLC 4 for NOC C

You must submit your results from a designated language testing organization with your application. The results must be less than 2 years old when you apply.

Settlement funds

You need to have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family upon your arrival in Canada. The amount you need depends on the size of your family. If you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you do not need to show proof of funds.

Secure a Job Offer

You will need to secure a job offer from a designated Atlantic Canada employer. 

The job offer must meet the following requirements:

  • The job offer must be full-time (i.e., minimum 30 paid hours per week).
  • The job offer must be non-seasonal (i.e., it must be a regular paid job throughout the year).
  • For NOC 0, A or B skill type or level job offers, the job must last minimum 1 year (i.e., 1 year from the time you become a permanent resident).
  • For NOC C skill level job offers, the job must be permanent, however there is no defined end date.
  • The job offer cannot be from a company where you (applicant) or your spouse is a majority owner.
  • The job offer must be at least at the same skill level as the work experience that qualified you for the job unless you are an international graduate from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.

Complete a Free Evaluation Form to check whether you qualify for the Atlantic Immigration Program.

Complete a Free Evaluation Form to check whether you qualify for the Atlantic Immigration Program.