What is the Atlantic Immigration Program and who can use it?

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal pathway that helps employers in Canada's four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador — recruit skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to settle there permanently. This is a federal program; IRCC grants the permanent residence, but designated employers in the Atlantic provinces are the gateway.

To use the AIP, you must have a valid job offer from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces. You must also meet language and education requirements and intend to live in an Atlantic province. Employers must be designated by their provincial government before they can recruit through this stream.

This pathway is not available to workers in Ontario, as it is specific to the Atlantic region. If you are an Ontario employer or worker, you would need to consider other federal programs such as Express Entry or the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The AIP illustrates how federal programs can be tailored to regional needs while still being under IRCC authority. A lawyer can help you assess whether an Atlantic move might open faster PR pathways if you have a relevant job offer.