Are you planning to move to Canada? If so, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program could be your solution. This program will allow for easier immigration into Canada by making it possible for applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada to apply online. The new system is expected to help expedite processing times and reduce application costs. With this faster route, you can soon call yourself a proud Canadian. Read our article below for more AIPP program details.

Updated September 27, 2021

What is the AIPP meaning?

The Atlantic Immigration program was initially launched as Pilot in 2017 but soon went on to become a regular stream due to increased interest. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is a three-year pilot project beginning in 2017. The program represents a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Atlantic provinces and is designed to respond to the unique challenges facing Atlantic Canada. The pilot is open to eligible employers who commit to supporting the delivery of settlement support to sponsored immigrants and their dependent family members. Through this pilot, employers can assist in ensuring up to 442 skilled individuals annually settle in the province and help grow the economy.

Who can meet the requirements for the AIPP program?

The AIPP is a government-driven program that aims to bring international workers into the region and provide them with employment opportunities. In general, you are eligible for this program if you are:

• A worker with high skills in technical, management, or professional job experience. Your job offer must last at least one year at the time of application.
• A worker with intermediate skills that require job training and/or high school education. Your job offer must be a permanent one.
• An international graduate from an Atlantic province’s publicly-funded institution. In this case, your job offer must last at least one year but your work experience is not required.

If you can relate to one of the three groups above, then you are one of the eligible individuals to get a permanent residency in Canada with the AIPP. Besides, this program has no age limit, which means many open opportunities for everyone.

Where is the AIPP available in Canada?

The four provinces that fall under the Atlantic program are:

Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia has a diversified economy bordering both land and sea lines. Some of the predominant industries are fishing, forestry, mining, and tourism. It attracts a lot of domestic tourists from neighboring countries.
• It has a population of nearly 1 million people with Halifax as its main city. Halifax, with a population of over 400,000 people, is Nova Scotia’s largest city and its political capital. It is also one of Canada’s major seaports and a main gateway to the Atlantic Ocean.

Prince Edward Island

• Just like the economy of P.E.E features a mix of traditional resources spanning agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. Over the years the province has witnessed lots of developments and changes in the areas of bioscience and advanced manufacturing.
• As of April 1, 2020, the minimum wage is $12.85 per hour and the provincial government has numerous programs available to help students get into the job market.

New Brunswick

• New Brunswick is the only bilingual province in Canada and forms the land bridge linking this region to continental North America. The province has a large goods-producing sector and services-producing sector where most of the service-based employees are employed.
• The employers in the province have a significant presence in agriculture, forestry, food processing, freight transport (including railways and trucking), media, oil, and shipbuilding.

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Fish farming is considered one of the most important economic activities in the province.
• Retail trade, Manufacturing, and transportation are also considered other significant economic industries.

What are the benefits of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

Unlike other provincial programs the Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a faster route for immigration that lets employers in Canada’s four Atlantic provinces — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island — to hire foreign nationals for jobs they have not been able to fill locally. So that it comes with the benefits below:

Benefits for skilled workers, international students, and graduates:

• The AIPP is a faster and more affordable route to Canadian immigration.
• The AIPP is a great way to immigrate as a skilled worker, even with less experience.
• You can become eligible for permanent residency sooner than with other programs.
• You can apply to the AIPP if you are not eligible for Express Entry.
• Make the most of your skills, experience, and education.

Benefits for employers:

• The AIPP will help employers in Atlantic Canada recruit new workers.
• Your new workers will be less likely to leave the area after being settled.
• Save precious time and money with a single, streamlined process.
• Help create more jobs for Canadians by attracting skilled labor from abroad.
• Your company will be seen as an employer of choice in your area.

How does the AIPP work?

Foreign nationals who are interested in applying should be able to secure a job offer from one of the designated employers in one of the four provinces. Employers that would like to hire skilled immigrants under the pilot program must apply to the province(s) to receive the designation. Employers with locations in multiple provinces will require a separate designation for each province they are planning to employ the applicant. There are three categories under the pilot. Applicants interested in employment qualify for any of the two following categories:

• Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program (AISP)
• Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP)
• Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

For both the first and second sub-streams, completion of high school education and assessment of educational credentials is a pre-requisite for the program. A language competency of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of level 4 is also needed.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot AIPP Program consists of three categories:

Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Program

Skilled individuals who have completed secondary school, and who have at least one year of intermediate-skilled experience, and an indeterminate job offer. A language test confirming a Canadian Language Benchmark of 4 or higher is required.

Atlantic High Skilled Program

Skilled individuals who have completed secondary school, and who have at least one year of high-skilled experience, and a job offer in a high-skilled field for at least one year. A language test confirming a Canadian Language Benchmark of 4 or higher is required.

International Graduate Category

Individuals who have graduated from an Atlantic post-secondary program of at least two years in duration, and who have a job offer for at least one year in an intermediate or high skilled position. A language test confirming a Canadian Language Benchmark of 4 or higher is required.