Canada Immigration through the “Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)”

How to Immigrate to Cannada through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (your pathway to Atlantic Canada)

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a track that serves as a path to permanent citizenship for skilled foreign workers and international graduates, who want to live and work in Canada. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) works to recruit newcomers to the Atlantic Provinces, providing skilled foreign workers with permanent residency. It was introduced in March 2017.

What are Canada’s four Atlantic Provinces?

Processing time of application

Processing time is usually 6 months. Due to the effects of Coronavirus disease (Covid 19), the application process can take up to 6 months. Authorities are unable to provide adequate processing times.

The Atlantic immigration pilot application can cost up to   CAD 1,325 only for processing.

Types of Atlantic Immigration pilot program

Atlantic Immigration Pilot has organized three types of programs for  interested candidates:

1. The Atlantic international graduate program
2. Atlantic high skilled program
3. Atlantic intermediate-skilled program

 Under the AIPP, candidates must submit a complete and valid Permanent Residence (PR) application within six months of receiving the certification.

Requirements for the Atlantic Pilot Program (AIP)

1- Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program

• You have enough money to support you and your family in Canada.
• Take a test to show you have enough command of English or French
• At least get a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
• Worked in a job that requires at least one year of high school education and/or job-related training

2- Atlantic High-Skilled Program

• You have enough money to support you and your family in Canada.
• Take a test to show you have enough command of English or French
• At least get a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
• Have worked in management, professional or technical/skilled job for at least one year

3- Atlantic International Graduate Program

Work experience is not required for international graduates hired through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

• You have enough money to support you and your family in Canada.
• Take a test to show you have enough command of English or French
• you have a degree, diploma, or other credentials from a publicly funded institution in an Atlantic province
• It is also a must for a candidate to have lived in the Atlantic province for at least 16 months in 24 months before receiving your degree, diploma, or certificate

This is an employer-run program designed to help employers in Atlantic Canada find the services of a qualified candidate for a job they cannot fill locally. To be a pilot in Atlantic Canada, you must be a recent graduate of a publicly funded institution in Atlantic Canada or a skilled worker who meets the program’s requirements. To submit for the application you may be living abroad or already living in Canada temporarily. Until June 1, 2019, your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit if: You have a work permit through an Atlantic immigration pilot, and your job is to specialize in national profession classification. Type 0, or skill level listed as A, B, or C.

You must be a graduate of one of the following institutions to apply under the International Graduate Program :

Canadian government announced on March 1, a 2-year extension of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

Detailed requirements for the “Atlantic Pilot Program (AIP)”

Work experience requirements

If you are not eligible for the Atlantic High Skills Program, you can see eligibility criteria for the intermediate skilled program, no period of self-employment will be included when calculating the duration of work experience qualification. In the last 3 years, you have worked at least 1,560 hours. This job must be in the National Professional Classification (NOC) Skills Type / Level 0, A, or B. Voluntary services or unpaid internships do not count. Don’t count the hours when you were self-employed. These working hours can be inside or outside of Canada. These hours must be accumulated over a period of at least 12 months.

Education (qualification)

Canadian secondary high school or post-secondary certificate, degree, or diploma from a recognized school.Foreign certificate, degree, diploma equivalent to Canadian certificate. To verify this you will need an Accredited Educational Certificate (ECA) report from a recognized organization that is valid for your certificate and is equivalent to a Canadian certificate.

Proof of Funds

You must be capable of supporting you and your family in Canada. You will need to provide proof to the Canadian Visa Office in your home country that you have enough money when you apply for immigration. The amount of money you need to support your family depends on the size of your family. These amounts are updated every year.

You should keep two things in mind when you are providing proof of funds:

• funds are required in Canadian dollars,
• you are required funds for family members (including those you support that are not immigrating with you)

These funds may be in the shape of cash, papers that show property or capital payable to you (like stocks, bonds, treasury bills, or debentures), and documents that guarantee payment of a set amount of money which are payable to you such as bankers, drafts, cheques, travelers, cheques or money orders.

Language proficiency

A language test is necessary even if you studied in Canada. You have to take a language test and send the results along with your application. Acceptable language tests are:

You need to have a CLB 4 (NCLC 4) or higher for all 4 abilities. Check the table below to find the minimum score you need on each ability:

What should you do to be a participant in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program?

You will receive a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada to participate in the pilot program. If you obtain this job offer get a copy of the employer’s confirmation of designation.

Get a job offer

If you want to get a job offer first of all you will need a designated employer participating in the pilot, to see the list you have to visit the websites of the provinces:

• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador

When a designated employer offers you a job, they will offer you a job on a foreign national form [IMM 5650] (PDF, 1.54 MB). You have to meet the employment requirements listed in the National Professional Rankings. Your job offer does not have to be in the same field as other jobs.

Important steps

1- Obtain a settlement program

Once you have received a job offer from a designated employer, you need to get a settlement plan. The settlement plan will help you and your family adjusts to your new home in Atlantic Canada. It will provide you with useful resources and contacts to help you feel welcome in your new community.

If you are already in Canada, you will need to work with a resettlement service provider in the region where you are working. Your designated employer can help you find it. If you are outside of Canada, there are several resettlement service providers in Canada that you can contact. Check with your designated employer for recommendations. Find a resettlement service provider and plan a settlement. Settlement service providers do not know which employers are looking for workers. Don’t contact them to find a job. Once you have a settlement plan, give your employer a copy and keep one for yourself. If you are not in Canada, bring a plan when you go to Canada.

2- Obtain your endorsement certificate

Following your settlement plan, the province must approve your job offer. Your employer will handle this process. Do not submit your permanent residence application until you have confirmed with your employer that your offer has been approved. If the province approves your job offer, you will receive a confirmation certificate in the mail. Include your certificate of endorsement with your permanent resident application.

3- Submission of application (using Barcode form (IMM 0008))

You must see that you are choosing the right program based on your previous work experience, if you choose a program that does not suit your work experience then your application Will be rejected. Submit your application to the “Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada: Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Centralized intake office PO Box 8900 Sydney, NSB1P0H1 Canada”.

If you are in Canada only as a visitor (you do not have a study or work permit), you need to select the “Out of Canada” option. Select where you are applying to see your instructions. (Necessary) Your spouse or general law partner may apply for an open work permit if your job is listed in the National Occupation Rank as a Type 0, or Skill Level A, B, or C.

4- Getting a work permit (optional)

If you are applying for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, you may be eligible to apply for a work permit if your employer needs to fill this position immediately. This is only issued got one year and is valid for only the employer who offered you the job. You must send your permanent resident application within 90 days of submitting your temporary work permit application.

5- Invitation to apply

After obtaining an invitation to apply, you can submit your Express entry application within ninety days.

6- Permanent Residence Card

Once you become a permanent resident, you will be sent a document confirming your new status in Canada. You will also be asked to provide a photo for the process of issuing your first permanent resident (PR) card. You do not need to apply for your first PR card. While waiting for your PR card, you can use your signed CoP document (if you have one), or a letter confirming PR status.