Those eligible to apply are foreign nationals who have the ability to become economically established in Atlantic Canada, intend to reside in a province in the Atlantic region, and meet all of the following passes or fail criteria:

Provincial endorsement: Provinces can only endorse individuals in support of applications for permanent residence made through the non-Express Entry process.

An endorsement letter is issued by the province to persons who have been endorsed. Applicants should submit a copy of this letter with their permanent residence application.

Part of the completeness check includes verifying that the applicant who is applying for permanent residence under one of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs is listed on the encrypted monthly endorsement spreadsheet that CIO-Sydney receives electronically from the provinces.

The provincial endorsement is considered valid as long as the applicant submits a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the endorsement. All endorsements are valid for six months after the date of issuance. Extensions are not permitted under these programs.

Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

The applicant must demonstrate that they meet the following minimum education requirements:

• obtained, as a full-time student, a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship credential following completion of a post-secondary education program of at least 2 years from a recognized, publicly funded institution in 1 of the 4 Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador)
• lived in either New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island for at least 16 months within the 24-month period before their credential was granted, and
• had valid or legal temporary resident status throughout their stay in Canada and had authorization for any work, study or training they engaged in while in Canada.

Only certain educational credentials are eligible for the AIGP. An educational credential is not eligible if the credentials were obtained in a study or training program where:

• the study of English or French as a second language was at least half of the program;
• distance learning was at least half of the program; or
• where a scholarship or fellowship stipulated that the recipient return to their home country to apply the knowledge and skills gained.

Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP) and Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program (AISP)

Applicants must demonstrate they have the following:

• a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, or
• a completed foreign credential, and
• an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by IRCC. [The report must show the foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.] and,
• the ECA must be less than five years old at the time of the application.

Official language proficiency

The applicant must provide:

• a language test approved by IRCC that shows the applicant meets the minimum language level of four (4) in the Canadian Language Benchmark in English or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens in French for each of the four language skill areas, and
• the test results must be less than two years old on the date of application.

AIGP

Applicants do not require any work experience.

AHSP and AISP

Applicants must demonstrate that they have obtained work experience:

• for at least one year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), non-continuous, full-time or an equal amount in part-time, within the last three years
• that was for paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships do not count),
• in an occupation with the following National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • for the AHSP – at skill type 0, or skill levels A, or B.
  • for the AISP – at skill level C.

Note: Applicants in the AISP stream can include work experience at skill level B acquired while working as a

• • • registered nurse
    • registered psychiatric nurse
    • licensed practical nurse

For this to apply, the applicant must have a job offer as a

• • • nurse’s aide
    • orderly
    • patient services associate
    • home support worker
• where they have carried out the activities listed in the lead statement of the NOC and a substantial number of the main duties, including all the duties that distinguish a particular occupation from other occupations
  • duties that begin with “may” in the NOC description are not usually considered essential duties
• that was obtained overseas or in Canada

Applicants do not have to be employed at the time they apply.

Work experience does not need to be continuous to qualify and can be accumulated within the last 3 years. When calculating the period of 12 months of required employment, it cannot include any extended breaks in employment, periods of unemployment, prolonged sick leave or parental leave. However, a reasonable period of vacation time will be counted towards meeting the work experience requirement (for example, a 2-week period of paid vacation leave within a given 52-week period in which the applicant was engaged in qualifying work).

Any periods of self-employment will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience.

Work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what they were authorized to do.

Applicants must demonstrate they meet the relevant employment requirements of the job they are being offered. Relevant employment requirements may include education, training, or other qualifications listed in the NOC description, with the exception of Canadian licensing requirements in the case of regulated occupations.

AIGP

Applicants must demonstrate that they have obtained a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador),
• for full-time employment for at least one year,
• non-seasonal,
• for an occupation at skill type 0, or skill levels A, B or C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and
• supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family.

AHSP

Applicants must demonstrate that they have a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador),
• for full-time employment for at least one year,
• non-seasonal,
• for an occupation at skill type 0, or skill levels A or, B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and
• supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family.

AISP

Applicants must demonstrate that they have obtained a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador),
• for full-time and indeterminate employment,
• non-seasonal,
• for an occupation at skill type 0, or skill levels A, B or C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and
• supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family