The Atlantic provinces want people to come, settle and stay, and the Atlantic Immigration Program is built around exactly that. Unlike Express Entry, there is no points ranking: what matters is a real job with an employer the province has designated, a plan to settle in, and the province’s endorsement. You can apply from abroad or from inside Canada as a temporary resident. If you have already found a welcoming employer on the east coast, this may be your most direct path.
Who qualifies
- A job offer from an employer designated by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador.
- At least 1,560 hours of paid, related work experience over the past 5 years, worked over at least 1 year, unless you are a recent graduate of an Atlantic institution (see below).
- Language of CLB 5 for a job in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, or CLB 4 for a job in TEER 4, in all four skills.
- Education: a Canadian one-year post-secondary credential for a TEER 0 or 1 job, or a Canadian high school diploma for TEER 2, 3 or 4 (or an equivalency assessment less than 5 years old for foreign education).
- Enough settlement funds, unless you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit, and the intention to live in the province that endorses you.
The job offer
The job must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week) and non-seasonal, meaning paid all year. For a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job, it must last at least a year from the day you become a permanent resident; a TEER 4 job must be permanent, with no end date. It cannot come from a company you or your partner mostly own, and it must be at the same skill level as your experience, or higher.
| Job offer | Work experience that counts |
|---|---|
| TEER 0 | TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 |
| TEER 1 | TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4 |
| TEER 2 | TEER 2, 3 or 4 |
| TEER 3 | TEER 3 or 4 |
| TEER 4 | TEER 4 only |
There is one helpful exception for health care: experience as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse can support a job offer as a nurse aide or orderly, or as a home support worker.
If you studied in Atlantic Canada
International graduates do not need the work experience if their credential took at least 2 years at a recognized post-secondary institution in an Atlantic province, was received less than 2 years before applying, and was earned studying full-time. You must also have lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the 2 years before graduating. Programs that are mostly language training or distance learning, or that came with a scholarship requiring you to return home, do not count.
From job offer to permanent residence
- 01
Find a designated employer
Only employers the province has designated can make an AIP job offer. Designation costs the employer nothing.
- 02
Get your settlement plan
After the job offer, a settlement service provider organization does a needs assessment with you and writes a personal settlement plan, which goes to your employer.
- 03
Your employer seeks endorsement
The employer applies to the province, showing it could not fill the job locally. No LMIA is needed. If approved, you receive a Certificate of Endorsement.
- 04
Apply for permanent residence
With the endorsement, you apply to IRCC. If you need to start sooner, the province can also give you a referral letter for a 2-year work permit with your employer.
- 05
Settle and stay
Use the settlement services, build your life in the province, and enjoy your new home.
Settlement funds
| People in your family | Funds needed |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,815 |
| 2 | $4,750 |
| 3 | $5,840 |
| 4 | $7,090 |
| 5 | $8,042 |
| 6 | $9,070 |
| 7 | $10,098 |
| Each extra person | $1,028 |
The money cannot be borrowed, and equity in a home does not count.
What it costs and how long it takes
| Who | Fee |
|---|---|
| You, the principal applicant | $1,590 (includes the $600 right of permanent residence fee) |
| Your spouse or partner | $1,590 |
| Each dependent child | $270 |
| Biometrics | $85 per person, or $170 per family |
On November 7, 2026, IRCC’s processing time for AIP applications was about 26 months, not counting the time to give biometrics. Times change often, so check IRCC’s live figure before you plan around it.
Where each province stands in 2026
- New Brunswick: new employer designations are paused for the rest of 2026. Since October 14, 2026, endorsements are open for most jobs, chosen from a candidate pool by draws, with priority for people already working in the province and for health care, education and construction.
- Nova Scotia: endorsement works through expressions of interest, valid for 12 months since May 1, 2026, with a focus on health care, skilled trades and critical services. AIP is paused for food service supervisors.
- Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador: check each province’s own immigration site for its current priorities before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Express Entry for the AIP?
No. The AIP is its own program with no points ranking and no Express Entry profile. What matters is a job offer from a designated employer and the province’s endorsement.
Does my employer need an LMIA?
No. AIP employers do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Instead, they are designated by the province and show it that they could not fill the job locally.
Can I work while my permanent residence application is processed?
Yes, if the province gives you a referral letter, you can apply for a 2-year work permit with your designated employer, and your spouse or partner can apply for an open work permit.
I graduated in Halifax. Do I still need work experience?
Not if your program was at least 2 years at a recognized Atlantic institution, you studied full-time, you graduated less than 2 years ago, and you lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 of the 24 months before graduating.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
IRCC’s current estimate for an application submitted today. It is a guide to plan around, not a promise about your own file. Details
Key takeaways
- You need a job offer from an employer designated by an Atlantic province.
- You need a year of work experience, or a recent degree or diploma from an Atlantic institution.
- The province must endorse you before you apply for permanent residence.
- IRCC: Atlantic Immigration Program (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: AIP job offer requirements (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: AIP work experience (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: AIP proof of funds (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: AIP temporary work permit (opens in a new tab)
- Government of New Brunswick: immigration notices (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Nova Scotia: Atlantic Immigration Program (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Fee list (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 7, 2026