Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) — Direct to PR
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal economic immigration program — not a Provincial Nominee Program — that lets a designated employer in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador hire a foreign worker or international graduate directly to permanent residence, with no Express Entry or CRS step required.
AIP requires a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a designated Atlantic employer that matches your work-experience level (TEER 0-3 needs at least 1,560 hours of paid experience in the last 5 years; TEER 4 has its own track), an educational credential assessment for foreign credentials, and language ability of at least CLB 5 (TEER 0-3) or CLB 4 (TEER 4). Unlike most Provincial Nominee Programs, AIP leads directly to permanent residence — there is no Express Entry profile or CRS score required. Canada's AIP admissions target was cut from 6,500 in 2024 to 4,000 in 2026, and employer-designation intake currently varies significantly by province — New Brunswick's has been paused since February 2026, while other provinces restrict which sectors qualify. Ask us for the current status in your target province before you rely on this pathway.
- Pathway Type
- Direct to PR — no CRS/EE required
- Job Offer
- Full-time, non-seasonal, from a designated employer
- Language
- CLB 5 (TEER 0-3) / CLB 4 (TEER 4)
- 2026 Target
- 4,000 (down from 6,500 in 2024)
- Intake
- Varies by province — check current status
Compare Other Programs
Other routes in this category that may fit your situation
Who Is This For?
- You have a full-time (30+ hours/week), non-seasonal job offer from a designated Atlantic Canada employer, at or above your qualifying TEER level
- You have at least 1,560 hours (about 1 year at 30 hrs/week) of paid, related work experience within the last 5 years — or you qualify for the international graduate exemption (a 2+ year program at a recognized Atlantic Canada institution, with 16+ months physically living in the region during your final 2 years of study)
- Your education meets the job's TEER requirement (a 1-year+ post-secondary credential for TEER 0/1, high school equivalent for TEER 2/3/4), with an Educational Credential Assessment for foreign credentials
- You meet the minimum language requirement — CLB 5 (TEER 0-3) or CLB 4 (TEER 4), tested within the last 2 years
- You (and any accompanying family) have enough settlement funds, unless you're already working in Canada on a valid work permit
- You have completed an individualized settlement plan with a designated settlement service provider organization
How It Works
- 1
Confirm your employer is designated
Only employers approved by the province where you will work can make a qualifying offer; ask us to check before you rely on a job offer.
- 2
Secure a compliant job offer
Full-time, non-seasonal, matching your TEER level and qualifying work experience.
- 3
Complete your individualized settlement plan
Required before the employer submits your provincial endorsement.
- 4
Get your provincial endorsement
The employer applies to the province to endorse your job offer.
- 5
Apply directly to IRCC for permanent residence
No Express Entry profile is needed; you can optionally get a bridging work permit to start working while your PR application is processed.
- 6
IRCC decides your application
Current processing times vary significantly and are best checked directly with IRCC; we track the live estimate for you.
Why ITC iLand for This Program?
Since 1998, ITC iLand has helped skilled workers and their Atlantic Canada employers navigate AIP — including which provinces currently have employer designation open, which sectors are prioritized, and how to avoid the settlement-plan and endorsement-timing mistakes that stall applications. Our licensed RCICs track each province's intake status directly rather than relying on outdated program summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — that's a common mix-up. AIP is a federal economic immigration program that IRCC runs in partnership with the four Atlantic provinces. Unlike a PNP, it leads directly to permanent residence without an Express Entry profile or CRS score.
Employer designation and candidate intake are set separately by each province and change without much notice. As of our latest check, New Brunswick had paused new employer designation applications since February 2026, while other provinces prioritize specific sectors or occupations. Ask us for the current status in your target province before you plan around this pathway.
Processing times have fluctuated significantly, and we're not comfortable quoting a fixed number on this page — ask us for the current outlook, or check IRCC's live processing-times tool directly.
Yes, from a designated Atlantic Canada employer — this is an employer-driven program. Recognized international graduates of Atlantic Canada institutions may be exempt from the work-experience requirement, but a compliant job offer is still required.
Those were named streams under the 2017-2021 Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which closed permanently in 2022. The current, permanent Atlantic Immigration Program instead uses two categories — skilled worker (by TEER level) and international graduate — without separate named streams.
There is Always A Way