The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to work and live in one of Canada’s 4 Atlantic Provinces:
1. Newfoundland & Labrador
2. Prince Edward Island (PEI)
3. Nova Scotia
4. New Brunswick
There are three programs to choose from as follows.
Program A: International Graduates
Who is this program ideal for? If you have lived and studied in an Atlantic province or are considering applying for a study permit or student visa in the future, this is the program for you.
Eligibility is assessed according to the following factors:
- candidate has lived in Atlantic Canada for at least 16 months in the past 2 years
- has completed at least a 2 year program at a publicly funded institution (private schools are not eligible) on a student visa or permit
- was a full time student
- take an approved language test and achieve CLB 4 or higher
- have sufficient funds to support yourself (see table below based on family size)
- although there is no minimum work experience requirement, the candidate must procure a job offer after they graduate. Note, foreign students who complete an education credential from a designated publicly funded learning institution are eligible for an open work permit for up to three years.
- an eligible job offer will be for a full time, non-seasonal job spanning at least one year made by a designated employer. Any employer doing business in Atlantic Canada can apply for free to become designated under this program. There are also, employers who are already designated.
- The job is skill type/level 0, A, B or C under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Program B: High Skill Workers
Who is this program ideal for? Skilled workers (NOC 0, A, or B only) with at least one year of work experience having worked a minimum of 1,560 hours in one occupation inside or outside Canada in the past three years.
Eligibility is assessed pursuant to the following qualifications:
- meeting the above-mentioned work experience requirement inside or outside of Canada
- Minimum a Canadian education credential of high school graduation or an ECA report for foreign education equivalency
- take an approved language test and achieve CLB 4 or higher
- proof of funds according to the table above taking into account the number of family members you have
- an eligible job offer for a full time, non-seasonal job spanning at least 1 year made by a designated employer. Any employer doing business in Atlantic Canada can apply for free to become designated under this program. There are also, employers who are already designated. The job offer must be in the skill type/level 0, A or B under the NOC matrix.
Program C: Intermediate Skilled Workers & Nurses
Who is ideal for this program? Semi-skilled workers (NOC C) who worked at least 1 year in the same occupation inside or outside Canada in the past 3 years. OR those who have the aforementioned required 1 year of work experience as a registered nurse, psychiatric nurse or a licensed practical nurse if they have a job offer as a nurse aide, orderly or patient services associate or a home support worker (new caregiver program).
Eligibility is assessed pursuant to the following qualifications:
- Minimum a Canadian education credential of high school graduation or an ECA report for foreign education equivalency
- take an approved language test and achieve CLB 4 or higher
- proof of funds according to the table above taking into account the number of family members you have
- an eligible job offer for a full time, non-seasonal job spanning at least one year made by a designated employer. Any employer doing business in Atlantic Canada can apply for free to become designated under this program. There are also, employers who are already designated. The job offer must be in the skill type/level 0, A, B or C under the NOC
Summary:
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is one of the fastest routes towards provincial nomination across Canada to date. It only takes, on average, 6 months to get a nomination from the province. While waiting for nomination, the candidate is eligible to apply for a work permit to work for the employer who gave them a job offer. Once a nomination is secured, the work permit can be extended as a bridging open work permit. Accompanying family members are allowed meaning that a spouse can get an open work permit and children can go to school in Canada. There are no LMIA requirements and no expenses for the employer who is interested in hiring the foreign worker. All it takes is an interested employer who is willing to apply to become designated for this program. Work experience from abroad can be used to meet the employment experience requirements for program B and C. Program A has no work experience requirement so technically a graduate from a Canadian university or college who studied in an Atlantic province and has gotten a job offer after they graduate, could apply right away. Nurses who have foreign skilled work experience but who may secure a low skilled job offer in Canada, can get a nomination. Although the aforementioned programs A-C require a job offer in NOC 0, A, B, or C, nurses with a job offer in NOC D will still qualify!
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