Atlantic Immigration Program Eligibility 2026

Check AIP eligibility across the High-Skilled, Intermediate-Skilled, and International Graduate streams.

Key Takeaways

AIP is employer-driven. Without a job offer from a province-designated employer, no stream is available — the offer is a hard prerequisite.
Three streams exist with different thresholds. High-Skilled (TEER 0/1, CLB 5, 12 months experience); Intermediate-Skilled (TEER 2/3/4, CLB 4, 12 months experience); International Graduate (any TEER, CLB 5, 2+ year Atlantic credential, no work experience required).
A completed settlement plan is required for every stream. Settlement plans are prepared with a designated settlement service provider and identify the supports you and your family will need in your first year.
AIP endorsements (the provincial approval step) typically take 12 to 16 weeks depending on the province. Federal PR processing after endorsement targets 6 months.
The International Graduate stream is often the fastest route for recent Atlantic graduates because it requires no prior work experience — just a 2-year credential and a designated job offer.

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) Eligibility

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal, employer-driven permanent residence pathway to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Launched in 2017 as a pilot and made permanent in 2022, AIP is designed to help Atlantic Canada attract and retain foreign workers and international graduates who want to settle in the region. Unlike Express Entry, AIP is not points-based — it is requirement-based, with an employer job offer as the central requirement.

This calculator checks your eligibility across the three AIP streams (High-Skilled, Intermediate-Skilled, International Graduate) plus the universal requirements that apply to every applicant (designated employer offer, completed settlement plan). It returns a per-stream match verdict, the best-matching stream, and a consolidated list of missing requirements if you are not yet eligible.

How It Works

1. Select your destination province — AIP only serves New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Each province has its own designated employer lists and processing timelines.

2. Flag whether you have a job offer from a province-designated employer. This is the single most important AIP requirement — without it, none of the streams are available.

3. Select your highest education level and enter your months of qualifying work experience (in the last 5 years). The High-Skilled and Intermediate-Skilled streams require 12+ months of experience.

4. Enter the NOC TEER category of your job offer (or prior work for non-graduate streams). High-Skilled accepts TEER 0/1; Intermediate-Skilled accepts TEER 2/3/4; International Graduate has no TEER constraint but requires a 2+ year Atlantic post-secondary credential.

5. Enter your CLB (English) or NCLC (French) level — the minimum across the four abilities. Thresholds are CLB 5 for High-Skilled and International Graduate, CLB 4 for Intermediate-Skilled.

6. Flag whether you have completed a settlement plan with a designated settlement service provider (required for all AIP streams) and whether you graduated from a 2+ year Atlantic post-secondary institution in the last 12 months (required for International Graduate stream only).

7. The calculator returns a verdict for each of the three streams, the best-matching stream (with priority order High-Skilled → International Graduate → Intermediate-Skilled), the typical endorsement processing time for your destination province, and the federal PR processing standard of 6 months.

The Three AIP Streams

The High-Skilled stream targets foreign workers in TEER 0 (management) or TEER 1 (professional) occupations. It requires 12 months of full-time qualifying work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 role within the past 5 years. Language threshold is CLB 5 minimum across all four abilities. Education threshold is secondary school or higher.

The Intermediate-Skilled stream targets TEER 2 (technical/trades), TEER 3, or TEER 4 (clerical/support) occupations. The experience requirement is the same 12 months but the language threshold is lower (CLB 4) — matching the generally lower language demands of intermediate-skilled roles.

The International Graduate stream is different. It requires no prior work experience but has two specific extra requirements: you must have graduated within the last 12 months from a publicly funded 2+ year post-secondary program at a recognized Atlantic institution, and you must hold a job offer from a designated employer. The job offer can be for any TEER level (including TEER 4 service roles) making the stream unusually flexible.

Universal Requirements

Every AIP applicant — regardless of stream — must satisfy two universal requirements. First, a job offer from a province-designated employer. Each province maintains its own list of designated employers and updates it periodically. Not every Atlantic employer is on the list, and not every job at a designated employer qualifies. Check your specific employer's designation status on the provincial immigration website before you start the application.

Second, a completed settlement plan prepared with a designated settlement service provider (SPO). Settlement plans are a short document that identifies the supports you and your family will need in your first year (language classes, child care, employment services, etc.). You complete the plan with the SPO for free; the SPO provides a signed confirmation to include with your AIP application.

How AIP Compares to Express Entry

For candidates with a low-to-mid CRS score or limited Canadian work experience, AIP is often a faster path than federal Express Entry. Express Entry requires you to compete with all Canadian applicants on a single CRS score; AIP only requires you to meet fixed thresholds for the stream you are applying under. There is no ranking or cutoff score within AIP — if you meet the criteria and have a designated employer offer, you are in.

The trade-off is geographic: AIP locks you into one of the four Atlantic provinces for at least the initial period after landing. You can move freely within Canada once you are a permanent resident, but the program is designed around retention in Atlantic Canada, and moving out within the first year or two undermines the program's purpose.

For candidates with strong English and a high CRS score, Express Entry may still be faster and more flexible. For candidates with mid-range CRS, Atlantic graduates, or anyone targeting Atlantic Canada specifically, AIP is competitive or better.

Key Facts

AIP covers New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Each province maintains its own designated employer list.
The three AIP streams are High-Skilled (TEER 0/1), Intermediate-Skilled (TEER 2/3/4), and International Graduate (any TEER, 2+ year Atlantic credential required).
Minimum language levels are CLB 5 for High-Skilled and International Graduate, CLB 4 for Intermediate-Skilled.
High-Skilled and Intermediate-Skilled require 12 months of full-time qualifying work experience in the last 5 years. International Graduate requires no prior work experience.
Every AIP application requires (1) a job offer from a province-designated employer and (2) a completed settlement plan with a designated settlement service provider.

FAQ

How do I find a province-designated employer?

Each province publishes its list on its immigration website. New Brunswick's list is on welcomenb.ca, Nova Scotia's is on novascotiaimmigration.com, Prince Edward Island's is on princeedwardisland.ca, and Newfoundland and Labrador's is on nlpnp.ca (alongside provincial PNP). The lists are updated periodically. You can also ask any Atlantic employer you are interested in whether they are AIP-designated — most HR departments know.

Does AIP go through Express Entry or is it a separate process?

AIP is a separate federal program, not a stream within Express Entry. You apply directly to IRCC once you have a job offer, settlement plan, and province endorsement. There is no Express Entry pool or CRS score — AIP is requirements-based. This also means AIP does not benefit from the Express Entry ITA or the category-based draws. It is a parallel federal PR pathway.

Can my family join me on AIP?

Yes. Like other PR pathways, AIP processes you as the principal applicant and your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children as accompanying family members. Your spouse can work in Canada on an open work permit while the AIP application is in process if eligible (including through the regular spousal open work permit rules). Dependent children can attend school freely once you are a PR or on an implied status in Canada.

What happens if I move out of Atlantic Canada after landing?

Once you are a permanent resident, you can move anywhere in Canada under the Charter's mobility rights. There is no legal penalty for leaving Atlantic Canada after landing. However, the program is designed around retention — moving out within the first year or two undermines the purpose and may affect your ability to sponsor future employees or family members through AIP in the future. Moreover, the settlement plan commits you to engaging with services in Atlantic Canada during your first year.

How long does AIP actually take?

Plan for roughly 12 to 16 weeks for provincial endorsement (the province reviews your application and settlement plan) plus 6 months for federal PR processing after endorsement. Total end-to-end is typically 8 to 11 months from submitting the full application to landing as a PR. Comparing with Express Entry (which can be 6 months from ITA to landing for a high-scoring candidate, or much longer if you are waiting for an ITA), AIP is often faster for Atlantic-bound applicants without high CRS scores.

Updated April 2026. Information on this page is provided for educational purposes only. Tax rules, rates, and government programs may change — verify details with the CRA or a qualified financial advisor.