International Legal Partners

Atlantic Immigration Pilot

The pilot, launched in 2017, helps employers in Atlantic Canada hire foreign skilled workers who want to immigrate to Atlantic Canada and international graduates who want to stay in Atlantic Canada after they graduate.

Blinking Note

As of December 31, 2021, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot is closing, and provincial endorsements will no longer be issued. If you have a valid provincial certificate of endorsement, you can still apply for permanent residence under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot until March 5, 2022. The pilot will be replaced with a new program, with details to come.

Employers in Atlantic Canada

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot helps you hire qualified candidates for jobs you haven’t been able to fill locally. These candidates can be overseas or living in Canada temporarily.

There are 3 programs you can use to hire someone:

• Atlantic International Graduate Program
• Atlantic High-skilled Program
• Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program

Each program has requirements that you and the candidate must meet.

Before you make a job offer, you must be designated by the provincial government of the Atlantic province where the candidate will be working.

Once you make a job offer, you and the candidate will work through several steps. If you and the candidate meet all the requirements, the candidate gets permanent resident status in Canada.

International graduates and skilled foreign workers

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:

This is an employer-driven program designed to help employers in Atlantic Canada hire qualified candidates for jobs they have been unable to fill locally.

To immigrate to Atlantic Canada through the pilot, you must be a recent graduate of a publicly funded institution in Atlantic Canada or a skilled worker who meets the program requirements.

You can be living abroad or already be in Canada temporarily.

You must receive a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada to participate in the pilot.

If you receive a job offer from an employer:

• ask for a copy of the employer’s Confirmation of Designation, or
• tell them about the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and ask them to consider becoming designated, if they aren’t already

MEET THE REQUIREMENTS

BLINKING NOTE

As of December 31, 2021, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot is closing, and provincial endorsements will no longer be issued. If you have a valid provincial certificate of endorsement, you can still apply for permanent residence under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot until March 5, 2022. The pilot will be replaced with a new program, with details to come.

There are 3 programs in the pilot that employers can hire you through. You may qualify for more than 1 program, but you can only apply through 1.

For all 3 programs, you have to show proof that you meet the language, education and work experience requirements and that you have enough money to support you and your family when you come to Canada.

Atlantic International Graduate Program

In general, you must:

• have a degree, diploma or other credential from a publicly funded institution in an Atlantic province
• have lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the 2 years before getting your degree, diploma or credential
• take a language test to show you can communicate in English or French
• show you can support yourself and your family when you come to Canada

Work experience is not required for international graduates hired through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

The employer must also meet certain requirements.

Atlantic High-Skilled Program

In general, you must:

• have worked in a management, professional or technical/skilled job for at least a year
• have at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent education
• take a language test to show you can communicate in English or French
• show you can support yourself and your family when you come to Canada

The employer must also meet certain requirements.

Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program

In general, you must:

• have worked in a job that requires a high school education and/or job-specific training for at least a year
• have at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent education
• take a language test to show you can communicate in English or French
• show you can support yourself and your family when you come to Canada

The employer must also meet certain requirements.