What is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)
AIPP — Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, was introduced in 2017 to fast-track immigration pilot program for the designated employers in Atlantic’s four provinces — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, in order to hire foreign skilled workers they haven’t been able to fill locally.
This immigration pilot program allows employers in Atlantic Canada to hire foreign skilled workers who want to move to the Atlantic region of Canada and international graduates who want to stay in the region after their graduation.
For a candidate to qualify for the AIPP, they must have a job offer from the designated employers of the Atlantic region of Canada. Usually, for a candidate to get a Canadian job offer, they are required to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for immigration. But in AIPP they are not required to get a positive LMIA but they just need a job offer from a designated employer. AIPP has welcomed the maximum of 2,500 new immigrants in 2018 with the target increasing to 4,000 by the year 2020.
What are AIPP Requirements?
Immigrants who want to move to the Atlantic provinces of Canada, they have to apply through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP). For this, the first major requirement for the candidate is to get an official job offer from the designated employers.
Once the immigrant is able to get the job offer, they must the requirements of any one of the following three program streams:
High-Skilled Workers Stream
Intermediate-Skilled Workers Stream
International Graduate Stream
High-Skilled Workers Stream
To be eligible under this stream, the candidate must have a job offer from a designated employer for a duration of a minimum of 12 months for an occupation that is categorized under NOC Skill level 0, A or B. Other than the job offer requirements, candidates must also meet the following requirements:
Minimum of one year of work experience of full-time skilled work experience
Canadian high school diploma or its foreign equivalent
Minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4
Must show enough settlement funds
Intermediate-Skilled Worker Stream
Applicant must have a full-time job offer in an occupation that is categorized under NOC skill level 0, A, B or C. Other minimum requirements to meet are as follows:
Minimum of one year of work experience of full-time skilled work experience in an occupation NOC skill level 0, A, B or C
Canadian high school diploma or its foreign equivalent
Minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4
Must show enough settlement funds
International Graduates Stream
Applicant must have a full-time job offer in an occupation that is categorized under NOC skill level 0, A, B or C. Other minimum requirements to meet are as follows:
No work experience is required
Must complete education credential (minimum duration of course 2 years) from an educational institution where the applicant has lived for the minimum 16 months in the final two years of study. Education must be completed within the last 2 years.
Minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4
Must show enough settlement funds
What is the process to apply under AIPP?
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is an employer-led program that facilitates the hiring of foreign workers. Applicants arriving under this pilot program must have a job offer from a designated employer and a personalized settlement plan for themselves and their accompanying family members.
Once a designated employer finds a suitable candidate who meets their needs and meets the program criteria, that employer must first offer them a job. Employers do not need to go through the process of obtaining a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under this program.
Once the candidate has accepted the offered job position, the employer will put the candidate in contact with a designated settlement service provider organization to develop a settlement plan. Employers will also support the long-term integration of the new immigrant and their families, if applicable so that they can meet the goals of their settlement plan once they arrive in Canada.
Employers who must fill a vacant position quickly will have access to a temporary work permit so that the candidate and his family can come to Canada as soon as possible. To obtain this work permit, applicants must have:
A valid job offer;
A letter from the province; and
A commitment to apply for permanent residence within 90 days of applying for a temporary work permit
What are the other ways to move to the Atlantic region of Canada?
Atlantic provinces are always active in welcoming skilled immigrants through the various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Through PNPs they are able to meet the demands of their local labour market.
Since 2015, each PNP has a stream that is in-line with the Express entry program. Through these “enhanced streams”, express entry candidates are able to apply for a provincial nomination certificate. Following are the active PNPs for the Atlantic provinces in 2020:
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
Newfoundland and Labrador Nominee Program (NLPNP)
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)