Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

The government of Canada introduced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program in 2017 to address labor shortage needs in the Atlantic provinces of Canada- such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. This Canada Immigration program is a strategic approach to hire foreign workers for job positions they could not fill locally.

In association with its provincial government partners, the federal government will welcome over 7,000 skilled foreign workers and their families to the Atlantic Canada region by 2021 through this program.

To qualify for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program, you must have a valid job offer from one of the Atlantic Provinces in Canada. The program requires designated employers to identify and recruit skilled foreign professionals for the job vacancy. The program also aims to fuel these provinces' population, build a skilled workforce, and boost the employment rates in the participating provinces.

Usually, to get a Canadian job offer for immigration, the candidate must obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before applying for a work permit. The Atlantic immigration program has no requirement as the job offer must come through a designated employer.

The program focuses on five priority areas, which include:

• skilled workforce and immigration;
• innovation;
• clean growth and climate change;
• trade and investment; and
• Infrastructure.

There are three programs under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program:

• Atlantic Immigration Skilled Program (AISP)
• Atlantic High Skilled Program (AHSP)
• Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program- Key Steps to Apply

Employer Designation

• First, Atlantic region employer must express an interest to use this program as a full-time pathway to recruit and retain foreign talent in Atlantic Canada.
• Next, an employer must contact one of the participating settlement service providers and commit to preparing their workplace to welcome newcomers.
• The employer applies to the province to become a designated employer for the program.
• Atlantic province approves the employer's Canada PNP application
• Employer starts looking for global candidates and selects them based on the eligibility criteria for the job position.

Endorsement

• The designated employer connects their selected candidates to the local settlement service provider for a needs assessment
• The service provider will help the candidate draft a settlement plan for themselves and their family. The entire process is a part of needs assessment.
• The candidate sends a copy of the settlement plan to the designated employer.
• The candidate must wait for some days till the employer completes the formalities related to the provincial nomination. The assessment will be done based on the candidate's work experience, job offer, and a settlement plan.
• In case of urgent job positions, candidates may also be eligible to apply for a temporary work permit. All they need is to show the job offer, letter of referral from the provincial government, and a commitment to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
• The candidate will receive an endorsement letter once the province approves the application.

Immigration

• The candidate must officially apply for permanent residence in Canada to IRCC. The application must include the endorsement letter, job offer, and other relevant documents.
• IRCC processes the application within six months or even less.
• Selected applicants can migrate to Atlantic Canada with their families.
• The designated employer supports the candidate's settlement in the province and also helps them in community integration.

Other ways to immigrate to Atlantic Canada

The Atlantic Provinces in Canada also invite skilled foreign workers to live and work in the participating provinces via Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The PNPs have invited thousands of skilled workers, temporary workers, international graduates, and business immigrants to Canada.

Some of these programs are also linked with the Express Entry system, allowing interested candidates to express their interest in Canadian Immigration. These candidates can submit their profiles in the express entry and receive an invitation to apply based on their Comprehensive Ranking System Score (CRS).

To know more information, you can connect with us on 8595338595 or drop an email at [email protected]. We will provide your evaluation results and chart out the best Canadian immigration pathway for you.