Atlantic Immigration Program: Designated Employers to PR

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is an employer-led route to permanent residence (PR) in Canada's four Atlantic provinces. Its language and experience bar is lower than Express Entry, but everything starts with a job offer from an approved employer.

What the AIP is

The AIP helps employers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador hire foreign workers and international graduates for jobs they can't fill locally. Successful candidates get PR, not just a work permit.

It runs separately from Express Entry. There is no CRS score and no draw. If you meet the rules and your employer gets you endorsed, you can apply.

That makes it attractive for Nigerians in mid-skill jobs (TEER 3 and 4), who may struggle to score high in Express Entry.

How the process works

There are three parties: you, a designated employer and the province.

1. The employer gets designated. The province approves employers who want to use the programme. Designation is free for employers.
2. You get a job offer. It must meet IRCC's rules (below), and the employer completes the Offer of Employment form (IMM 0157).
3. You get a settlement plan. A designated settlement service provider assesses your family's needs and writes a plan. You send it to your employer.
4. The employer applies for endorsement. They send the province the job offer and your settlement plan.
5. The province endorses you. You receive a Confirmation of Provincial Endorsement.
6. You apply for PR. You submit online through IRCC's PR Portal with the endorsement and settlement plan.
7. Optional work permit. With a referral letter from the province, you can apply for a temporary work permit so you can start working before PR is approved.

Job offer rules by TEER level

The job offer must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), non-seasonal and from a designated employer. You, your spouse or partner can't be majority owners of the business.

Your past experience must be at the same TEER level as the job offer or higher.

TEER 5 jobs aren't included in IRCC's table. To find your TEER level, look up your occupation in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Work experience

You need at least 1,560 hours of paid work in the past 5 years, spread over at least 12 months. That works out to about 30 hours a week for a year. Part-time hours count if they add up.

Key rules:

• Volunteer work, unpaid internships and self-employment don't count.
• Work in Canada only counts if you held valid work authorisation at the time.
• Experience can be from Nigeria or any other country.

International graduate exemption: recent graduates of a recognised Atlantic post-secondary institution may not need work experience. They must have completed a programme of at least 2 years full-time, graduated within the past 2 years, and lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the last 2 years.

Education

For Nigerian qualifications, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration from a designated organisation such as WES. It must be under 5 years old when you apply. For a TEER 2 to 4 job offer, an assessed secondary school certificate may be enough.

Language

All four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) must meet the minimum. Accepted tests are:

• English: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core
• French: TEF Canada, TCF Canada

Results must be under 2 years old on the day you apply. CLB 5 is well within reach for many Nigerian graduates, but don't assume. Check the conversion tables on IRCC's page for your test.

Proof of funds

You must show you can support your family on arrival unless you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit. These are IRCC's amounts, updated 29 July 2025:

These are far lower than Express Entry's figures. Still, budget for flights, rent deposits and the first months of living costs, which will cost more than the minimum.

Finding a designated employer

This is the hardest part. Each province runs its own designation process and employer lists.

• Newfoundland and Labrador publishes a table of designated employers with locations, designation dates and occupation codes.
• Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI run their own AIP pages through their immigration offices.

Practical tips:

• Search Canadian job boards for roles in Atlantic towns, then check the employer against the province's list.
• Use the occupation codes on the published lists to see which kinds of jobs each employer was designated for.
• Ask the employer directly whether they are AIP-designated and whether they will support endorsement.

After you land

Your endorsement ties you to a job and a province, and the programme expects you to settle there. Keep in touch with your settlement provider once you arrive. They can refer you to free services such as language classes, help with housing and school registration for children.

If something goes wrong with the job, speak to your employer and the provincial immigration office early rather than waiting until it grows.

Your AIP checklist

• Job offer from a designated employer, on form IMM 0157
• Settlement plan from a designated settlement service provider
• Confirmation of Provincial Endorsement
• Language test results under 2 years old
• ECA under 5 years old (or Canadian credential)
• Reference letters showing 1,560 hours of paid work in the past 5 years
• Proof of funds, unless exempt
• Passport, civil documents and Nigerian Police Character Certificate
• Medical exam and biometrics when IRCC asks

Is the AIP right for you?

The AIP suits you if you have solid experience in a job Atlantic employers struggle to fill and you are willing to live in a smaller city or town. Our guide to living and working in Halifax gives a sense of life in the region's largest city.

If you can't find a designated employer, compare other routes in our Provincial Nominee Program guide and our Express Entry guide.

Bottom line

The AIP opens PR to workers that Express Entry often overlooks, but only through an approved employer. Focus your effort on finding a genuine designated employer, then let the process follow.

Check IRCC's and the province's pages before you apply, since rules and intake can change.