Atlantic Immigration Program 2026: Designated Employers and How to Apply

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a permanent residence pathway for skilled workers and recent graduates of Atlantic Canadian institutions who have a job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. The employer is designated by the province and helps drive the process. You get a settlement plan, the employer applies for provincial endorsement, and then you apply to IRCC for PR. You can apply from abroad or from inside Canada.

Key points

• You need a job offer from an employer designated by the province where the job is.
• The AIP admissions target is 4,000 a year for 2026 to 2028 under the Levels Plan.
• TEER 0–3 job offers must last at least 1 year from PR; TEER 4 offers must be permanent. All must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week) and non-seasonal.
• Recent graduates of Atlantic institutions may be exempt from the work experience requirement.
• A work permit is possible while you wait, with a referral letter from the province.

Who the AIP is for

IRCC’s AIP page (updated September 1, 2026) describes it as a pathway for:

• Skilled workers, living abroad or in Canada as temporary residents
• International graduates of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada

The program exists to help Atlantic employers fill jobs they have not been able to fill locally. The employer, not the candidate, has to be designated first.

Eligibility requirements

IRCC lists six requirements on its eligibility page:

Requirement	What IRCC says
Job offer	A valid offer from a designated employer
Work experience	Qualifying work experience. Recent graduates of recognized Atlantic post-secondary institutions might be exempt
Education	The right level of education for the job offered
Language	Proof of language ability from an approved test
Proof of funds	Enough money to support yourself and your family on arrival. Not needed if you already live and work in Canada on a valid work permit
Settlement plan	A plan from a settlement service provider organization

The exact language levels, work experience hours and funds amounts depend on your job’s TEER level and family size. IRCC lists them on linked sub-pages. Check those pages for current numbers before you apply, as they can change.

Job offer rules

From IRCC’s job offer page:

Job TEER level	Job offer length	Hours
TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3	At least 1 year from the time you become a permanent resident	Full-time, at least 30 hours a week
TEER 4	Permanent, with no set end date	Full-time, at least 30 hours a week

All AIP jobs must be non-seasonal, which IRCC describes as “consistent and paid all year.” The employer must give you a copy of its confirmation of designation and an Offer of Employment to a Foreign National form (IMM 0157). Sign it and keep a copy.

How employer designation works

Each Atlantic province designates its own employers, and IRCC says there is no cost to the employer. Once designated, an employer can hire qualified international candidates through the program. If you are job hunting, each province publishes information on designated employers:

• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador

Links to each province’s designated employer page are on IRCC’s job offer page.

How to apply: from job offer to PR

1. Find a designated employer and get a job offer that meets the TEER, hours and length rules.
2. Get the employer’s documents: confirmation of designation and the signed IMM 0157 offer form.
3. Get a settlement plan. Contact a designated settlement service provider organization to get one.
4. Employer applies for endorsement. The employer sends the endorsement application to the province.
5. Receive your endorsement certificate. If you need a work permit, the province may also give you a work permit support (referral) letter.
6. Optional: apply for a work permit so you can start working while IRCC processes your PR application.
7. Apply for permanent residence online with IRCC, including the endorsement certificate.
8. After approval, confirm your PR and move to, or stay in, the province.

Work permit while you wait

IRCC says you may be able to work in Canada while your PR application is processed if you have:

• a job offer from a designated employer that meets program requirements, and
• a referral letter from the Atlantic province where you will work.

This lets employers fill urgent jobs without waiting for PR to be finalized. A standard work permit costs $155 (IRCC fee list, October 2026).

Fees

Fee	Amount (CAD)
Employer designation	No cost (per IRCC)
Economic PR application, principal applicant	$1,590 including the right of permanent residence fee
Including a spouse or partner	$1,590
Each dependent child	$270
Biometrics	$85 per person (family max $170)

Fees are from the IRCC fee list, updated September 21, 2026.

Province-level limits

The national target is 4,000 admissions a year. Each Atlantic province also manages how many endorsements it issues and may focus on certain sectors. Province-level AIP allocations and sector limits have been reported but are not clearly published in one official place. Ask the provincial immigration office or your employer whether endorsements are available before you invest time in an application.

Tips for international graduates

If you studied at a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, the AIP can be one of the more direct routes to PR:

• Work experience may not be required. IRCC says recent graduates of recognized Atlantic institutions might be exempt. Read the conditions on IRCC’s eligibility sub-pages before relying on the exemption.
• Education still has to fit the job. IRCC requires the right level of education for the job you are offered.
• Start looking for designated employers before you graduate. Your post-graduation work permit gives you time, but endorsement and PR processing take months.

Common mistakes to avoid

These come straight from the program rules:

• Accepting an offer from an employer that is not designated. Only designated employers can make AIP job offers. Ask for the confirmation of designation before you rely on the offer.
• A seasonal or part-time job. AIP jobs must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week) and paid all year.
• A short TEER 0–3 contract. The offer must last at least 1 year from the date you become a permanent resident, not from the date you sign it.
• Skipping the settlement plan. It is a requirement, not an optional extra, and the employer needs it for endorsement.
• Letting your status lapse. If you are already in Canada, keep your temporary status valid while you wait.

AIP vs other routes

The AIP is a good fit if an Atlantic employer wants to hire you. If not, look at each Atlantic province’s own nominee program (see PNP allocations 2026 by province) or federal options such as Express Entry. If you have lived in a smaller community for two years while waiting on an AIP application, also read about the In-Canada Workers Initiative, which includes AIP applicants.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For help with your case, speak to a licensed lawyer or regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC).

What to do next

• Check your target province’s designated employer information.
• Confirm your job’s NOC code and TEER level, then check the language and work experience rules on IRCC’s sub-pages.
• Take an approved language test early. Results are needed for the PR application.
• Follow program changes on our updates page and the Canada hub.