The Atlantic Immigration Program in New Brunswick: how the AIP works

The Atlantic Immigration Program, known as the AIP, is a permanent residence route created to meet the labour needs of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. In New Brunswick it can be an excellent option for skilled workers and for certain international graduates, but it depends on a specific combination: an eligible candidate, a valid offer, a designated employer, and a provincial endorsement.

The programme is not a job for sale, an automatic nomination, or a simple work permit. It is a structured economic immigration process in which the employer takes an active part and accepts responsibilities for recruitment, integration, and supporting the worker and their family as they settle.

What is a designated employer under the AIP?

To take part in the AIP, a company has to be designated by the province. Designation confirms that the employer meets provincial requirements and is prepared to support newcomers in the workplace and in the community. Only designated employers can file endorsement requests for offers made under the programme.

Designation belongs to the company, not to the candidate. And being designated does not mean every offer the company issues will be accepted automatically. Each position and each candidate has to meet the applicable rules, and New Brunswick still has to approve the endorsement.

Fraud warning

Never pay for a job offer. Hiring must be genuine. Charging to "buy" a job offer, an endorsement or a nomination is a strong warning sign and can lead to fraud, financial loss, and immigration consequences.

Basic requirements for the candidate

Broadly, the candidate needs a valid offer from a designated employer, related work experience, adequate education, a valid language result, settlement funds where required, and a settlement plan. IRCC remains responsible for the final permanent residence decision, including medical, criminal and security admissibility.

Work experience

The current federal rule requires at least 1,560 hours of related work experience within the previous five years, accumulated over a minimum of 12 months. The work must have been paid, must match the duties of the NOC, and must sit at the same TEER level as the offer or at a level allowed by the programme's table. Self-employment does not count toward this requirement.

There is an exemption for certain international graduates of Atlantic Canada. In general terms, the credential must be at least two years long, from a recognised institution in the region, and recently completed; the student must have studied full-time and lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months during the two years before graduating. Programmes with a large distance-learning or language component may not qualify.

Language

The minimum level depends on the TEER classification of the offer. For TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs, CLB or NCLC 5 is required across all four abilities. For a TEER 4 job, the minimum is CLB or NCLC 4. Approved English or French tests are accepted, and results have to be valid on the date of application.

Education

For TEER 0 or 1 offers, at least a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or a foreign equivalent is required. For TEER 2, 3 or 4, the minimum is Canadian high school or the equivalent. Studies completed outside Canada normally require an Educational Credential Assessment valid for immigration purposes. Regulated professions may require separate licensing.

What does the job offer have to look like?

The offer must come from a designated employer, be full-time at a minimum of 30 hours a week, be non-seasonal, and match the candidate's capacity. For TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 offers, the job must last at least one year from the moment permanent residence is granted. For TEER 4, the offer must be permanent, with no fixed end date.

A company in which the candidate, their spouse or their common-law partner is a majority owner cannot issue the offer for AIP purposes. It is also necessary to check that the candidate meets the employment requirements set out in the NOC and any regulatory requirements attached to the profession.

The AIP process, step by step

1. The candidate receives a valid offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick.
2. The candidate is referred to a settlement service organisation and receives a settlement plan.
3. The employer uses the plan to file the endorsement request with Immigration New Brunswick.
4. If approved, the province issues the endorsement certificate and, where applicable, a work permit support letter.
5. The candidate files the permanent residence application with IRCC, with the endorsement and the required documents.
6. If needed and eligible, the candidate can file a separate temporary work permit application while permanent residence is processed.

Can you start working before permanent residence?

In certain situations, yes. The AIP has an employer-specific temporary work permit option for candidates who have already been endorsed and who meet the requirements. The province can issue a work permit support letter, and the employer has to complete the applicable federal steps. Work authorisation is not automatic and must be approved by IRCC before the candidate starts the job, unless they already hold another valid authorisation.

The temporary work permit and permanent residence are separate applications. Holding the temporary authorisation does not guarantee that permanent residence will be approved, and the candidate has to keep meeting the programme's conditions throughout processing.

Common mistakes in AIP applications

• Confusing a designated employer with an automatically eligible offer.
• Choosing a NOC from the job title without comparing the actual duties.
• Submitting experience that does not match the TEER allowed for the offer.
• Ignoring licensing or certification required for a regulated profession.
• Believing the settlement plan replaces the provincial endorsement.
• Starting work before receiving legal authorisation.
• Failing to report changes in employment, family, or immigration status.

Conclusion

The Atlantic Immigration Program can be a very efficient way to build a career and obtain permanent residence in New Brunswick. Success, though, depends on the company, the offer, the NOC, the work experience, language, education and documentation all lining up.

Turas Immigration works with candidates and employers in New Brunswick on eligibility assessment, endorsement preparation, work permit strategy, and the federal permanent residence application. To review a specific case, request a free assessment or book a consultation.