Atlantic Immigration Program 2026: Jobs and PR in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and NL

A home support worker with CLB 4 English and a permanent job offer from a designated employer in Halifax or Charlottetown can apply for Canadian permanent residence without an LMIA and without entering Express Entry. That is the basic promise of the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and it is why the program is one of the few PR routes still open to people in TEER 4 jobs.

The federal government's 2026–2028 levels plan targets 4,000 AIP admissions a year, within a range of 3,000 to 5,000. That is not a big number. Demand is far higher, and the four provinces have started rationing endorsements, restricting sectors and favouring local recruitment drives.

This guide explains how the AIP works, the requirements in 2026, how much it costs, how long it takes, and where applicants most often go wrong.

In this guide

1. Atlantic Immigration Program at a Glance
2. How the AIP Works
3. Who Qualifies
4. Jobs Designated Employers Hire For
5. Province-by-Province Limits in 2026
6. Costs
7. Step-by-Step: Applying Through the AIP
8. Timelines
9. Common Mistakes and Refusal Reasons
10. After You Arrive
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Before You Apply

Atlantic Immigration Program at a Glance

How the AIP Works

The AIP is employer-driven. You can't apply on your own. The steps run in this order:

1. The employer gets designated by the province where the job is. Designation is free for employers.
2. The employer offers you a job that meets AIP rules.
3. You get a settlement plan from a settlement service provider organisation.
4. The employer applies for provincial endorsement of the job offer.
5. You apply for permanent residence to IRCC with the endorsement certificate.

If the employer needs you sooner, you can apply for a temporary employer-specific work permit using a referral letter from the province, then complete the PR process while working.

Who Qualifies

Job offer rules

• From a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces
• Full-time, at least 30 hours a week
• Non-seasonal, paid all year
• TEER 0–3: must last at least one year from the date you become a permanent resident
• TEER 4: must be permanent, with no set end date
• Same or lower skill level than your qualifying work experience (TEER 2 experience can support a TEER 2, 3 or 4 offer, but TEER 4 experience supports only TEER 4)
• Not from a company you or your spouse majority-own

IRCC sets out the full rules on its AIP job offer page.

Work experience

You need 1,560 hours of paid work in the last five years, the equivalent of one year full-time at 30 hours a week. It can be part-time, non-continuous, and inside or outside Canada. Self-employment doesn't count. It must be in an occupation at the same or a higher TEER level than the job offer.

Nursing experience as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse can count toward an offer as a nurse aide (33102) or home support worker (44101).

International graduates

Recent graduates of a recognised publicly funded post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada are exempt from the work experience requirement. You generally need a credential of at least two years, completed while studying full-time and living in the region, and you must apply within a set period after graduating. Check IRCC's graduate criteria before relying on this route.

Education

Foreign credentials need an Educational Credential Assessment, valid for five years.

Language

CLB 5 in all four skills for TEER 0–3 offers and CLB 4 for TEER 4 offers, from an approved test (IELTS General, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF or TCF). Results must be less than two years old when you apply.

Settlement funds

Add $1,028 for each extra family member, according to IRCC's AIP proof of funds page. The money must be your own, not borrowed. If you already live and work in Canada on a valid work permit, you don't have to show funds.

Jobs Designated Employers Hire For

Health care, construction, manufacturing, food processing, trucking, early childhood education and hospitality have been the biggest AIP employers. Typical Job Bank medians in the region are lower than in Toronto or Vancouver, but so is rent.

Each province publishes a list of designated employers on its immigration website. Use those official lists, not lists shared on social media.

Province-by-Province Limits in 2026

Each province manages its own designations and endorsements, and all four have tightened in the past two years.

• New Brunswick: From February 3, 2026, endorsement applications go into a candidate pool and are selected monthly based on provincial priorities, not first come, first served. Reports say the province is not considering AIP endorsements for accommodation and food services jobs, and limits overseas job offers to province-led recruitment in health care, education and construction trades.
• Nova Scotia: Restructured its provincial nominee streams in February 2026 but said the AIP was not affected. Employers still need designation.
• Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador: Both set their own priorities and endorsement capacity. Check their official AIP pages before accepting an offer.

The practical lesson: an offer in health care or construction is far more likely to be endorsed than one in a restaurant or hotel.

Costs

Step-by-Step: Applying Through the AIP

1. Take an approved language test and get an ECA if your education is from abroad.
2. Check the official designated employer lists for all four provinces.
3. Apply for jobs directly with designated employers, using a Canadian-style résumé.
4. When you receive an offer, sign the Offer of Employment form (IMM 0157) and get the confirmation of designation.
5. Contact a settlement service provider for a needs assessment and settlement plan.
6. Wait while your employer applies for provincial endorsement.
7. Once endorsed, submit your PR application online with the endorsement certificate.
8. If you need to start work sooner, apply for a work permit with the province's referral letter.
9. Give biometrics, do your medical exam and send police certificates.

Timelines

Endorsement can take a few weeks to several months depending on the province and whether it uses a pool. IRCC's PR processing for AIP files has typically taken many months, often around a year. Check IRCC's processing times tool for the current figure. With a temporary work permit, you can be working in Canada while the PR application is processed.

Common Mistakes and Refusal Reasons

• Accepting an offer from an employer that is not designated, or whose designation has lapsed.
• TEER 4 offers that are not permanent, or TEER 0–3 offers shorter than one year.
• Work experience at a lower TEER level than the job offer.
• Language results that expire before you submit.
• Borrowed money in your bank account to meet settlement funds.
• Leaving the job or the province soon after landing. AIP is meant for people who will stay.

After You Arrive

Most AIP newcomers settle in Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Charlottetown or St. John's. Rents are lower than in Toronto or Vancouver, though Halifax has risen fast. Statistics Canada put Halifax's average one-bedroom asking rent at $1,880 in mid-2026. Our cost of living guide compares Halifax with the big cities.

Once you're a permanent resident, you're free to work for anyone. But staying with your AIP employer and in the region for at least your first year shows good faith and helps your settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an LMIA for the Atlantic Immigration Program?

No. The AIP replaces the LMIA with employer designation and provincial endorsement. That is one of its main advantages over regular work permit routes.

Can I apply for the AIP without a job offer?

No. A valid offer from a designated employer is mandatory. You can't enter a pool and wait for an invitation as you can in Express Entry.

What is the minimum language score?

CLB 5 for jobs in TEER 0 to 3 and CLB 4 for TEER 4 jobs, in all four skills. Higher scores make you more attractive to employers and to provinces choosing which endorsements to process.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Your spouse and dependent children can be included in your PR application. If you come first on a work permit, your spouse may qualify for an open work permit depending on your occupation under the 2025 spousal permit rules, and children can usually study.

How do I find designated employers?

Each province publishes a list on its official immigration website. Apply to them directly. Be wary of anyone offering access to a "private list" for a fee.

Is the AIP easier than Express Entry?

It can be for people with lower CRS scores or TEER 4 jobs, because there's no points ranking. But you depend entirely on finding a designated employer and getting endorsed, which has become harder in 2026.

Before You Apply

1. Book your language test and ECA now so you're ready when an offer comes.
2. Use only official provincial lists to find designated employers.
3. Prioritise employers in health care, construction and other provincial priority sectors.
4. If your CRS is high enough, compare this route with our provincial nominee program guide and Express Entry.