How To Apply For Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

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The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

Canada encourages applications for permanent residence from people with abilities, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program allows Atlantic provincial governments to choose immigrants according to the economic needs of the province.

Who may use this application?

You may apply under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program if you meet the eligibility requirements and plan to settle permanently in one of these Atlantic Provinces:

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

Provincial Endorsement

Before you can apply to immigrate to Canada under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, you must first receive an Endorsement Letter from an Atlantic Province. Each province has its own application and endorsement procedures. However, IRCC has the authority to make the final decision on an application for permanent residence using existing selection and admissibility criteria. This includes security, criminal, and medical components for candidates with Atlantic Endorsement letters and valid job offers in one of the Atlantic Provinces.

For more information about how to become endorsed by an Atlantic Province, or to learn which employers are hiring under this program, contact the provinces below:

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this program, you must meet the minimum requirements outlined below.

Work Experience

Important: Make sure you are applying for the right program based on your previous work experience. If you apply for the wrong program and do not have the work experience required for that program, your application for permanent residence will be refused

You must have the following work experience:

  • within the last three years, you have accumulated at least one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience in your main occupation at:
    • NOC Skill Type 0 (management jobs such as restaurant managers, mine managers, etc.) or
    • NOC Skill Level A (professional jobs that usually need a degree from a university, such as doctors, dentists, architects, etc.) or
    • NOC Skill Level B (technical jobs and skilled trades such as chefs, electricians, plumbers etc.)
  • you have performed the actions in the lead statement of the NOC;
  • you have performed a substantial number of the main duties of the NOC, including all of the essential duties;
  • your work experience must be from paid work (volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count);
  • you worked overseas or in Canada (as long as you were legally authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident).

For more information, see National Occupational Classifications.

Any periods of self-employment will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience.

Work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what was authorized to do.

Note: Full–time work experience means working at least 30 paid hours per week. You can count part-time work toward the work experience requirement as long as you have gained the equivalent amount of experience as someone who worked full-time for at least one year (1560 hours).

Job Offer

You must have a job offer that is:

You must submit an Offer of Employment (IMM 5650) (PDF, 851.81KB) with your application. Your employer must complete this form and send you a copy to include with your application. You must read and sign the declaration at the bottom of the form.

Education

  • You must have a high-school diploma, post-secondary certificate, or degree that is valid and equal to a Canadian equivalent.
  •  If you did not complete your studies in Canada, you’ll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to show that your studies are equal to a Canadian secondary or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.
  • Your ECA report must be less than five years old on the date we receive your application.

Language requirements

  • You must have a level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • You will need to do mandatory language testing and submit your original results with your application.
  • If you have already done language testing, your test results must not be more than two years old on the date your application is received.

Note: Canadian Language Benchmark/ Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 4 is considered “Basic Proficiency” and means that you can:

  • take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics;
  • understand simple instructions, questions, and directions;
  • use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses; and
  • show that you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself.

Applicants inside Canada

If you are applying from inside Canada, you must submit proof that you have valid immigration status. Your status must be valid on the day you submit your application. See the document checklist for examples of documents you should submit.

How do I know if I have valid immigration status?

When you arrived in Canada and gave your passport to the officer, they authorized your stay by placing a stamp on your passport and/or issuing an additional document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

Stamps

For example, if the officer specified date as shown in the above illustration, your temporary resident status would expire on June 30th, 1993.

If there is no stamp, a handwritten date, or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.

If you were given a visitor record, study, or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.

Funds needed to settle in Canada

The government of Canada provides no financial support to new immigrants. You must prove that you have enough money unencumbered by debts or obligations to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada.

You must submit proof with your application to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada. Examples of documents you can submit are:

  • current bank statements or certification letter
  • proof of your savings balance
  • deposit statements

Note: You do not have to submit this proof if you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit.

You cannot borrow this money from another person. You must be able to use this money to pay the costs of living for your family (even if they are not coming with you).

The amount of money you need to support your family is set by the size of your family. We update these amounts every year.

Number of
Family Members		Funds Required
(in Canadian dollars)
1$3,167
2$3,943
3$4,847
4$5,885
5$6,675
6$7,528
7 or more$8,381

We strongly recommend that you research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you plan to live. Bring with you as much money as possible to make your establishment in Canada easier.

Disclosure of funds

If you arrive in Canada with an amount greater or equal to CAN$10,000, or its equivalent in a foreign currency, you must tell this to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer. These funds could be in the form of:

  • cash,
  • securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills), or
  • bankers’ drafts, cheques, travellers’ cheques or money orders.

Note: Failure to disclose funds can result in fines and imprisonment.

Working in Canada

You must show that you meet the employment requirements of the primary occupation listed on your application.  These may include education, training or other qualifications in the NOC description. For regulated occupations, you do not need to meet Canadian licensing requirements.

Although qualifications assessment and licensing are not needed for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, you should be aware of these issues when considering immigrating to Canada.

See regulated and non-regulated occupations (PDF, 2.12MB) for more information.

Regulated occupations

Twenty percent of people working in Canada work in jobs that are regulated to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Examples include:

  • nurses
  • engineers
  • electricians
  • teachers

Provincial and territorial regulatory bodies are responsible for:

  • establishing entry requirements for individual occupations;
  • recognizing prior credentials, training and experience; and
  • issuing licenses required to practice.

The recognition process varies between provinces and territories and between occupations. Recognizing qualifications and issuing licenses can generally only be done in Canada. The process can take time. You may be asked to:

  • provide documentation of qualifications
  • do a language exam (which may differ from those needed for immigration)
  • complete a technical exam (with accompanying fee)
  • do supervised work

Non-regulated occupations

For non-regulated occupations, there are no set requirements and there is no legal requirement to get a license. The employer will set the standards and could ask for registration with a professional association.

Qualifications assessment

A qualifications assessment is advice on how qualifications from another country compare to Canadian qualifications. An assessment does not guarantee that:

  • a regulatory body will issue you a licence to practice
  • your credentials will be accepted by a Canadian employer

However, having your qualifications assessed will help you understand the Canadian educational system and help you with your job search.

To have your qualifications assessed by one of the provincial evaluation services, consult the Foreign credentials referral office (PDF, 2.12MB).

Labor market information

Job opportunities and labor market conditions are different in each region of Canada. It is important to research conditions in the area where you want to live.

See the Working in Canada tool for information on the Canadian labor market, job banks, and provincial and territorial labor market information.

Biometric (fingerprints and photo) requirements

You and your family members may need to appear in person to have their fingerprints and photograph (biometric information) taken at a biometric collection service point.

Canadian citizens and existing permanent residents of Canada are exempt from giving biometrics

If you are applying for permanent residence and are in Canada with:

  • a valid work or study permit,
  • a valid temporary resident permit, or
  • protected person status

You are currently exempt from the biometric requirement.

Find out if you need to give biometrics.

If you have to give biometrics, you can give them after you:

  • pay for and submit your application and biometric fees, and
  • get a biometric instruction letter (BIL) which will direct you to a list of biometric collection service points you may choose from

You must bring the BIL with you to the biometric collection service point to give your biometrics.

We encourage you to give your biometrics as soon as possible after getting the BIL. We will start processing your application after we get your biometrics.

How often will I have to give my biometrics?

You will need to pay for and then give your biometrics, even if you gave biometrics in the past to support a visitor visa, study or work permit application, or a different permanent resident application.

Where do I give my biometrics?

You can go to one of these official biometric collection service points to give your biometrics. If it’s an option at your service point, we encourage you to make an appointment in advance.

Biometric Collection Service Points
  • Visa Application Centres (VACs) worldwide
    • You can give your biometrics at any VAC. It doesn’t need to be the VAC in your country of residence.
    • VACs also offer other services in local languages.
  • Application Support Centers (ASCs) in the United States and overseas territories
    • You must already be legally in the United States or an overseas territory of the United States to go to an ASC.
    • You can only go to an ASC if you’ve received your biometric instruction letter (BIL) from us.
    • No other services are offered (only biometrics collection). You cannot submit your application at an ASC.

You cannot give your biometrics at a Canadian Port of Entry if you are applying for permanent residence.

See the list of biometric collection service points.

Step 1. Gather Documents

What documents do I need?

Use the Document Checklist (IMM 5457) (PDF, 437.12KB) July 2018 to help you gather the necessary documents

Important information: If you do not provide all the requested information and the documents from the checklist, your application will be returned to you.

Offer of Employment to a Foreign National – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (IMM 5650)

Your employer must complete this form and send you a copy to include with your application package. You must read and sign the declaration at the bottom of the form.

Translation of documents

You must send the following for any document that is not in English or French, unless otherwise stated on your document checklist:

  • the English or French translation; and
  • an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (see below for details); and
  • a certified copy of the original document.

Translations may be done by a person who is fluent in both languages (English or French and the unofficial language).

If the translation isn’t done by a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada, you must submit an affidavit swearing to the accuracy of the translation and the language proficiency of the translator. A certified translator will provide both a certified translation and certified copies of the original documents.

The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:

In Canada:

  • a notary public
  • a commissioner of oaths
  • a commissioner of taking affidavits

The authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.

Outside of Canada:

  • a notary public

The authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities

Important information: Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant’s family. This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and first cousin.

Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document. Translators who are certified in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.

Certified true copies

To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must (as described below) compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:

  • “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”,
  • the name of the original document,
  • the date of the certification,
  • their name,
  • their official position or title, and
  • their signature.

Who can certify copies?

Persons authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

  • a notary public
  • a commissioner of oaths
  • a commissioner of taking affidavits

The authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities.

Outside Canada:

  • a notary public

The authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities.

Applicants themselves or members of their families may not certify copies of your documents. This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and first cousin.

Police certificates

You and your family members who are 18 years of age and older and are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens must provide a valid police certificate for each country other than Canada, in which you have spent six or more months since the age of 18.

Note: If you or your family members were under 18 years of age (16 years of age in certain jurisdictions) for the entire time you lived in a particular country, you do not need to provide a police certificate for that country.

If the original certificate is not in English or French, then you will need to submit both the certificate and the original copy of the translation prepared by an accredited translator.

We will also do our own background checks to determine if there are grounds under which you and your dependants may be inadmissible to Canada.

For specific and up-to-date information, see our guide on how to get a police certificate.

Convictions/offences outside Canada

If you were convicted of or committed a criminal offense outside Canada, you may overcome this criminal inadmissibility

  • by applying for rehabilitation, or
  • you may be deemed to have been rehabilitated if at least ten years have passed since you completed the sentence imposed upon you, or since you committed the offense if the offense is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of fewer than ten years.

If the offense is one that would, in Canada, be prosecuted summarily, and if you were convicted for two (2) or more such offenses, the period for rehabilitation is at least five (5) years after the sentences imposed were served or are to be served.

Convictions/offenses in Canada

If you have a criminal conviction in Canada, you must seek a record suspension (formerly a pardon) from the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) before you will be admissible to Canada.

Note: Do not complete the forms in this guide until you have received your record suspension. 
You can request a Record Suspension Application Guide or additional information from:

Parole Board of Canada
Clemency and Record Suspension Division
410 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0R1
Telephone: 1-800-874-2652 (Callers in Canada and the United States only)
Fax: 1-613-941-4981
Email: suspension@pbc-clcc.gc.ca
Website: http://pbc-clcc.gc.ca/index-eng.shtml
(The instructional guide and application forms can be downloaded from the website)

In order to be considered for a record suspension under the Criminal Records Act, a specified period of time must pass after the end of the sentence imposed. The sentence may have been payment of a fine, period of probation, or imprisonment.

Note: Once you have a copy of the record suspension, send a photocopy to a Canadian visa office or Citizenship and Immigration Centre. If you are traveling to Canada carry a copy of the record suspension with you.

If you have had two (2) or more summary convictions in Canada, you may no longer be inadmissible if:

  • at least five (5) years have passed since all sentences imposed were served or are to be served,
  • you have had no other convictions.

Step 2. Complete the Application

Filling out the application

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the application forms.

The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted:

For the employer:
For the applicant:

 

Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”. If your application is incomplete it may be returned to you and this will delay the processing of your application.

If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and submit it along with your application.

Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by:

  • You, the principal applicant.

Completing the form

You must answer all questions on this application form unless indicated otherwise.

Download and fill out the application form on a computer.

You also have the option of saving your form and completing it later.

Note: Completing the form electronically is easier and reduces the risk of errors that can slow down the application process.