The Atlantic Immigration program works as a cooperation between the four provinces in this region and Canada’s federal government. It is an employer-driven program created to bring foreigners to fill job positions that haven’t been filled with citizens or permanent residents. Overall, this allows employers in Atlantic Canada to hire skilled workers and international graduate students who want to settle in the area and become permanent residents.
Provinces in Atlantic Canada
- Nova Scotia:
Its capital city is Halifax, one of Canada’s largest coastal cities. The province has continental weather, with extreme temperatures during summer and winter.
- New Brunswick:
It is the only Canadian province with English and French as its official languages. It borders the north with Quebec and the east with the Atlantic Ocean.
- Newfoundland and Labrador:
It is the most eastern province in Canada, with a wide range of climates due to its geography. The capital city is St Johns.
- Prince Edward Island:
Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in terms of land area. Its capital city is Charlottetown. Overall, it is recognized as a great culinary destination with world-class seafood.
Atlantic Immigration Program – Benefits
The Atlantic Immigration Program aims to attract foreigners with the skills and experience to boost the region’s economy and support its demographic challenges.
To sum up, through the program, employers can hire qualified candidates for jobs they haven’t filled with locals. To qualify, candidates can be abroad or live in Canada as temporary residents.
One of the main benefits of the Atlantic Immigration Program is that employers don’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire foreigners. However, they must meet other requirements to get a designation and make valid job offers.
Overall, the program has two streams for skilled workers and one for foreign graduates.
Skilled Workers Streams:
Atlantic High-Skilled Program: This stream focus on skilled workers with management, professional or technical job experience. Besides, candidates must hold a job offer for at least one year.
To qualify, high-skilled workers must have work experience at a job under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) type-level A, B, or 0.
Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program: This stream targets intermediate-skilled workers with work experience at a NOC skill level C. It means jobs that require a high school education or job-specific training. Again, candidates need a job offer and it must be permanent.
Graduate Students:
International Graduate Program: Under this stream, international students from an Atlantic public educational institution qualify for the Atlantic Immigration Program.
As you can see, depending on your situation, each stream targets different types of candidates under different situations. Then, candidates need to fit under one of these categories to qualify for the program.
Documents Required for the Atlantic Immigration Program
Applicants need certain documents to support their application. It may vary based on the stream. However, the basics documents are:
- Valid Passport
- Language Test results
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Employment letter
- Certificate of Endorsement
- Proof of funds
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Medical certificate
- Settlement plan
- Proof of payment
- Evidence of experience (if required)
- Marriage license (if applicable)
How to Get Designated – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Employers
As an employer in Atlantic Canada, you need to get designated before making a job offer and hiring a foreign candidate. This designation must be done by the provincial government of the Atlantic province where the person will work. After you are “designated” you can hire candidates under the Atlantic Immigration Program.
To be designated, a company must:
- Be in satisfactory status and comply with occupational health and safety legislation and safety legislation.
- Have been in constant, active operation under the same management for at least two years in any of the Atlantic provinces.
- Work with a settlement provider organization to support your foreign candidates in settlement services.
- Take the free onboarding training.
- Get the free intercultural competency training ( if applicable)
Overall, each job offer made through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program requires a provincial endorsement. So, after the candidate has the settlement plan, then the employer must handle the application for endorsement.
Optional Temporary Work Permit
Furthermore, under the Atlantic Immigration program, some candidates can apply for a temporary work permit before sending a permanent resident application. In that way, it allows them to work while waiting for their PR application. Indeed, it is a very convenient situation for applicants and for employers
Settlement Plan
In either case, all candidates under the Atlantic Immigration programs must have a Settlement Plan after accepting an offer of employment. After all, this Settlement Plan assists you in settling in Canada by supporting you and your family’s needs. It is mandatory, so, candidates must do it with a settlement service provider.
How to Get a Job Offer to Qualify Under The Atlantic Immigration Program?
When a designated employer in Atlantic Canada offers a job, they also send the Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Form.
Then, candidates need to ensure they meet all the requirements to apply for the program. In general, the items to check are:
- Verify the job conditions as published in the National Occupational Classification.
- Qualify for the respective program established by the employer.
However, it is important to know that the job offer does not have to be similar to the last job a candidate held.
Get a Job in Atlantic Canada With manajobs
At mana immigration, we know foreign employees are suitable to work in Canada. Therefore, we created manajobs.
Mana jobs is a recruitment platform with a complete network for businesses and applicants. We provide skilled job positions under NOC 0, A, B, and C all across the four Atlantic Provinces. Since the platform allows candidates to upload their profile, cv, and IELTS scores, employers have access to qualified profiles, while candidates find job options.
Indeed, mana jobs guarantees a faster and more complete hiring process in the Atlantic Provinces and all across Canada.
Process Time to Get PR Through the AIP
The processing time under the Atlantic Immigration pilot program is about one year. To do it, applicants must submit their PR application within six months of obtaining the endorsement certificate. On the other hand, employers that need to fill an immediate job vacancy receive a temporary work permit. Then, foreign workers can start working while waiting for the PR application.
