Atlantic Immigration Pilot Set to Attract and Retain Skilled Immigrants in Atlantic Canada

IRCC is now accepting permanence applications for three programs under the Atlantic Immigration pilot:

• The Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program;
• The Atlantic Highly Skilled Program;
• The Atlantic International Graduate Program

The pilot program is distinguished by the increased role of the employer in the process. Employers will work with federal and provincial immigrant settlement service provider organizations to help the newcomer employee and their families settle in Canada.

How to Apply as an Employer

Designation is the first step for an employer interested in participating in the program.

In order to become a designated employer, there are five obligations the employer must commit to:

• Guarantee full-time employment for the principal applicant
• Partner with a federally-and/or-provincially-funded immigration settlement service provider organization;
• Ensure each principal applicant and their family members receive a needs assessment and individualized settlement plan from a settlement service provider organization; and
• Support newcomers’ access to settlement services.

Designation Applications for interested employers are being accepted as of January 27, 2017.

Designated employers who have identified a candidate able to fill an existing vacancy may complete an Endorsement Application for each candidate. This is required before the candidate may apply to IRCC. As part of the endorsement, the employer connects the candidate to a designated immigrant settlement service provider organization to complete the pre-endorsement needs assessment settlement plan for the candidate and their family. The employer also makes a commitment to support specific settlement needs of the candidate and their families once they arrive in Atlantic Canada.

How to Apply as an Employee-Candidate:

Interested candidates who wish to apply for permanent residence through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot must:

• Have a job offer from a designated Atlantic Employer
• Receive an endorsement letter from the province
• Meet the other eligibility requirements for permanent residence
• Have an individualized settlement plan for each newcomer employee and family member based on a needs assessment.

In addition, candidates must fulfill program-specific requirements, depending on which of the available

• Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
  • Work experience of at least one year at skill level C within the last three years;
  • A permanent, full-time job offer
  • Canadian secondary or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree or a foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Atlantic High-Skilled Program
  • Work experience of at least one year at skill level 0, A, or B within the last three years
  • A full-time job offer valid for at least one year from the date permanent residence is granted
  • Canadian secondary or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree or a foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Atlantic International Graduate Program
  • A full-time job offer valid for at least one year from the date permanent residence is granted
  • A minimum two (2) year degree, diploma, certificate or trade credential from a recognized, publicly-funded institution in an Atlantic province
  • Been a full-time student in Canada for at least two years
  • Graduated in the last 12 months at the time of application
  • Lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months in the last 2 years before graduation
  • Had the relevant visa or permit needed to study, work or train in Canada.

Applications are now being accepted under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. The IRCC will process up to 2,000 applications in 2017. More information on the program may be found here.