Project details FAQ
he Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project is aimed at encouraging and attracting experienced, skilled and qualified immigrants to the lesser-known and more sparsely-populated provinces of Canada. It is employer driven, meaning the initial challenge for any individual wishing to apply for permanent residency to Canada through this pilot, is to obtain a job offer from a designated employer.
Each of the four Atlantic Canada provinces: Newfoundland & Labrador; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is actively recruiting employers for the project. The list of interested employers is growing. The responsibility of finding a job is on the potential applicant. The threshold for language proficiency and proof of settlement funds is much more attractive than for Express Entry. And more importantly, it is not points based, as in the case of Express Entry.
Here are the most commonly-asked Questions and Answers about the program.
Q: Which Provinces are in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot project?
Q: What are the eligibility criteria?
Q: What are the different streams?
- High-skilled workers;
- Intermediate-skilled workers;
- International graduates (from one of the four provinces).
Q: I am currently living and educated outside Canada. How do I start?
Q: What type of job offer must I have?
A: Your job offer must be self-initiated and from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic Immigration Pilot program provinces. In other words, for your job offer to qualify for this program, the employer must be designated by the province to participate in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program. Unlike Express Entry job offers, this job offer does not have to be approved by the federal government (LMIA-based) for acceptance in the program.
Your job offer must be for 30 hours per week and not a seasonal type of job. It does not necessarily have to be in the same occupation as your past job, but it will have to match the requirements of your chosen NOC code. Additionally:
- For High-skilled workers, the offer must be for at least one year from the date you obtain permanent residency;
- For Intermediate-skilled workers, the offer must be a permanent job;
- For International students, the offer must be for at least one year from the date you obtain permanent residency.
Q: What is the NOC (National Occupation Classification)?
Q: After I get a job offer, what is my next step?
Q: After I receive an endorsement, what happens next?
Q: Are there any fees?
Q: How much settlement funds do I need to show?
A: Since you will have a job offer, the threshold for determining your eligibility regarding the funds you must bring with you to settle in Canada is very much lower than for Express Entry. Determining how much you must have to prove to the Visa Officer in your country is based on how many members there are in your family, even if they will not accompany you to Canada:
| Family Members | Settlement Funds Required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,303 |
| 2 | $4,112 |
| 3 | $5,055 |
| 4 | $6,138 |
| 5 | $6,962 |
| 6 | $7,852 |
| 7 | $8,742 |
• Each additional family member requires additional settlement funds of $890. For example, a family of eight people will require $9,632 in total settlement funds