Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada who want to work and live In New Brunswick. The program helps New Brunswick employers hire qualified candidates for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally.

We are now accepting expressions of interest from New Brunswick employers. If you are an employer looking to become designated and endorse a candidate, visit the INB Portal, create an employer profile or log into an existing profile, and submit an expression of interest.  

List of Designated Employers – Atlantic Immigration Program

If you have received a nomination certificate from the Province within the past twelve months under one of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program’s (NBPNP) immigration streams (NB Skilled Worker, NB Express Entry, Strategic Initiative), you are not eligible to apply under the AIP. You are able and expected to use your valid NBPNP Nomination certificate to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence.

Employers recruiting candidates from outside of New Brunswick or from overseas into positions in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 must use the Atlantic Immigration Program.

Employers facing shortages must first become “designated” to have their positions “endorsed” by the Province.

Being designated means you can hire candidates under the Atlantic Immigration Program. The province is responsible for approving employers for designation.

Once the employer is designated, they may apply to the province to endorse a position for a foreign worker.

Once the employer position(s) are endorsed, the foreign worker(s) identified by the employer, can apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residency under the Atlantic Immigration Program. The foreign worker may also receive a temporary work permit while waiting for permanent residency.
 

To become designated, your organization must:

• not be in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
• be in good standing and comply with employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation
• not recruit or hire workers for the purpose of establishing a pool of candidates that can be later transferred or contracted out to separate businesses for staffing purposes
• have been in continuous, active operation under the same management for at least 2 years in 1 of the Atlantic provinces, or be able to show continuous, active operation in another location with confirmation of approval from the province in which you’re applying for designation
• work with a New Brunswick settlement service provider organization to help your candidates get settlement services
• commit to taking the onboarding training
• commit to taking the intercultural competency training, unless you’re exempted by the province. A New Brunswick workforce attraction officer will inform you if you need to take the training during the intake conversation.

HOW TO APPLY FOR DESIGNATION

• Review the guides and resources listed below
• Existing Employers please log in to your INB employer profile and complete an expression of interest.
• New Employers please create an account on INB and submit an expression of interest.

GUIDES

• Atlantic Immigration Program – New Brunswick Employer Designation Guidelines
  *A fillable Designation application form will be provided to eligible employers once the Expression of Interest is reviewed by the Province.
• Quick Guide to submitting a Designation Application
• Visual Guide to submitting a Designation Application
   

To have a position endorsed, an employer must:

• Receive Designation from New Brunswick
• Demonstrate that efforts to hire locally have been unsuccessful
• Recruit a foreign worker
• Provide a valid, full-time, non-seasonal job offer co-signed by the foreign worker
• Provide an individualized settlement plan through one of New Brunswick’s settlement service providers, co-signed by the foreign worker
• Complete mandatory onboarding training;
• Complete intercultural competency training, unless exempted by the province.

HOW TO APPLY FOR ENDORSEMENT

• Review the guides and resources listed below
   

GUIDES

• Atlantic Immigration Program – New Brunswick Endorsement Guidelines
• Quick guide to submitting a Endorsement Application
• Visual guide to submitting and Endorsement Application

Documents that will be required at the endorsement application stage

• IMM0157E Job Offer Form
• Signed offer letter or contract
• Detailed Job Description
• Proof of recruitment efforts
• Evidence of the candidate’s previous work experience
• A valid language assessment (IELTS or CELPIP for English, TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French)
• The Principal Applicant’s (including any accompanying family members’) Settlement Plan
• Signed copy of the Endorsement Application Form
• If the candidate is already in Canada, a copy of their legal status in the country (work permit, visitor permit or study permit)
• Copy of passport for principal applicant and dependents
   

To apply for permanent residency foreign workers must:

• Have a valid endorsement certificate issued by New Brunswick.
• Foreign workers who require a work permit must have a work permit referral letter issued by the Province.
• Employers supporting work permit applications must register in the federal employer portal, submit the job offer and pay a compliance fee.

Please ensure to submit a complete application to IRCC. This includes detailed reference letters with main duties, demonstrating you have met the description of the lead statement of the NOC, a valid language assessment with qualifying language scores ,and proof of education- accompanied by an Education Credential Assessment or Canadian equivalency.

Please consult IRCC for the AIP checklist ,and for more information on permanent residency requirements.
 

If you are a New Brunswick employer and you have a question about the Atlantic Immigration Program, please contact our Team at [email protected].