Guide 0154 - Atlantic Immigration Program

Table of Contents

• Before You Apply
• Eligibility Requirements
• Step 1. Gather Documents
• Step 2. Complete the Application
• Step 3. Pay the Fees
• Step 4. Submit the Application
• What Happens Next
• Need Help?
• Appendix A – Photo Specifications

Before You Apply

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

Who may use this application?

You may apply through the Atlantic Immigration 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 through the Atlantic Immigration Program you must first receive an Endorsement certificate 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 screening for candidates with Atlantic Endorsement certificate and valid job offers in one of the Atlantic provinces.

Note: You must have a valid provincial endorsement when you apply for permanent residence and when permanent residence is issued to you. If the province revokes your endorsement while IRCC is processing your permanent residence application, the endorsement is no longer valid. 

The provincial endorsement certificate is valid as long as you submit a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the endorsement. All endorsements certificates are valid for twelve months after the date of issuance. Extensions are not permitted under this program.

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:

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

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible under the Atlantic Immigration Program, you must meet the minimum requirements outlined below.

Qualifying Work Experience

You must have the following work experience:

Applications received by IRCC on or before November 15, 2022

• within the last five years, you must have accumulated at least one year (at least 1,560 hours, the same as working 30 hours per week) of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience, in your main occupation at:
  • National Occupational Classification (NOC 2016) 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.)
  • NOC Skill Level C (intermediate jobs that usually call for high school and/or job-specific training, such as: industrial butchers. long-haul truck drivers. food and beverage servers.)
• you have performed the actions in the description of the NOC;
• you have performed most of the main duties of the NOC;
• 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).
• you are not self-employed
• your work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what they were authorized to do.

Applications received by IRCC on or after November 16, 2022

• within the last five years, you must have accumulated at least one year (at least 1,560 hours, the same as working 30 hours per week) of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience, in your main occupation at:
  • National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021) TEER 0 (management jobs such as restaurant managers, mine managers, etc.) or
  • TEER 1 (professional jobs that usually need a degree from a university, such as doctors, dentists, architects etc.) or
  • TEER 2 and TEER 3 (technical jobs and skilled trades such as chefs, electricians, plumbers etc.)
  • TEER 4 (intermediate jobs that usually call for high school and/or job-specific training, such as: industrial butchers. long-haul truck drivers. food and beverage servers.)
• you have performed the actions in the description of the NOC;
• you have performed most of the main duties of the NOC;
• 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).
• you are not self-employed
• your work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what they were authorized to do.

To calculate your hours worked:

• Count hours worked in part-time and full-time jobs.
• Count only paid hours of work. Volunteering or unpaid internships don’t count.
• Count hours worked inside or outside Canada. You must have been legally authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident.
• Count hours that were accumulated over a period of at least 12 months.
• Count work experience acquired while studying, as long as the work hours don’t exceed what was authorized.
• Don’t count hours when you were self-employed.

Qualifying international graduates are exempt from work experience requirements

You do not need to meet the work experience requirements if you’re an international graduate who

• has at least a two-year degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship credential from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, was a full-time student for the entire duration of your studiesand, was obtained within 24 months prior to the date you apply for permanent residence
• lived in either New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island for at least 16 months within the last two years before getting your credential
• had valid temporary resident status throughout your stay in Canada
• had the visa or permit you needed to work, study or get training while you were in Canada

For more information, see National Occupational Classifications.

Job Offer

The job offer must meet all of these requirements

• The job offer must be from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador).
• The job offer must be full time, meaning you’ll work at least 30 paid hours per week.
• The job offer must be non-seasonal. In general, this means you have consistent and regularly scheduled paid employment throughout the year.
• For NOC 0, A or B skill type or level job offers (NOC 2016), or TEER 0,1,2, or 3 (NOC 2021) the employer must be offering you a job that will last at least 1 year (1 year from the time you become a permanent resident).
• For NOC C skill level job offers (NOC 2016), or TEER 4 (NOC 2021) the employer must be offering you permanent employment, that is, there is no set end date.
• The job offer cannot come from a company where you (the applicant) or your spouse is a majority owner.
• The job offer must be at the same skill level as, or higher than, the work experience that qualified for the job (refer to the table below), unless you’re an international graduate from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.
• For certain health care sector occupations, you don’t need to have a job offer at the same skill level, or higher, than the qualifying work experience.
  • Work experience in NOC 3233 (NOC 2016), 32101 (NOC 2021) (licensed practical nurses) and NOC 3012 (NOC 2016), 31301 (NOC 2021) (registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses) can be used as qualifying work experience if you have a job offer in NOC 3413 (NOC 2016, 33102 (NOC 2021) (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates) or NOC 4412 (NOC 2016), 44101 (NOC 2021) (home health care workers)

Processing officers will assess the following:

• that you can perform the work described in the job offer, and that you are likely to accept and carry out the job duties related to the job offer
  • Officers can use the employment requirements of the NOC in their assessment. Relevant employment requirements may include education, training or other qualifications listed in the NOC description, with the exception of Canadian licensing requirements in the case of regulated occupations.

NOC level job offer and qualifying work experience requirement

You must submit an Offer of Employment to a Foreign National [IMM 0157] (opens in a new tab) with your application. Your employer must complete this form and the employer must send you a copy. You must read and sign the declaration at the bottom of the copy and submit it with your application. 

Note: If your job offer is permanent, your employer must enter “permanent” as the expected duration of employment for box 22 on your Offer of Employment form (IMM 0157).

Education

You must have one of these

• If you have a job offer at the NOC 0 or A skill type or level (NOC 2016), TEER 0 or 1 (NOC 2021), you must have a Canadian one-year post-secondary educational credential or higher, or the equivalent outside Canada.
• If you have a job offer at the NOC B or C skill level (NOC 2016), or TEER 2, 3, or 4 (NOC 2021) you must have a Canadian high school diploma, or the equivalent outside Canada.

However, if you studied outside Canada, you need an educational credential assessment (ECA) to confirm that your studies are equal to or higher than the required level of education for your job offer.

• Your ECA report must be less than 5 years old on the date we receive your application.

Eligible educational credentials

Only certain educational credentials are eligible for international graduates. An educational credential is not eligible if the credentials were obtained in a study or training program where:

• the study of English or French as a second language was at least half of the program;
• distance learning was at least half of the program; or
• where a scholarship or fellowship stipulated that the recipient return to their home country to apply the knowledge and skills gained.

Language requirements

• You must have a level 5 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for listening, speaking, reading, and writing for a job offer at the NOC 0, A or B skill level (NOC 2016) or TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (NOC 2021).
• You must have a level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for listening, speaking, reading, and writing for a job offer at the NOC C skill level (NOC 2016) or TEER 4 (NOC 2021).
• If your job offer is at the NOC C level (NOC 2016) or TEER 4 (NOC 2021), your employer will provide language training to increase your language proficiency to CLB 5 level.
• You will need to do mandatory language testing and submit your 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 you submit your application.

Note: Canadian Language Benchmark/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 5 is considered “Intermediate Proficiency” and means that you can:

• Listen to a short news report
• Understands a short phone message
• Give some advice to a friend
• Read an email
• Follow instructions on how to access a company database
• Find some information on government website
• Write a short email message
• Fill out a basic application form

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 in your passport and/or issuing an additional document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

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

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

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

Note: You do not have to submit this proof of funds 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.

We strongly recommend that you research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you plan to live and have enough money to make your establishment in Canada easier.

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.

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 when you arrive. 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

Although qualifications assessment and licensing are not needed to apply for permanent residence under the Atlantic Immigration Program, you should be aware that you may need to show you have or will soon be obtaining certification or licensing if you are applying for work permit in a regulated occupation.

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.

See regulated and non-regulated occupations (PDF, 2.12 MB) 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 licences required to practice.

The process for recognizing credentials varies between provinces and territories, and between occupations. Recognizing qualifications and issuing licences in Canada, takes time. You may be asked to:

• provide documentation of qualifications
• take 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 legal requirements to get a license. The employer lists the main duties of the job 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, 2.12 MB).

Labour market information

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

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

Using a representative

If you (the principal applicant) want to authorize a representative to act on your behalf (paid or unpaid) you must

• submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form
• sign it (digitally or by hand) and get your immigration representative to do so also
• upload it with your application

If you (the principal applicant) want to allow us to release information from your application to someone other than yourself who will not act as your representative you must

• submit an Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475] (opens in a new tab) form

Step 1. Gather Documents

What documents do I need?

Consult the Document Checklist [IMM 0155] (opens in a new tab) to help you gather the necessary documents.

Important information: If you can’t provide one or more documents required on the document checklist, you must provide a written explanation for each missing document so your application is not delayed in processing or returned to you as incomplete. You must also provide any other evidence or documents you have available to satisfy the requirement.

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

For your application to be considered complete you must include :

• all the information asked for on the checklist for the principal applicant and dependants;
• the forms completed by the principal applicant, and
• all supporting documents we requested.
  • Upload them as the document type that we requested.

Admissibility Requirements

Police certificates

If you and your family members are 18 years of age and older you must provide a valid police certificate for any country other than Canada in which you spent six or more months in a row since the age of 18.

Note: You do not need to provide a police certificate from a country if you or your family members were under 18 years of age the entire time you lived in that country.

If the original certificate isn’t in English or French, you must get an accredited translator to translate it. You must include both the police certificate and the original copy of the translation.

We’ll also do our own background checks to see if there are reasons why you or your family members may not be admissible to Canada.

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

Convictions / offences outside Canada

If you were convicted of or committed a criminal offence 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 offence, if the offence is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years.

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

Convictions / offences 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: https://www.canada.ca/en/parole-board.html
(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 travelling 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 to be served,
• you have had no other convictions.

Step 2. Complete the Application

Complete all sections. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “N/A”.

If you need more space for any section, include an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and upload it with your application. For the document type, choose “other.”

Uploading additional documents to your online application:

To submit supporting documentation with your online application select “Other” from the drop-down menu (Document type) and upload your documents or other additional information which can be in any of the following formats: JPG, JPEG or PDF.

Signatures

If signatures are missing (when this applies), we will return the application by email without processing it.

As the principal applicant, you’ll electronically sign for the entire application, including your family members by typing your full name exactly as it is shown on your passport.

Note:

• Remember to check for signature requirements and sign when needed, either by hand or electronically. If forms are not signed in the correct places, and by the correct people, we will return your application without processing it. Signatures may be required in more than one place or from more than one person on some forms.

Filling out the application

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

Sign in or create a Permanent residence online application portal account.

Click on each applicable form’s name to access it, then follow the instructions to complete it. Some forms must be filled through a web form, others are PDFs that you will have to upload. As the principal applicant, you’ll electronically sign for the entire application, including those of your family members.

You must fill out these digital forms online

You’ll fill out these digital forms online (for yourself, and any family members 18 or older)

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)

  Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)

• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)

  Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)

• Supplementary Information - Your travels (IMM 5562)

  Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)

You must also fill out these PDF forms

• you don’t need to sign them
• upload them to your online application
• as the principal applicant, you’ll electronically sign for the entire application, including those of your family members
  • Document Checklist [IMM 0155] (opens in a new tab)
    • Use this checklist to make sure you include all the forms and documents you need.
  • Economic Classes – Atlantic Immigration Program [IMM 5501] (opens in a new tab) 

Complete and sign these PDF forms, if they apply to you

• print and complete it
• sign it by hand
• get the third party to sign it by hand
• upload it with your application
  • Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409] (opens in a new tab), if this applies
  • Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada [IMM 5604] (opens in a new tab), if this applies

Forms for the employer to fill out

• Offer of Employment to a Foreign National under the Atlantic Immigration Program [IMM 0157] (opens in a new tab)
• Your employer must
  • fill out the form
  • print it and sign it by hand
  • make a copy
  • send it to you
• You (the principal applicant) must
  • read the declaration at the bottom and sign by hand
  • make a digital copy, and
  • then upload it with your online application

Note: If your job offer is permanent, your employer must enter “permanent” as the expected duration of employment for box 22 on your Offer of Employment form (IMM 0157).

Important information: It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information on these forms. The information you provide on your application may be subject to verification.

Step 3. Pay the Fees

Additional fees

You will also have to pay fees to third parties for yourself and your family members (if applicable) for:

• medical examinations
• police certificates
• language assessments

Step 4. Submit the application

Now that you’ve prepared your application, you can submit it for processing. To help make sure the application can be processed as quickly as possible:

• answer all questions;
• electronically sign your application (type your full name exactly as shown on your passport);
• include your processing fee receipt;
• upload all the supporting documents; and
• you will receive a confirmation of submission which you should retain for your records.

What Happens Next

The application process

Submission

Completion check: Once you have submitted your application, we will check to make sure:

• all required application forms have been properly completed and submitted,
• the application processing fee has been paid, and
• all required supporting documents from the document checklist have been submitted.

If your application is missing any of the requested documents, it will be returned to you. Failure to provide supporting documents in certain circumstances may result in the refusal of your application.

Acknowledgment of receipt: If your application is complete, it will be placed into processing. You will be sent a letter or e-mail that:

• notifies you of this fact and provides you with your IRCC office file number
• sets out some basic instructions for contact with the IRCC office processing your file
• gives you a brief outline of future processing steps

Processing

Review for decision

Your application will undergo a detailed review by an IRCC Officer. The Officer will consider all the information and documentation you have provided, and will assess it against current selection standards.

Permanent resident status

If your application is successful, you and your family members will receive status as permanent residents of Canada. To prepare, see Understanding permanent resident status.

Appendix A - Photo Specifications