Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in 1 of Canada’s 4 Atlantic provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador.

The program helps employers hire qualified candidates for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally.

I am an employer in Atlantic Canada

Apply to become a designated organization

Before you can make a job offer to hire a candidate, you must first become designated by the provincial government of the Atlantic province where the candidate will be working.

Each province has its own application process. There is no cost to become a designated employer. Find the application to become designated on the province’s website:

Hire a qualified international candidate

Once designated, you can hire qualified international candidates for jobs you haven’t been able to fill locally. These candidates can be overseas or living in Canada as temporary residents.

Start the hiring process

I am an international graduate or skilled foreign worker

Get hired in Atlantic Canada

You must receive a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada to participate in the program.

You must be either

  • a recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada or
  • a skilled worker

You can be living abroad or in Canada as a temporary resident.

Start your application

Apply to work in Canada while you wait

To be eligible to work in Canada while you wait, you must have

  • a job offer from a designated employer that meets the requirements of the program
  • a referral letter from the Atlantic province where you’ll be working

Start your temporary work permit application

Page details

Date modified: