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If you are new to the Atlantic Immigration Program or require basic information, please watch our previously published AIP video called “Atlantic Immigration Program for International Students – Easy Canada Immigration” also available on our YouTube channel list of videos.
This article is a deeper dive into the AIP for more advanced users looking for very specifics – not the basic information. As an overseas applicant, can you buy into a business that has been designated by the AIP in Canada so that you can be sponsored? …..let’s dive deep into the AIP.
Let’s get the facts straight for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)- consider this as the basic information you should already know while reading this article:
* It is an employer-driven Direct PR pathway specifically for employers who are based in one of the 4 Atlantic provinces in Canada – and are designated by the province as an AIP employer.
* Each province has their own designated Atlantic Immigration Employers who can utilize this program. It is not at all complicated to apply and become a designated employer under the AIP.
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Let’s get into more detail about the work permit options and work experience requirements under the AIP:
* A work permit option exists under the AIP to apply for a 2-year closed work permit to come and work for your employer. Of course, like most programs, your spouse can also be eligible for an open work permit. It is possible to apply for a work permit before the PR application (within 90 days) if a support letter is received from the province or apply after you have submitted your PR application.
* An option exists to apply directly for a PR without a work permit, however, please keep in mind that the processing times take longer if you are outside Canada compared to being inside the country with a valid work permit.
* Here are the work experience minimum requirements for applicants – the devil is in the details so please pay attention:
* Your job offer should be for at least 1 year full-time, but if you are in a low-skilled job it should be permanent full-time. The job offer should also be in the same skill level or higher, except for certain specific healthcare occupations. What this means is that if you are a university professor you won’t be eligible to work as an administrative assistant at a school. Or if you are the head of finance or accounting in a company overseas, you cannot come in as a bookkeeper or accountant technician.
* The job offer wage rate should be within the NOC code Service Canada’s job wage bank range for that region and province – not necessarily the median wage.
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International students who studied and graduated from publicly funded colleges or universities in one of the 4 Atlantic provinces from a minimum 2-year program are exempted from work experience requirements under the AIP. Keep in mind that you would have to have been inside the Atlantic provinces for a minimum of 66% of the time during your 2-year studies.
If you are in a professional occupation or higher, you will need a post-secondary 1-year credential. For technical jobs you need at least a high school education - which would be the equivalent of TEER level 2, 3, or 4.
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Like Express Entry, if you are inside Canada working for your employer you do not need to prove minimum settlement funds for the Atlantic Immigration Program.
If you are outside of Canada or not working for your employer, you will need minimum settlement funds equivalent to 12.5% of the minimum income cut-off level, which would be CAD $3,439 for a single adult or for a family of 4 equivalent to CAD $6,391 for the year 2023. Each year these figures are adjusted based on inflation.
See the table below for 2023 as per IRCC requirements:
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As with 90% of all permanent immigration programs which lead to PR in Canada, you would need to have proof of language proficiency in either English or French through one of the approved exams. CLB 5 for most occupations and CLB 4 for the lower skill level occupations in TEER level 4 which is the old NOC level D.
* No cost to become designated. 100% free to process and apply for a designation with your province under the Atlantic Immigration Program.
* The employer does not need to become designated for each candidate or position. They only need to become designated once by the province under AIP.
* Employers should be operational and active for the past 2 years in one of the 4 Atlantic provinces or have a special exemption issued by one of the provinces if you are new or planning to establish a branch in the Atlantic from one of the other provinces in Canada.
* If the employer is nominating and sponsoring a family or relative, it is legal but a further explanation of why the applicant is selected over other candidates should be provided to the province before nomination.
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It is technically legal and possible to own shares in the company in Canada that is sponsoring you – i.e., the designated employer under AIP. However, you will need to keep in mind these key factors:
* AIP does not allow self-employed work experience, meaning indirectly you should not own 100% of the designated employer.
* You should review the provincial nominee program details for the specific employer’s province in terms of their skilled worker nomination program on whether the skilled worker can own a minority stake with the Canadian employer.
* If you own a minority stake in the designated employer, it should be related to your industry and have positions available to match your previous work experience.
* As per the AIP employer requirements, we are quoting “If the Applicant is a shareholder, director, or investor in your business please detail why this person was hired over the other candidates.”
What does all this mean? It means you can technically invest and purchase a minority stake in a designated employer and have them sponsor you under the AIP. And if you don’t have the work experience to match the right NOC code or occupation, you can do an investor LMIA, come work in the NOC code you need the work experience in, and after 1 year be nominated under AIP. Why would you need to do this?
1: AIP is faster than the regular Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) PR processing.
2: If the open position at the designated employer is a lower NOC code than your own work experience, you will not be eligible to downgrade under the AIP. Your NOC code for the position should be the same level or higher.
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Here is what you need in terms of documents when applying under the AIP:
* IMM 0157 E Job offer form.
* Copy of accepted job offer.
* Detailed job description.
* Proof of recruitment efforts.
* Evidence of the applicant’s previous work experience.
* The Applicant’s (including any accompanying family members) Settlement Plan.
* If the candidate is already in Canada, copy of their legal status in the country (work permit, visitor permit, or study permit).
* Educational Credential Assessment.
* Language test results such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF.
If it’s the first time for the employer to endorse and sponsor an applicant under the AIP you’ll need these documents as well:
* Attestation of having completed mandatory onboarding training (Proof of completion of the training will be communicated to the Provinces by IRCC).
* If required as per the provincial program, proof of employer’s completion of intercultural competency training, delivered by an approved organization.
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