For skilled workers looking to immigrate to Canada or international graduates looking to extend their stay in the country, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot can prove to be a very efficient pathway. This pilot program allows employers in the Atlantic provinces of Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador – to nominate and employ skilled foreign workers as well as international graduates who want to live and work in one of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces. Best of all, successful applicants under this program can get a pathway to permanent residence in the country, which sweetens the pot even further!
Employer-driven program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is an employer-driven immigration program. It is designed to allow local employers to fill the void left in the workforce by a lack of sufficiently-skilled homegrown employees. With this program, local employers can hire qualified candidates from abroad for jobs left vacant by a dwindling local workforce.
Pilot requirements
To immigrate to Canada under this program as an international graduate, you must have recently obtained your degree from one of Atlantic Canada’s publicly funded institutions. Additional requirements in general include:
- Having resided in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the two years before getting your degree;
- Taking a language test to show your proficiency in English or French;
- Showing proof of your ability to support yourself and your family when you immigrate to Canada.
To immigrate as a skilled foreign worker, you can choose from two streams: Atlantic High-Skilled Program and Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program.
For the Atlantic High-Skilled Program, you must:
- Have worked in a professional, management or technical/skilled job for at least 12 months;
- Have an educational degree equivalent to that of at least a Canadian high school diploma;
- Take a language test to show your proficiency in English or French;
- Show that you can support yourself and your family when you immigrate to Canada.
For the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, you must:
- Have worked in a job requiring a high school education or job-specific training for at least 12 months;
- Have an educational degree equivalent to that of at least a Canadian high school diploma;
- Take a language test to show your proficiency in English or French;
- Show that you can support yourself and your family when you immigrate to Canada.
You must also obtain a job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province to qualify for the pilot.
Benefits
Completing this program will grant you permanent residency in Canada, and you can enjoy all the benefits as a Canadian permanent resident, including:
- Living, working and studying in Canada permanently;
- Enjoying health benefits under Canada’s globally renowned healthcare system;
- Enrolment in Canada’s public education system for your children;
- Applying for Canadian citizenship;
- Sponsoring family members to join you in Canada.
How to apply
You can apply for permanent residency in Canada under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot with the help of eduaid! Head over to our offices, or call our RCIC registered immigration lawyers for more information and assistance!
