With immigration allocations slightly reduced for 2025, Canada’s Atlantic provinces are carefully selecting which occupations and sectors to prioritize under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The focus this year is clear: provinces want to ensure that labor shortages in critical industries are addressed first.
For newcomers, this means that individuals with backgrounds in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, information technology, agriculture, and aquaculture may have stronger chances of being considered for immigration through the AIP in 2025.
At the same time, candidates applying outside of these high-demand areas may still have options through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) or other streams though the process might take longer and face more competition.
Today, we will discuss who’s prioritized for the Atlantic Immigration Program in 2025. So, without further ado, let us begin!
Provincial Priorities For AIP In 2025
| Province | Sectors Being Prioritized For AIP |
| Prince Edward Island | Healthcare, construction, and manufacturing. |
| Nova Scotia | Healthcare and social assistance, and construction. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Specific occupations in healthcare, information and communication technology, and agriculture. |
| New Brunswick | Has paused the program for the rest of 2025. |
The AIP remains an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence (PR), designed for skilled workers and certain international graduates who want to live and work in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces.
To qualify, applicants must secure a job offer from a designated employer in one of the provinces, and this job offer must be endorsed by the province before applying federally.
Unlike Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which require a candidate to first receive a provincial nomination, the AIP allows eligible applicants to apply directly to the federal government for PR. Another benefit: qualified candidates may also obtain a temporary work permit to start working while waiting for their PR decision.
Prince Edward Island
The first province being prioritized for the Atlantic Immigration Program in 2025 is Prince Edward Island (PEI).
In January, the province announced that due to a high volume of applications and a reduced federal allocation, it would focus only on three major high-demand sectors for the rest of the year:
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Manufacturing
This means PEI will only accept AIP endorsement application packages for workers in these three industries.
Foreign nationals with experience in other sectors are not completely excluded, but they would need to apply through the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) instead of the AIP.
Moreover, for candidates, this shift highlights PEI’s urgent need for skilled tradespeople, medical professionals, and workers in production roles, which are central to the province’s economy.
Nova Scotia
In July 2025, Nova Scotia made changes to its immigration priorities under the AIP. The province is giving preference to foreign nationals who are already living and working in Nova Scotia, particularly those with work permits expiring in 2025.
Among these candidates, Nova Scotia is especially prioritizing workers in:
- Healthcare and social assistance (NAICS 62)
- Construction (NAICS 23)
Additionally, applications from candidates outside Canada will still be considered if they are employed in healthcare, social assistance, or construction.
The province also announced that certain employers in other essential sectors may receive exceptions under the AIP. These include:
- Trucking and transportation
- Science and technology
- Clean energy industries
- Resource development
This shows that while the core focus remains on healthcare and construction, Nova Scotia is still keeping its doors open for highly skilled workers in industries that are important for its long-term growth and innovation.
Newfoundland And Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador continues to operate the AIP but has identified specific in-demand occupations that will be prioritized for faster processing. These roles are exempt from the province’s regular labour market testing requirements, which usually slow down the application process.
In-Demand Healthcare Sector Occupations
- Physicians: Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Pathology, General Internal Medicine, Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anesthesia, Pediatric Intensivists (PICU), Neonatologists (NICU), Pathology (Hemopathology)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
- Clinical Psychologist
- Medical Physicist
- Radiation Therapist
- Dosimetrist
In-Demand Information And Communications Technology (ICT) Sector Occupations
- Software Developers and Engineers
- Biomedical Engineers
- UI/UX Developers
- Electrical Engineers
- AI Developers
- Python, Web, and .NET Developers
- Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Specialists
- Bioinformaticians
- Ocean Mapping Specialists
- Technical Writers, Research Associates, and Data Analysts
In-Demand Aquaculture Sector Occupations
- Captain (FM4 certification required)
- Farming and Feeding Managers
- Facility Technicians
- Assistant and Site Managers (with water quality expertise)
- Area Managers
- Cage Site Technicians
As of February 19, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador also adopted an Expression of Interest (EOI) system for both its PNP and AIP.
This means candidates must first submit an EOI and then wait for an invitation before applying under the AIP. They can no longer submit direct applications.
New Brunswick
The last province to be prioritized for the Atlantic Immigration Program in 2025 was New Brunswick.
New Brunswick took a different approach in 2025. On April 4, the province officially paused its AIP intake for the remainder of the year, citing that it had already met its allocation.
This pause means that:
- No new employers will be designated under the AIP in 2025.
- Designated employers cannot submit new endorsement applications after April 4.
- The province will still process applications submitted before April 4, unless they fall into categories it stopped accepting on February 20.
However, in June 2025, New Brunswick received an additional 1,500 nomination spots under its Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).
For candidates interested in the province, this means checking PNP streams could be the best alternative until AIP intake resumes.
What Is The Atlantic Immigration Program?
The Atlantic Immigration Program is a unique pathway to PR in Canada, created to attract and retain talent in the four Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
The program focuses on connecting skilled workers and international graduates with employers in these provinces, with the goal of filling long-term labor shortages and strengthening local economies.
To apply, a foreign national must have:
- A job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada
- The job offer endorsed by the province
Applicants must also either:
- Meet the minimum work experience requirement
- Be a recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada
One of the program’s biggest advantages is that it offers faster processing times, personalized settlement services, and access to LMIA-exempt work permits. This means candidates can begin working while waiting for PR approval.
Eligibility Criteria
| Category | Requirement |
| Work Experience | Skilled Workers: – At least 1,560 hours in the last 5 years. – Experience must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. International Student Graduates: – 2-year credential from a recognized institution in Atlantic Canada. – Full-time study throughout. – Lived in the Atlantic region for at least 16 of the last 24 months. – Held legal status during stay in Canada. |
| Education | – TEER 0 or 1: One-year post-secondary. – TEER 2, 3, or 4: High school diploma. |
| Language Proficiency | – TEER 0, 1, 2, 3: CLB/NCLC 5. – TEER 4: CLB/NCLC 4. |
| Settlement Funds | – Must show ability to support self and familyNot required if already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit |
Work Experience Requirements
Apart from knowing who’s prioritized for the Atlantic Immigration Program in 2025, let us discuss some work experience requirements.
Skilled Workers
Applicants must show at least 1,560 hours of work in the past five years, in occupations classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
International Graduates
Graduates from Atlantic Canada institutions may qualify without work experience if they:
- Completed a 2-year credential from a recognized post-secondary institution
- Studied full-time for the duration of their program
- Lived in the region for at least 16 out of the last 24 months before graduation
Education Requirements
The required education depends on the NOC TEER of the job:
- TEER 0 or 1: At least one year of post-secondary education.
- TEER 2, 3, or 4: A high school diploma.
Note that you must assess your foreign credentials through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Language Requirements
Language proficiency is determined by job category:
- CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, 3
- CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4
Both English and French test results are accepted.
Settlement Funds Requirement
Applicants must show proof of funds to support themselves and their family after moving to Canada. Moreover, the amount varies depending on family size.
Also, those already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit do not need to provide settlement funds.
Applying Through The AIP
The process to apply through the AIP involves several steps:
- Check Eligibility – ensure you meet the requirements for work experience, education, language, and settlement funds.
- Find A Designated Employer – each province publishes a list of designated AIP employers.
- Obtain A Settlement Plan – created with the help of service providers, this helps candidates and families adjust to life in Atlantic Canada.
- Get Endorsement From The Province – the employer handles this process. Once approved, the authority issues a certificate of endorsement.
- Apply for PR – use the endorsement certificate to apply to the federal government.
- Apply For A Temporary Work Permit (optional) – allows candidates to start working while waiting for PR.
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