With reduced federal allocations in 2025, Canada’s Atlantic provinces are sharpening their focus under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). If you’re a skilled worker or a recent graduate with the right credentials your odds are best this year if you align with healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and select ICT, aquaculture, and agriculture roles. Below, we break down each province’s 2025 priorities, what’s paused, what’s still moving, and the exact steps to get endorsed and apply for permanent residence (PR) through the AIP.
Quick Snapshot: 2025 AIP Priorities by Province
- Prince Edward Island (PEI): Healthcare, construction, manufacturing (AIP endorsements only in these three sectors for the rest of 2025).
- Nova Scotia (NS): Highest priority for workers already in NS with work permits expiring in 2025, especially in healthcare & social assistance (NAICS 62) and construction (NAICS 23); limited out-of-country prioritization in healthcare, social assistance, and construction. Targeted exceptions for trucking, science & technology, clean energy, resource development.
- Newfoundland & Labrador (NL): Priority processing (and exemptions from certain labour market testing) for specific healthcare, ICT, and aquaculture occupations; EOI model adopted (Feb 19, 2025) for both PNP and AIP no direct applications.
- New Brunswick (NB): AIP paused for the rest of 2025 (allocation reached as of Apr 4). Some NB PNP capacity added in June (1,500 additional spots)—check NB PNP streams instead.
What Is the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)?
The AIP is an employer-driven pathway to Canadian PR for skilled workers and certain international graduates who want to settle in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland & Labrador. Unlike most PNPs, AIP applicants don’t need a provincial nomination certificate; instead, they need:
- A job offer from a designated employer in one of the Atlantic provinces.
- An endorsement from the province (the employer handles this after you secure the offer).
Qualified candidates can also apply for an LMIA-exempt work permit to start working while their PR application is processed.
Province-by-Province Deep Dive
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
PEI announced early in the year that, due to high demand and a smaller federal allocation, it will only accept AIP endorsement packages for healthcare, construction, and manufacturing in 2025. If your job offer is outside these sectors, PEI encourages you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) under the PEI PNP while AIP endorsements remain restricted.
Action step: If you’re targeting PEI, lock in an offer in one of the three high-demand sectors before your competition does. Confirm your employer is designated and your role lines up with the NOC/TEER duties.
Nova Scotia (NS)
In July, Nova Scotia moved to prioritize:
- Workers already living and working in NS whose work permits expire in 2025, particularly in healthcare & social assistance (NAICS 62) and construction (NAICS 23).
- Limited outside-Canada files in healthcare, social assistance, and construction.
NS also notes exceptions for AIP employers hiring in trucking, science & technology, clean energy, and resource development reflecting targeted labour needs.
Action step: If you’re in Nova Scotia now and your permit expires this year, act fast. Coordinate with your HR team to initiate AIP endorsement. If you’re outside Canada, focus your job search on the three prioritized sectors.
Newfoundland & Labrador (NL)
NL has published priority lists that bypass certain provincial labour market testing and receive faster processing. Key groupings include:
Healthcare (public & private):
- Physicians (Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Pathology, Internal Medicine, Radiology, OB/GYN, Anesthesia, PICU, NICU, Hemopathology)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
- Clinical Psychologist, Medical Physicist, Radiation Therapist, Dosimetrist
Information & Communications Technology (ICT):
- Software/AI/Python/.NET/Web/UI/UX Developers
- Electrical/Mechanical/Biomedical Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers
- Cloud/Security Specialists, Data Analytics, Bioinformaticians
- Technical Specialists, Network Support, Research Associates, Technical Writers
- Offshore Technician, ROV Operator, Ocean Mapping Specialist
Aquaculture:
- Captain (FM4), Farming/Feeding Manager, Facility Technician, Assistant Manager
- Cage Site Technician, Site Manager (water quality), Area Manager
New in 2025: NL now uses an EOI model for AIP and PNP (since Feb 19). This means no direct applications you submit an EOI, wait for an invitation, and then proceed with endorsement.
Action step: If you fall into the priority lists above, submit an EOI immediately and keep documents ready (ECA, language test, credentials). Employers in NL’s focus sectors are primed to move quickly.
New Brunswick (NB)
NB has paused AIP for the rest of 2025 (effective Apr 4) after hitting its allocation. The province also stopped processing certain occupations as of Feb 20. However, in June 2025 NB received 1,500 extra spots for the NB PNP a strong alternative if NB is your target.
Action step: Pivot to NB PNP streams and follow the province’s draw criteria closely.
AIP Eligibility: The Must-Meet Checklist
To use AIP, you need a job offer from a designated employer and a provincial endorsement. You must also meet the federal criteria:
Work Experience (Skilled Workers):
- At least 1,560 hours in the last 5 years in TEER 0–4.
International Graduates (Atlantic institutions):
- Two-year credential or longer, full-time throughout, and 16 of the last 24 months living in the Atlantic region before graduation.
- Graduates can skip the work-experience requirement if they meet the above.
Education:
- TEER 0/1 job offer: ≥1-year post-secondary.
- TEER 2/3/4 job offer: high school diploma.
- ECA required for foreign credentials.
Language:
- CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0–3; CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4.
- English or French accepted via IRCC-approved tests.
Settlement Funds:
- Show sufficient funds unless you’re already working in Canada with a valid work permit.
End-to-End: How AIP Works in Practice
- Confirm you qualify (work experience or graduate pathway, education, language, funds).
- Target a designated employer in your province of choice (each province posts a public list).
- Secure a job offer that matches your NOC/TEER duties and your credentials.
- Settlement plan: With your employer, arrange a personalized settlement plan through a provider.
- Endorsement: Your employer submits for provincial endorsement. If approved, you receive an endorsement certificate.
- Apply for PR to the federal government using the endorsement (and, if needed, apply for the LMIA-exempt work permit to start work sooner).
Tip: In NL (and sometimes in other provinces/streams), you may need to enter an EOI pool first and wait for an invitation before endorsement proceeds.
Strategy Tips to Stand Out in 2025
- Aim for priority sectors: Healthcare, construction, manufacturing (PEI); healthcare/social assistance and construction (NS); targeted ICT and aquaculture (NL).
- Be in-province if possible: Provinces often prioritize candidates already living/working locally, especially with permits expiring in 2025.
- Align your NOC carefully: Your job offer must match your duties and credentials. Misalignment is a common reason for delays or refusals.
- Meet language early: Book your test now. Hitting CLB 5 (or CLB 4 for TEER 4) removes last-minute scrambling and gives employers confidence.
- Get your ECA done: If you studied outside Canada, start your ECA immediately; processing takes time.
- Work with designated employers only: Offers from non-designated employers cannot be endorsed.
- Expect EOI systems: In NL (and in some PNPs), you’ll submit an EOI and wait to be invited time your documents so you can respond fast.
FAQs – Atlantic Immigration Program 2025
Is AIP faster than a PNP?
Often, yes. AIP is built for employer-driven, streamlined processing, plus it offers LMIA-exempt work permits so you can start sooner while PR is pending.
Can I switch provinces after endorsement?
No. AIP is province-specific and intent to reside matters. Moving pre-PR can jeopardize your file.
What if my province paused AIP (e.g., NB)?
Look at that province’s PNP instead. NB added 1,500 PNP spots in June 2025.
Do international graduates still need experience?
Not if they meet the Atlantic graduate criteria (two-year credential, full-time study, residence in the region, legal status).
In 2025, the Atlantic Immigration Program is narrower, but still powerful, for candidates who match province-specific priorities and can work with designated employers ready to endorse. Focus where provinces are actively endorsing (PEI: healthcare, construction, manufacturing; NS: healthcare/social assistance, construction; NL: targeted healthcare, ICT, aquaculture), and pivot to PNP alternatives where AIP is paused (NB).
Ready to Map Your AIP Strategy?
Hummel Law helps candidates and employers navigate AIP priorities, endorsements, EOIs, and PR filings, and pivot to PNP options where needed. Whether you’re a nurse in Halifax, a developer eyeing St. John’s, or a manufacturing supervisor headed to PEI, we’ll help you position your offer, confirm eligibility, assemble airtight documents, and avoid costly delays.
Book a consult with Hummel Law to build a winning Atlantic plan before 2025 spots fill up.
