Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)

What is Atlantic International Graduate Program?

Atlantic International Graduate Program is a part of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) which allows international graduate students who obtained diplomas and degrees from public institutions in Canada to apply for permanent residence without having working experience before. 

Through this program there is no requirements to do the traditional Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before applying for the jobs thus if international students get any offers from anyone of Canada’s Atlantic provinces such as Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and The Prince Edward Island are encouraged to apply for permanent residence.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Language skills

English or French must score a minimum of CLB level 4 which will be approved by Canada immigration authority – Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Candidate’s language skills will be measured by attending the test the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English and the Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) for French. 

However, the following language tests are also approved for the AIGP:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) — General test only.
• CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) — General test only.
• TEF (Test d’évaluation de français).
• Test de Connaissance du français (TCF Canada)

Note: For those tests, applicants must take into consideration the language test result which must be obtained within 24 months of the date apply for permanent residence application.

2. Education

This is one of the most crucial keys for the applicants to AIGP. The applicants must demonstrate that they:

• Must have obtained a degree/diploma/certificate/ trade or apprenticeship credential following completion of a post-secondary education program of at least two years from any recognized publicly-funded institution in Atlantic Canada (i.e. in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador);
• Must have been studying as a full-time student for at least two years (24 months) in Canada;
• Must have been living in either New Brunswick, Prince Edward, Nova Scotia, Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador for at least 16 months within the 24 months before their credential was granted; 
• Had valid/ legal temporary resident status throughout their stay in Canada and had authorization for any work, study or training while in Canada.

 3. Settlement Funds

Applicants must show they have enough financial support for themselves and even their family members. The required settlement funds must be equal to or greater than the sums listed below for each family size.

Number of family members (including those supported by the applicant, even if they are not included in the application)

1 member – $3,167 (Fund required)

2 members – $3.943 (Fund required)

3 members – $4.847 (Fund required)

4 members – $5,885 (Fund required)

5 members – $6,675 (Fund required)

6 members – $7,528 (Fund required)

7 members or more – $8,381 (Fund required)

Note: Those numbers will be updated by IRCC for every year.

4. Provincial Endorsement Letter

This is a compulsory letter which is issued by an Atlantic Province that proved the candidate is accepted by IRCC.

For this letter the only submission of the copy version of this letter is required, the copy should be included with the permanent residence application.

The letter valid in 6 months only therefore, applicants must submit it before the letter getting expired. All extensions under these programs are not permitted.

Application Procedure

All applicants must have a plan for their settlement, and also they will receive some support from settlement specialist organization. 

After this process is done the place where you will work assists some of your activities at the same time the candidate is encouraged to show his/her permanent residence application.

Application bundle what you can get from the program: 

• High-gifted specialists
• Middle of the road talented specialists
• Worldwide alumni

How to Apply?

To apply for the Atlantic International Graduate Program you must :

1. Know your situation whether you are eligible for the program.
2. Receive an offer from any company in the mentioned provinces.
3. Submit your application
4. Mail the Application

Step 1. Make sure you eligible

To know if you are qualified for the AIGP you must meet those criteria:

• Have lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the 2 years before getting your degree, diploma or credential
• Met the education requirements which is mentioned above
• Took a language test to show you’re able to communicate work or study in English or French 
• Prove that you have financial support to support yourself and your family during the time in Canada.

Note: Only taking education in Canada is accepted in this program. Nevertheless, in the case of applicants education is outside Canada the applicant must need an educational credential assessment (ECA). The ECA has to be less than a period of 5 years on the date of application.

2. Got a job offer.

A job offer from any company in Canada must meet all the requirements.

• The job must be full-time, the requirement for working hours at least 30 paid hours per week.
• The job must be non-seasonal. It means that consistent payment throughout the year not seasonal paid employment. 
• At least 1 year of the working contract is offered by the companies.
• Offer of Employment to a Foreign National [IMM5650] (PDF, 817.97 KB) form is considered to use for the job offer.
• The employer has to confirm where the candidate will work, it has to be in the Atlantic province (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and The Prince Edward Island).
• The job is skill type/level 0, A, B or C under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Step 3. Submit your application

When all steps are completed by both applicant and employer, applicants can submit the application.

Application for the AIGP can be found here: Application for the Atlantic International Graduate Program

Application Fees

• The expense for handling the application is $550 and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is $490, in total $1,040 for a solitary candidate.
• Similar expenses should also pay if you include with your partner, a sum of $2,080 for a couple.
• The application includes with the kid, you need to include $150 for every little child.
• Biometrics charges ($85 for one individual, or most extreme $170 for a group of more than two) could be added to your aggregate.

Processing time

The application process will be completed within six months by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The applicants are served on the first-come-first-serve basis for this program. 

What document do I need to prepare?

Form included:

• General Application Form to Canada
• Declaration and Background 
• The offer of Employment to a Foreign Nation – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• Economic Classes – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program 
• Additional Declaration – (if applicable)
• Supplementary Information – Your Travels 
• Some Additional Family Information 
•  Use of a Representative 

 Note: Applicants are required to submit all documents in the checklist, in case applicants lack of any documents the application will be returned. If applicants are unable to submit any type of documents mentioned in the checklist please write an explanation with full details as clarify why that document is unavoidable in the application.

Documents included:

• Travel Documents and Passports
• Confirmation of Provincial Endorsement
• Proof of Language Proficiency
• Document of Education
• Proof of original funds
• Identity and Civil Status Documents
• Documents to prove that you lived in an Atlantic Province for at least 16 months within 24 months before you obtained your educational credential
• Documents indicate that you were legally authorized to study or train in Canada
• Children Information ( if applicable)
• Police Certificate and Clearances
• Photos
• Fees

Note: if you apply from outside Canada:

• Proof that you have valid temporary status
• Photocopy of the passport page where it shows a stamp which made by Canadian authorities
• Photocopy of your immigration document (if applicable)

Note: For more detail of documents please click here

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How I can get an endorsement letter?

In order to get an endorsement, you can contact these provinces below

• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

2. What education credentials are not eligible?

If your education credentials are mentioned below you considered as ineligible candidates for the program:

• You studied English or French as a second language for more than half of the program;
• Your learning is not consistent which you distanced learning for more than half of the program;
• You received a scholarship or fellowship stipulating that you have to return to your home country to apply your knowledge and skills.

3. How do I know if I have a valid immigration status?

Like the date you arrived in Canada and then sent your passport to the officer, there will be a stamp in your passport that authorized your stay in Canada. Check your passport to see if you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

• In case if there is no stamp, a handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire within 6 months.
• If you were given a visitor record, study or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.

4. What should I do after I have submitted my application?

Once you have submitted your application IRCC will check if you meet all the requirements:

• You have completed and submitted all required application forms,
• You have been paid the application processing fee.
•  You have completed and submitted all required documents from the document checklist.

If you received any returned documents it means your application is missing any of the requested documents.

Important: In case you are unable to provide supporting documents in certain circumstances it may result in the refusal of your application.

5. Does Atlantic International Graduate Program align with Express Entry?

No, AIGP applications will be processed separately from Express Entry applications. Therefore, if some applicants failed from Immigration through Express Entry may be eligible through the Atlantic International Graduate Program.    

6. Do I need work experience for Atlantic International Graduate Program?

 Applicants under AIGR Program do not require to have any work experience to apply for the program. However, applicants must have a minimum of 2 years studying a degree in an Atlantic Canadian Province.