Canada PR: Easiest & Fastest to Canada PR for Skilled Workers | Canada Immigration

A quicker route to permanent residence is provided via the Atlantic Immigration Program. Canada’s Atlantic provinces are intended to alleviate labor shortages and promote community diversity for skilled workers and foreign graduates. Because the AIP streamlines the immigration procedure, it appeals to people who want to start over in this dynamic area.

Introduction

For qualified workers who wish to settle in any of the provinces that comprise Atlantic Canada—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador—the Atlantic Immigration Program provides a pathway to immigration. Employers drive the AIP program. For a foreign national to be qualified, they must have a work offer from an approved employer in Atlantic Canada.

Benefits of the AIP

When compared to other Canadian immigration pathways, the Atlantic Immigration Pathway (AIP) offers several advantages to people wishing to settle in any of the Atlantic provinces.

• Shorter processing timeframes are enjoyed by candidates.
• While seeking permanent residence, candidates are permitted to work in Canada.
• Impact analyses on the labor market are not necessary for work permits.
• Individualized Settlement Services are enjoyed by candidates.

Shorter Processing Times

Because it allows qualified applicants to work in Canada and obtain permanent resident status at the same time, the Alternative Immigration Program (AIP) is a well-liked immigration route in the Atlantic provinces. The AIP now takes eight months to process a candidate’s application for permanent residency, which is less time than many other PR pathways.

Temporary-exempt Work Permit

An applicant may apply for a temporary work permit if they wish to begin working before being granted permanent residence. The lone exception is this employment permit. To be eligible for this work permit, an applicant needs to have;

• An offer of employment from a specific employer
• A letter of recommendation from the Atlantic Province, their place of employment

The candidate may only work for the company that has extended a job offer to them during the two-year validity of this permission. The issuance of this work permit does not ensure the approval of the application for permanent residence.

Individualized Settlement Services

AIP also gives a lot of weight to assisting candidates in resettling in their new provinces. Employers must link new hires with a settlement agency to assist in the creation of a settlement plan to assist them in adjusting to life in the province. As a result, candidates will have greater access to customized settlement guidance, which will facilitate their better integration into their new communities.

Who is Eligible?

Several applications are processed by each Atlantic Province each year, depending on the demand for labor in the region. Candidates must fulfill the eligibility conditions of the program and may reside in Canada or outside of it. Candidates need to be; in addition to having a work offer from an approved employer in Atlantic Canada,

• A proficient laborer, regardless of whether their background is from within or outside of Canada
• A recent Atlantic Canadian post-secondary education graduate from an accredited school

AIP Eligibility for Skilled Workers

If a skilled worker has put in at least 1,560 hours of work in the previous five years, they are deemed eligible for the AIP. If they had worked for a year, that works out to about thirty hours a week. The work experience must fall into one of the following categories: 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the National Occupational Classification 2021, Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities.

AIP Eligibility for Recent Graduates

Graduates of international schools are deemed qualified for the AIP if

• They completed at least two years of study at a reputable post-secondary school in one of the Atlantic provinces to obtain their certificate.
• For the duration of their studies, they were a full-time student.
• Before graduating, they spent at least 16 months of the last two years of their lives in one of the Atlantic provinces.
• They were in Canada legally and could work, study, or receive training.

Other Criteria for AIP

• Requirements for education: These differ based on the candidate’s NOC tier in the job offer. A review of academic credentials is required for any degrees earned outside of Canada. The ESSA report must be submitted no more than five years after the application is received by the IRCC.
• Language requirements: Depending on the NOC tier of their job offer, the applicant must show that they are proficient in a particular language. The language test results must have been obtained no more than two years before the application date.
• Funds for settlement: Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient income to sustain their family and themselves in Canada. The size of the family determines how much money is required. If an individual already has a valid work permit and is residing and employed in Canada, they don’t need to show proof of funds.

Difference Between AIP and Provincial Nominee Programs

Through the provincial nominee scheme, Canadian provinces can suggest people who would like to move to their country and settle there. Unlike AIP, many of the more than 80 provincial immigration streams do not require a candidate to have a job offer or prior work or study experience in Canada to be nominated.

To obtain permanent status, PNPs typically require two steps. To be considered for permanent residence, a candidate must first be nominated by a province. PNP application processes may therefore take longer than AIP applications due to this and generally longer processing periods.

Regarding PR status, there is no certainty about processing times. The demand for a certain application may affect expected processing times, and processing times might differ greatly amongst apps.

How Can I Apply for the AIP?

You must get a job offer from a designated employer in any of the Atlantic provinces if you match the eligibility requirements listed above. For NOC tier 0, 1, 2, or 3, the job offer must be full-time and not seasonal or part-time. It must also be valid for at least a year after the candidate becomes a permanent resident of NOC Tier 4, and it must be permanent for NOC Tier 5. That is, there is no deadline for the offer.

The next step would be to begin gathering the necessary paperwork. This consists of your language exam results, your proof of finances, and your ESSA report if you studied outside of Canada. Following this, you can obtain a settlement plan by working with a settlement agency. You can complete these for free whether you are currently in Canada or not. It is possible that your chosen employer can assist you in locating a settlement agency.

Next, your employer must apply for a certificate of endorsement on your behalf. Once your employer verifies that The Province has approved your offer, you can file for permanent residence.

Once you’ve finished the previously listed procedures, you can apply online for permanent residence. Forms must be completed, papers and photo scans must be uploaded, fees must be paid, and in most situations, your biometrics must be submitted.

What is a Designated Employer?

Certain employers in Atlantic Canada are approved by the provincial government to employ foreign workers. Employers have to fulfill specific requirements, like maintaining good standing and adhering to health and safety laws and employment standards.

Additionally, companies must demonstrate continuing active operation in another place with permission from the province, or they must have operated continuously under the same management in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least two years. Becoming a designated employer comes at no extra cost.

Demand for AIP

There has been an increase in the number of immigrants who choose to live in Atlantic Canada in recent years. The Atlantic Immigration Tracker, maintained by the Atlantic Economic Council, indicates that immigration in the region increased from 5,800 in 2013 to a record 32,000 in 2023.

According to Patrick Brandon, a senior researcher with the council, the three Maritime Provinces are now drawing immigrants proportionate to their population share in Canada for the first time. Some of the provinces have put the initiative on hold to address shifting labor market demands since the Atlantic provinces are becoming more and more popular with immigrants.

As the allotment for 2024 had been achieved, New Brunswick said on September 18 that it would not be taking any more applications for endorsements under the program for the balance of the year. Early in 2025, the program is anticipated to reopen in the province. Foodservice supervisors’ immigration applications are suspended indefinitely in Nova Scotia (NOC 60220).

Conclusion

The Atlantic immigration program helps the local economy and people by giving newcomers a quick and easy path to permanent status. The AIP continues to be a great chance for people looking to leave their mark in Atlantic Canada because it supports community development and workforce needs.