Atlantic International Graduate Program

The Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP) is a unique immigration option for international graduates of eligible educational institutions in Atlantic Canada.

This program allows graduates to submit an application for permanent residence without first having to obtain work experience.

The AIGP is part of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), a new Canadian immigration venture for 2017 and beyond.

Through the AIGP, eligible foreign workers with a job offer from an employer in Atlantic Canada can submit an application for Canadian permanent residence.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) aims to process 80 percent of applications within six months.

The Job Offer

The AIGP is an employer-driven program, and therefore all applicants are required to obtain a valid job offer.

Applicants to the AIGP must demonstrate that they have a job offer that is:

• from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces;
• for full-time employment for at least one year;
• non-seasonal;
• skilled (i.e. in a managerial, professional, or technical/trades position at skill type 0, A or, B of the National Occupational Classification [NOC]); and
• supported by a provincial certificate of endorsement from the province that indicates that the job offer is genuine and that a needs assessment has been completed and a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and each member of the family.

Education

Applicants to AIGP must demonstrate that they:

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

IRCC states that the educational credential must have been obtained within the 12 months before the submission of the application for permanent residence.

Language Ability

Applicants to the AIGP must prove language ability of at least fluent basic level in either English or French in order to apply to the program. This is equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4. To find out how this corresponds with the standardized language tests recognized by IRCC for this program, use the Canada Immigration Language Converter.

The following language tests are 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)

Potential applicants may note that the language threshold for this program is lower than for many other Canadian economic immigration programs, including the programs managed under the Express Entry system. Moreover, because there is no points system for the AIGP, once a potential applicant has proven the required language ability, there is no additional incentive — with respect to applying to the AIGP, at least — in re-taking a language test.

Language test results must be less than two years old at the time the application is submitted.

Settlement Funds

The required settlement funds must be equal to or greater than the sums listed below for each family size.

Applicants must show that they have enough money to support themselves and their family members, if applicable, after landing in Canada unless they are working in Canada under a valid work permit.

These funds cannot be borrowed from another person.

Provincial Endorsement

Applicants must be endorsed by an Atlantic province in order for the application to be complete and accepted by IRCC.

An endorsement letter is issued by the province to persons who have been endorsed. Applicants should submit a copy of this letter with their application for permanent residence submitted to IRCC.

All endorsements are valid for six months after the date of issuance, and extensions are not permitted under these programs. The application for permanent residence must be submitted before the expiry date of the endorsement letter.