The Atlantic Immigration Program is a federal program that helps employers hire skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution for jobs they haven't been able to fill locally.
Review the program details to find out if your business may be eligible:
Atlantic Immigration Program
The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has temporarily paused the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry (NSEEE) stream to NOC 62020 – food service supervisors.
The following are currently not eligible:
- Under NSEEE, work experience with NOC 62020
- Under AIP, job offers with NOC 62020
The following remain the same:
- Candidates using NOC 62020 can apply through the Skilled Worker Stream.
- Businesses working in the food and hospitality sectors will continue to be able to use the Skilled Worker stream to recruit food service supervisors.
- Employers are also able to recruit food and beverage servers (NOC 65200) and food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) through the Occupations in Demand (OiD) stream.
ELIGIBILITY
To participate in the Atlantic Immigration Program, employers must first be approved by being designated and then have their positions endorsed by the Province.
Once the employer’s positions are endorsed, foreign worker(s) identified by the employer can apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residency. The foreign worker can also get a temporary work permit while waiting for permanent residency.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Review the guides and resources below.
2. Complete the online application form and include all required information.
3. If you're submitting applications for designation and endorsement, you must use the online system. Sample application forms below are not an accepted form of submission.
STEP 1: EMPLOYER DESIGNATION
To become designated, an employer must:
- Have a business operating in good standing
- Provide information on labour needs
- Commit to working with a service provider organization on settlement and retention
DESIGNATION GUIDES AND FORMS
- Employer Designation Guide
- Changes – Designation Guide
- Sample Designation Form
- Use of a Representative (AIP 50 Form)
- Appointment of Signing Officers, Delegated Contacts and Portal Users (AIP 60 Form) | 2024-12-09
- Program Integrity Policy
STEP 2: ENDORSEMENT
To have a position endorsed, an employer must:
- Demonstrate that efforts to hire locally have been unsuccessful
- Recruit a foreign worker
- Provide a valid, full-time, non-seasonal job offer co-signed by the foreign worker
- Provide an individualized settlement plan co-signed by the foreign worker
- Complete mandatory onboarding training and, if required, intercultural competency training
ENDORSEMENT GUIDES AND FORMS
- Employer Endorsement Guide
- Changes – Endorsement Guide
- Sample Endorsement Form
- IMM0157E Job Offer Form
- Nova Scotia Employer Registration Certificate
- Use of a Representative (AIP 50 Form)
- Appointment of Signing Officers, Delegated Contacts and Portal Users (AIP 60 Form) | 2024-12-09
- Program Integrity Policy
STEP 3: FOREIGN WORK IMMIGRATION APPLICATION
To apply for permanent residency foreign workers must:
- Have a valid endorsement certificate issued by the province
- Foreign workers who require a work permit must have a work permit referral letter issued by the Province
- Employers supporting work permit applications must register in the federal employer portal, submit the job offer and pay a compliance fee
As part of the endorsement process, employers must ensure the endorsed candidate contacts an approved immigrant settlement service provider organization to complete a settlement plan for themselves and their accompanying family member(s). The endorsed candidate is to provide a copy of each individualized settlement plan to the employer. Please visit our settlement services page for information on immigrant settlement service provider organizations approved to provide settlement plans for program participants.
The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) has made this reporting tool available for people to confidentially and anonymously report fraud or suspicious activity related to Nova Scotia immigration programs via Clearview Connects (Clearview). Submit a fraud report here.
Contact our Employer Support Team.
Labour, Skills and Immigration
1505 Barrington Street, 4th floor
PO Box 697
Halifax, NS, Canada
B3J 3K5
902-424-5230
1 (877) 292-9597
immigration@novascotia.ca
MAILING ADDRESS
Immigration and Population Growth Branch
PO Box 697
Halifax, NS, Canada
B3J 2T8