The details of an exciting new Canadian immigration program, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, have been announced. Through this program, around 2,000 newcomers may submit an application for permanent residence in 2017. The pilot program is set to last for three years, and involves the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

First announced on July 4, 2016, the plan is part of the Atlantic Growth Strategy. However, full details of the program were only revealed on January 27, 2017. Applications will be accepted as of March, 2017.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has been designed to improve the settlement process for newcomers, by ensuring that economic immigrants that arrive through the program have a job offer from a designated employer and a settlement plan for themselves and their family, if applicable.

There are three categories within the pilot program:

• The Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP), targeting candidates with a qualifying job offer for a one-year contract for full-time employement in a position at level 0, A, or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
• The Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program (AISP), targeting candidates with a qualifying job offer of indeterminate duration for full-time employment in a position at level 0, A, B, or C of the NOC; and
• The Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP), targeting international graduates of post-secondary study programs of at least two years’ duration, undertaken at a publicly-funded institution in the Atlantic region. Such graduates are also required to have a qualifying job offer.

Employers who wish to participate must be screened by the province(s) in question before they may hire through the program.

For full details of how the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program works, for candidates and employers, please visit this page.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.

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