The Atlantic Immigration Program has become one of the most reliable immigration pathways to permanent residency for workers in the healthcare, food service, and trades industries. The program was created to help the four Atlantic provinces attract workers who will support long term labour growth. The Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador have service-related labour shortages, and the Atlantic Immigration Program is one of the most efficient immigration pathways for employers to address these labour shortages in their provinces. This guide will explain how the program functions, what types of jobs and salaries one can expect, and what actions must be taken to achieve permanent residency through this immigration pathway.
Understanding the Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program is primarily employer driven. This means that applicants must first secure a job offer from one of the program’s designated employers. The employer must be recognized and authorized by the province before they can recruit and hire through this program. Once applicants have job offers, these employers will assist with their settlement and guide them through the process of obtaining permanent status in Canada.
This program is meant to be adaptable than other immigration programs. Applicants do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment, which is a challenge for employers with other programs. The question is whether the job offer complies with the program’s requirements and whether both the employer and the employee can demonstrate the potential to successfully settle in the province.
Why the Atlantic Region Needs Skilled Workers
The Atlantic provinces are known for aging populations, declining birth rates and lower immigration levels compared to provinces like Ontario and British Columbia. This creates a constant need for people to work in health care, hospitality, agriculture, construction, transport and other trades. The employers are happy to hire educated and trained people coming from other countries because the local supply of workers is insufficient to cover the demands of the different industries.
The foreign workers can have the benefits of permanent residency. The communities in the region are welcoming, and the processing time is quick.
General Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Program, it is required to have a valid job proposal from a target employer within one of the four provinces. The job needs to be on a full-time basis, not seasonal, and should be placed in the eligible occupation categories. Moreover, the minimum education and language requirements should be met based on the job offered. Proof of funds should be provided by a few applicants, except for those already residing and working in Canada when applying.
The program has three categories for applicants. These categories are based on the level of qualification required for the job. The categories are high skilled workers, intermediate skilled workers and international graduates.
- High Skilled Workers
This category includes applicants who work in professional or technical roles that usually require a college diploma, an apprenticeship or a bachelor’s degree. Many healthcare positions fall into this category, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical laboratory technologists, physiotherapists and specialized technicians.
- Intermediate Skilled Workers
This category includes jobs that require training, certificates, or experience, but not necessarily a university degree, such as specialties in food service, hospitality, long-haul trucking, construction helpers, and retail supervision.
- International Graduates
This category includes those who have completed a qualification at a recognized institution in one of the Atlantic provinces. International graduates do not require any work experience, and therefore, it is one of the easiest streams for students who want to establish themselves in the region.
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Jobs Available for Healthcare Workers
Where the Shortages Are
Healthcare shortages affect hospitals, long-term care and nursing homes, home care agencies, rehabilitation centers and community clinics across the Atlantic provinces. These gaps exist because there is not enough local workforce to meet the increasing patient demands.
Roles Most Commonly Available
The top recruiting jobs are registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing aides, and personal support workers, and rehabilitation support roles like physiotherapy and occupational therapy assistant. Diagnostic Services continues to rely on medical laboratory technicians, and pharmacists are always in demand in hospitals and communities. Â
Salary Expectations
Registered nurses usually earn between sixty thousand and ninety thousand Canadian dollars, depending on province and experience. Licensed practical nurses often fall between forty-five thousand and sixty-five thousand Canadian dollars. Personal support workers and healthcare aides generally earn between thirty-three thousand and forty-five thousand Canadian dollars.
Why Healthcare Workers Benefit from This Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program is attractive to healthcare personnel because of the stability and long-term nature of the jobs and employment. Many also help newcomers out with relocation, temporary housing, or settlement assistance, making it less costly and easier to move.
Jobs Available for Food Service Workers
Where the Demand Comes From
The food service and hospitality industry is still growing across all of Atlantic Canada. There is steady tourism demand and staffing needs in restaurants and food services, hotels, catering, and seasonal resorts in these provinces, especially in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Roles Most Commonly Needed
There are many frequent job openings for cooks, food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and restaurant supervisors. There are also skilled positions that are needed in hotels, like bakers, butchers, and bartenders, as well as clerks for the front desk to help in guest services and to keep the operations of the hotel running smoothly.
Typical Salary Ranges
Cooks usually earn between thirty-two thousand and fifty thousand Canadian dollars, depending on experience and province. Restaurant supervisors typically earn between 40,000 and 60,000 Canadian dollars. Entry-level roles like kitchen helpers earn between twenty-eight thousand and thirty-four thousand Canadian dollars, and many hospitality positions offer tips that can significantly boost total income.]
Why Food Service Workers Succeed Under This Program
Food service applicants often secure job offers quickly because employers in this sector experience high turnover and ongoing staffing shortages. Many designated employers recruit internationally every year, making the Atlantic Immigration Program a consistent and accessible pathway for foreign workers entering the hospitality industry.
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Jobs Available for Trades Workers
Why Trades Are in High Demand
There is a high demand for skilled workers as a result of continual construction, renovations to existing infrastructures, and the growth of different industries. This makes the trades sector one of the busiest within the Atlantic Immigration program. This is the situation in all four provinces in Atlantic Canada.
Key Trades Employers Are Hiring
Employers frequently target electricians, welders and carpenters for residential and commercial construction. Heavy equipment operators are needed for roadwork, mining and large development sites. Other essential roles include plumbers, refrigeration mechanics, automotive service technicians, millwrights and transport truck drivers, all of which support manufacturing, logistics and local service industries.
Expected Salary Ranges
Electricians typically earn between $50,000 and $80,000 annually. Welders generally fall between forty-five thousand and seventy thousand Canadian dollars. Carpenters earn between 40,000 and 60,000 Canadian dollars, while heavy equipment operators can earn between 50,000 and 85,000 Canadian dollars, depending on experience and sector.
Why Employers Actively Recruit Foreign Tradespeople
Compared to bigger provinces, the Atlantic Region has significantly fewer training centers and apprenticeship schemes. For this reason, Employers are more inclined to hire foreign candidates with experience to fill these skill gaps. This is why Trades Workers are quite sought after in the program.
How to Get a Job Offer Under the Atlantic Immigration Program
The first step for applicants is to get a valid job offer from a designated employer, after which they can apply for permanent residency. Below are some steps that can increase your chances.
- Research the official list of designated employers in the Atlantic provinces. Each province publishes this list on its immigration website. This ensures that the employer is allowed to hire through the program.
- Prepare a Canadian style resume. Canadian employers prefer resumes that focus on skills, accomplishments and professional experience rather than lengthy personal descriptions. Highlight your certifications, work achievements and language abilities.
- Apply directly through employer websites, job boards or recruitment events. Many Atlantic employers participate in international recruitment fairs, virtual interviews and provincial hiring missions.
- When you receive a job offer, confirm that it meets program requirements. The job must be full-time, non-seasonal and fall into an eligible occupation classification. The employer must also agree to provide a settlement plan and support your transition to the province.
Steps to Permanent Residency
Once you have a job offer from a designated employer, you can begin the permanent residency application. The process is quite simple.
- Complete the provincial endorsement process. Before you submit the application, the employer sends in your job offer, along with the provincial settlement plan, to the province, which, if approved, will result in you getting an endorsement certificate.
- Submit your permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This includes your endorsement certificate, personal documents, language test results and proof of funds if required.
- Complete biometrics, medical examinations and background checks. Almost all applicants must complete these steps.
- Wait for your application to be processed. Processing times are often faster than other immigration programs because the Atlantic Immigration Program is designed to support quick labour market entry.
- Once approved, you will receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence. When you arrive in Canada, you can begin your new role and settle in your chosen community.
Advantages of the Atlantic Immigration Program
This program offers several benefits that make it attractive to foreign workers. Job offers are required, meaning that there will be job security even before you move, which in turn decreases financial risk. Processing takes less time than other immigration pathways. There is flexibility within the program as it does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
The four provinces are more affordable to live in than most other larger Canadian cities. There is employer-provided settlement assistance, which helps newcomers adjust. Healthcare, food services, and trades are some of the most in-demand sectors. As a result, there are always consistent job positions available every year.
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Conclusion
As a result of the high demand for workers across the board, the Atlantic Immigration Program has become one of the most popular and easy pathways to obtaining pr status and working in Canada. Because of the demand in the job market, candidates in the health care field, hospitality, and the trades have the strongest opportunities to obtain an approved job offer and employer endorsement. With a solid health care career, career opportunities in food service, and trades, the region will complement you with lifelong residency and provide you with an easy-going lifestyle, low cost of living, and great opportunities in your field. With the right preparation, job offer, and employer endorsement, this program will provide you with a great chance of a bright and lasting future in Canada.