The PEI Office of Immigration announced that from January 24, 2025, the province’s Atlantic Immigration Program will only accept applications from foreign workers in the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors. This strategic move aims to better align with local labour market needs amid reduced federal immigration slots for economic programs.

Overview of the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The AIP has long been a key channel for foreign workers and international graduates seeking to settle in Canada’s Atlantic provinces—PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. Under this program, applicants with a valid job offer from a designated employer and provincial endorsement can apply for permanent residency. To be eligible, candidates must meet requirements related to education, language proficiency, work experience, and proof of sufficient settlement funds.

Application Requirements and Process

To qualify for the AIP, applicants are required to:

• Secure a Job Offer and Endorsement: Obtain a job offer from a designated employer and have it endorsed by the provincial authorities.
• Meet Education and Language Criteria: For occupations classified under NOC TEER 0 or 1, a post-secondary credential is required, whereas a high school diploma suffices for TEER 2, 3, or 4 roles. Language requirements vary accordingly, generally needing a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 or 4.
• Provide Work Experience and Settlement Proof: Applicants must demonstrate at least one year of relevant work experience—or, alternatively, have completed a two-year post-secondary program in one of the Atlantic provinces—along with evidence of adequate settlement funds.

Once these conditions are met, candidates must prepare a detailed settlement plan, secure the necessary provincial endorsement with employer support, and submit their permanent residency application to the federal government. Due to the recent policy adjustment, applicants employed outside of the healthcare, construction, or manufacturing sectors will need to explore other immigration routes.

Alternative Immigration Pathways

For those who do not qualify under the new AIP criteria, PEI offers alternative economic immigration options:

1. Express Entry System

This federal system invites candidates to apply for permanent residency if they meet the criteria for one of the three managed programs—the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, or Federal Skilled Trades Program. Applicants are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. Higher CRS scores, especially those enhanced by additional factors like strong French language skills or in-demand occupations, significantly increase the chances of receiving an invitation to apply.

2. PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

For candidates who do not meet AIP requirements or have lower CRS scores, the PEI PNP provides a viable alternative. With multiple streams available—including critical workers, experienced workers, international graduates, skilled workers, and occupations in demand—this program not only awards extra CRS points but also provides a provincial support letter to facilitate the work permit and permanent residency process.

Rationale Behind the Policy Shift

The decision to narrow the scope of the AIP is driven by two primary factors:

1. Soaring Application Demand: With an increasing number of international talent eyeing Canadian job opportunities, the volume of applications has surged, intensifying competition.
2. Reduced Federal Immigration Quotas: Under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025–2027, economic immigration permanent residency slots have been reduced from 6,500 in 2024 to 5,000 in 2025. Facing limited slots, PEI has chosen to concentrate its resources on the sectors with the highest local demand.

Other Atlantic provinces have also adopted similar measures. For instance, New Brunswick is currently endorsing job offers only in the healthcare, construction, and education sectors, reflecting a broader regional trend in immigration policy adjustments.

Conclusion

PEI’s recent policy revision underscores the province’s commitment to meeting local labour market needs amid a tightening of federal immigration quotas. For those not employed in the designated sectors, the Express Entry system and the PEI Provincial Nominee Program remain important avenues to achieve Canadian permanent residency. Applicants and employers are advised to closely monitor these policy developments and select the immigration pathway that best suits their qualifications and career goals.