Atlantic Immigration Program

Notice

Due to a high volume of applications, processing times are longer than usual for 2025. Immigration New Brunswick is unable to provide processing times for individual applications and cannot guarantee that an application will be evaluated or approved before a work permit expires.

You are responsible for maintaining your authorization to work throughout the immigration process.

We appreciate your continued patience. Please continue to monitor your INB profile.

Notice

Effective April 4, 2025, the Atlantic Immigration Program is paused for the remainder of the year, as our full allocation for 2025 for this program has been reached.

This pause affects the acceptance of new endorsement applications, as well as new invitations to employers to become designated employers under the AIP.

Full applications submitted on or before April 4, 2025, will continue to be processed.

Applications submitted after this date will be closed.

Notice

Due to longer processing times at IRCC, some endorsees under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) may require an extension to their current work permit.

To support this need, Immigration New Brunswick (ImmigrationNB) can issue a letter of support for a C18 closed work permit. This letter offers a temporary solution while AIP endorsees await a final decision on their permanent residence application.

Note: AIP endorsees are not eligible for the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) program.

In addition, ImmigrationNB must be informed of any changes in an AIP endorsee’s employment situation, such as loss of employment, change of employer, or change in position. These changes may affect their eligibility for the program, and their endorsement certificates may need to be updated.

If you are an AIP endorsee and wish to obtain a letter of support for a C18 closed work permit or report changes to your employment situation, contact ImmigrationNB using the Post-Endorsement Request Form.

Overview

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a pathway towards permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada who want to live and work in New Brunswick. It is a program that helps designated New Brunswick employers hire qualified individuals for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally with permanent residents and Canadian citizens living in the province. Only a designated employer can initiate an application to the AIP.

Click on the Download button below to see the list of designated employers under the AIP in New Brunswick.

Download (PDF)

Become a designated employer

First point of contact

Contact the WorkingNB office in your region to learn about services available to New Brunswick employers.

Discussion on workforce needs

A workforce consultant will work with you to identify your needs and employment services that might be available to you. An assessment of your needs will also be conducted.

Delivery of employment services & referral

WorkingNB will connect you with the appropriate employment services. If immigration is identified as an actual workforce need, your needs assessment will then be forwarded to Immigration New Brunswick (ImmigrationNB). An officer from ImmigrationNB will contact you to discuss your next steps and may invite you to submit an employer designation application.

Guides

Employer Designation Guidelines

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Apply for an endorsement

Once you are a designated employer, you may apply to ImmigrationNB to endorse a position for a foreign national.

To have a position endorsed, you must

demonstrate that efforts to hire locally have been unsuccessful;
recruit a foreign national;
provide a valid full-time, non-seasonal job offer co-signed by the foreign national;
provide an individualized settlement plan through one of New Brunswick’s settlement service providers, co-signed by the foreign national;
have completed the mandatory onboarding training;
have completed intercultural competency training, unless exempted by ImmigrationNB.

Important

Endorsement applications for any positions offered to foreign nationals residing outside of Canada will be accepted only if ImmigrationNB considers these positions to be part of the following sectors, according to their NOCs:

Healthcare
Education
Construction trades

Required documents

Offer of Employment to a Foreign National (IMM 0157)
Signed offer letter or contract
Detailed job description
Proof of recruitment efforts
Evidence of the foreign national’s previous work experience
Valid language test report
Settlement plan for the foreign national and accompanying family members
Signed copy of the Endorsement Application Form
Copy of proof of legal status in Canada (work permit, visitor visa, or study permit*) if the foreign national is already here
Copy of the passport of the foreign national and their dependents

*Note: If you are looking to endorse a foreign national who is currently in Canada on a study permit, you must wait until they have completed their program of study before you can invite them to apply.

If approved, both you and the foreign national you are supporting will receive the endorsement certificate via the INB portal.

Guides

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After endorsement

Important

If you have already received an endorsement certificate from the Province of New Brunswick, withdrawing that certificate for the purpose of reapplying under another immigration program or stream administered by Immigration New Brunswick is not permitted.

An endorsee under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is expected to submit their application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before their endorsement certificate expires.

Permanent residence application

With the endorsement certificate in hand, the foreign national must apply for permanent residence (PR) directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Atlantic Immigration Program. They may also apply for a temporary work permit while waiting for permanent residence.

Reminders

To apply for PR, the foreign national must have a valid endorsement certificate issued by ImmigrationNB.
If the foreign national requires a work permit, they must also have a work permit support letter issued by ImmigrationNB.
Employers supporting work permit applications must create an account in the federal employer portal to submit the job offer and pay a compliance fee.
It is important to submit a complete application to IRCC. This includes detailed reference letters with main duties to, a valid language test report with qualifying scores, and proof of education (accompanied by an education credential assessment if obtained from overseas). Consult IRCC’s checklist for the AIP for more information.

Forms

The foreign national must use one of the following forms when contacting ImmigrationNB after they have been endorsed.

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Get in touch

Let us know your questions and we’ll get back to you with answers.

Atlantic Immigration Program

On this page

Notice

Notice

Notice

Overview

Become a designated employer

First point of contact

Discussion on workforce needs

Delivery of employment services & referral

Guides

Apply for an endorsement

Important

Required documents

Guides

After endorsement

Important

Permanent residence application

Reminders

Forms

Get in touch

Contact Us