Eligibility criteria for high-skilled workers – Atlantic Immigration Pilot

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot has 3 programs:

• High-Skilled Program
• Intermediate-Skilled Program
• International Graduate Program

To apply for the Atlantic High-Skilled Program, you must:

1. Find out if you’re eligible
2. Get a job offer
3. Submit your application

1. Find out if you’re eligible

Work experience

In the last 3 years, you must have worked at least 1,560 hours. This is how many hours you would have worked in a year if you were working 30 hours per week.

This work must have been at National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type/level 0, A, or B.

To calculate your hours:

• Count hours worked in part-time and full-time jobs.
• The hours must be in 1 occupation, but they can be with different employers.
• You must have been paid for these hours. Volunteering or unpaid internships don’t count.
• Don’t count hours where you were self-employed.
• These working hours can be inside or outside Canada.

If you aren’t eligible for the High-Skilled Program, see if you’re eligible for the Intermediate-Skilled Program.

Education

You must have one of the following:

• a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree
• a foreign degree, diploma or certificate, equal to a Canadian credential. You’ll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a recognized organization to show your credential is valid and equal to a Canadian credential. If you already have an ECA report, it must be less than 5 years old when we receive your permanent resident application.

Language

You must take one of the language tests we approve. The test shows you can communicate in English or French well enough to live and work in Canada.

Learn about language testing for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

If you have taken an approved test, you can send those results if they:

• are less than 2 years old
• show you meet the level the program requires

Proof of funds

You need to have enough money to support yourself and your family when you get to Canada. The amount you need depends on the size of your family. The size of your family includes anyone you support who isn’t immigrating with you.

Learn how much money you should have when you arrive in Canada.

If you’re already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you don’t need to show proof of funds.

2. Get a job offer

You must have a job offer that meets all of these requirements:

• The job offer was made using the Offer of Employment to a Foreign National [IMM5650] (PDF, 817.97 KB) form.
• The employer has been designated as an employer taking part in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot by the Atlantic province (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island) where you’ll be working. They must have a Confirmation of Designation from the province.
• The job must be full-time, meaning you’ll work at least 30 paid hours per week.
• The job must be non-seasonal. In general, this means you have consistent and regularly scheduled paid employment throughout the year.
• The job is skill type/level 0, A or B under the NOC.
• The employer is offering you a job that will last for at least 1 year.

You must meet employment requirements for the job you are offered. You can find these requirements in the NOC. The job doesn’t need to be in the same NOC as other jobs you’ve had.

3. Submit your application

When you and the employer have completed all the steps, you can submit your application.

To save time, start filling in your permanent resident application before all of the steps are completed. Gather the documents that go with your application as soon as you can.