Should I apply for PNP or AIP?
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are both popular economic immigration pathways designed to help Canadian provinces attract skilled workers and fill labour shortages. Both programs allow applicants to apply for Permanent Residency after receiving an endorsement or nomination by the province which they applied for. While both programs have similarities, they differ in structure, processing, and eligibility.
Atlantic Immigration Program
AIP is a federal immigration program designed to help employers in the four Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island) hire foreign workers to fill labour shortages. To qualify, the applicant must have a full-time, genuine, non-seasonal job offer from a designated employer. The employer must be designated under the program prior to submitting an Offer of Employment.
The applicant must meet minimum requirements for work experience (1560 hours of qualifying work experience), education (a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma), language proficiency (as low as CLB 4), and settlement funds.
A key feature of the AIP is that it's employer-driven nature and relatively low eligibility thresholds compared to other permanent residency programs. In addition to showing work experience, language skills, funds, and education, applicants are also required to work with a settlement services agency (ISANS or YMCA, for example) and submit a Settlement Plan as part of the application. The Settlement Plan is required regardless if the Applicant is outside or inside Canada.
Once endorsed by a province, an applicant can apply directly to IRCC for permanent residence. There is no points system or draws for AIP. Processing times for permanent residency applications tend to be shorter given its only applies to the four Atlantic provinces.
Provincial Nominee Program
The PNP is a collaborative immigration program between Canada's provinces/territories and the federal government (IRCC), designed to allow provinces to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to a specific province and contribute to its economy. Every province and territory (except Quebec and Nunavut) have its own PNP streams, which vary widely in terms of eligibility criteria, targeted occupations, and processing methods. For example, Nova Scotia targets construction labourers, nurses' aides, and truck drivers through its Occupation in Demand stream.
Some PNPs are aligned with Express Entry (example, Nova Scotia Experience stream) which, if nominated, gives applicants 600-points in their Express Entry profiles.
PNP streams typically require a job offer from an eligible employer but some streams do not. In non-express entry applications, you must first apply to the province and, if nominated, apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
PNP is available across Canada and includes a wide range of streams with varying eligibility. Some are integrated with Express Entry, while others are not. PNPs offer more diversity in options but typically it's permanent residency applications take longer to be processed than AIP.
Which one should I choose?
The pathway you apply for will be determined by your employer, your own qualifications, and terms of the job offer. AIP requires the employer to be designated which can take several months to facilitate. However, once endorsed, the processing time for permanent residency is often quicker.
While PNP does not require an employer to be designated, it still requires the employer be in good standing with and not in violation with provincial labour standards, occupational health and safety, human rights, and IRCC. It also requires the employer be a genuine local employer meaning:
• It must be registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies AND show that it has a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia as defined by Canada's Income Tax Act
• If the employer is a non-profit organization, it must be registered under the Societies Act
• The employer must have operated in Nova Scotia for at least 2 years.
I've applied for Permanent Residency... now what?
Simply receiving an endorsement (AIP) or nomination (PNP) does not guarantee permanent residency. While provinces provide pathways, it is IRCC who ultimately grant admission to Canada.
The requirements to be considered a member of the provincial nominee class (PNC) are found in section 87 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and entail, namely, that the applicant satisfies all of the following conditions:
• They have the ability to become economically established in Canada
• They are named in a nomination certificate issued by the government of a province or territory
• They intend to reside in the province or territory that nominated them
It's important to consider the above points when submitting your PR application, especially if your circumstances have changed since submitting or receiving your nomination certificate.
To discuss your options in detail, book a consult here.
The article above is intended to provide general and non-case specific information on immigration related matters. It should not be used or relied on as formal legal advice.
