Atlantic Immigration Program

📋 Eligible Entities - Private sector employers operating in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island) - For-profit businesses of any size - Non-profit organizations and associations - Self-employed individuals (in some cases) - Employers must be designated by their provincial government before participating - Businesses must have a legitimate, documented need to hire foreign workers ### 💰 Funding Details - No direct grant funding – this is an immigration facilitation program, not a financial grant - Employer costs include: - Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fees (if applicable, depending on stream) - Work permit application fees for candidates - Recruitment and advertising costs (employer responsibility) - No matching requirements or employer contribution percentages mandated - No repayment obligations – employers retain hired workers - Program focuses on reducing hiring barriers, not providing financial subsidies ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses This program does not fund specific business expenses. Instead, it facilitates hiring by: - Recruiting qualified international talent to fill labour shortages - Streamlining work permit processing for designated employers - Reducing administrative barriers to hiring temporary and permanent foreign workers - Eligible candidates must have job offers in eligible occupations (typically skilled trades, healthcare, technology, hospitality) ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Mandatory provincial designation – employer must apply and be approved by their Atlantic province before hiring - Labour market testing requirement – employer must demonstrate good-faith recruitment efforts to fill positions locally first - Job offer requirement – candidate must have a confirmed job offer before work permit application - Salary compliance – wages must meet or exceed provincial/territorial norms for the position - Ongoing employer obligations: - Comply with employment standards legislation - Maintain designated status through compliance - Report hiring outcomes to provincial authorities - Processing timeline – typically 2-4 weeks for work permit approval (expedited vs. standard processing available) - **Candidate restrictions