IRCC’s Atlantic Immigration Program instructions set out the requirements for employer-specific work permits issued under administrative code C18, including eligibility, supporting documents and renewal rules for candidates endorsed by an Atlantic province.
Who may qualify for an AIP work permit
To be eligible, a foreign national must apply online and have an offer of employment from an AIP-designated employer, submitted through the Employer Portal or authorized alternate means. The offer must include the employer compliance fee.
Applicants also need a work permit support letter from the Atlantic province where they will work, language results that meet program requirements, a qualifying educational credential, and qualifying work experience or eligibility as a recent international graduate.
An applicant does not need to have applied for permanent residence before submitting an initial work permit application if the endorsement certificate remains valid. Applications made at a port of entry are not eligible.
Rules for international graduates and work permit renewals
International graduates of an institution in an endorsing Atlantic province must have lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months, cumulatively, during the 24 months before their credential was granted. They must also have held valid temporary resident status and authorization for any work, study or training undertaken in Canada.
Eligible international graduates are not required to meet the work experience requirement.
Foreign nationals may renew a work permit under the AIP if their endorsement remains valid when they apply, or if they submitted a permanent residence application before the endorsement certificate expired. A new offer of employment is required for a renewal.
AIP applicants may remain eligible to renew their work permit while their permanent residence application is pending and has not been refused. Each work permit may be issued for a maximum of 2 years.
Documents required for an application
First-time applicants must provide a complete electronic work permit application, the required permanent residence application evidence where applicable, a completed IMM 0156 form, an offer of employment number, and evidence that they can perform the work sought.
They must also provide qualifying language results, proof of work experience where required, and proof of a qualifying educational credential. Applicants educated outside Canada generally need an educational credential assessment.
International graduates must provide evidence of their residence in an Atlantic province, valid temporary resident status and authorization for relevant periods of work or study, and a qualifying credential from a recognized Atlantic post-secondary institution.
Applicants renewing a work permit previously issued under C18 do not need to submit several supporting documents again unless there is a change of employer, including the provincial support letter, IMM 0156 form, educational credentials, language results and proof of qualifying work experience.
Language, education and work experience requirements
Applicants must meet a minimum language requirement in all 4 skill areas using an IRCC-approved test. The required level depends on the TEER category of the job offer.
Applicants other than eligible international graduates must meet the education requirements that apply to the TEER category of the job offer. Foreign credentials completed outside Canada must be supported by an educational credential assessment, subject to the instructions.
Applicants who do not qualify as recent international graduates must have at least 1 year of qualifying paid work experience, or the part-time equivalent, within the 5 years before applying. Self-employment does not count toward this requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do AIP applicants need to submit a permanent residence application before applying for an initial work permit?
Not necessarily. An initial work permit application may be submitted before a permanent residence application if the endorsement certificate is still valid when the work permit application is submitted.
Can family members receive open work permits?
IRCC officers may issue open work permits to family members of an AIP or AIPP applicant where the applicant has a job offer in any TEER category. The applicable family-member instructions depend on the occupation’s TEER category.
Source: Official IRCC announcement