What is AISP?

The Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, or AISP, is a category of immigration that forms part of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, which enables employers in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland & Labrador to fill certain positions that they have been unable to fill from among the Canadian workforce. In order to apply for immigration in this class, you must have a valid job offer from an employer in one of these provinces.

Before you can apply for permanent residence under AISP, you have fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

The Job Offer

You must be in possession of a job offer from an employer in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland & Labrador. This has to be accompanied by a provincial certificate of endorsement stating that the job offer is genuine, that it is supported by a needs assessment, and that a settlement plan is in place for the applicant and any accompanying family members. Additionally, the offer must be for full-time indeterminate employment in an eligible managerial, professional or technical/trades or intermediate position. Jobs that are seasonal in nature do not qualify for this initiative.

Work Experience

You must prove that you have a minimum of one year of related work experience in a NOC C level occupation, gained at any point in the three years prior to applying. Although the work experience has to be in one occupation, it can be divided across more than one employer.

Work experience will not be counted in the following circumstances:

• The work was done in Canada while you were not in possession of a valid work permit
• You gained the work experience during a period of study, and exceeded the maximum number of work hours allowed
• You were not paid for the work performed – unpaid internships, volunteer hours and self-employment are not eligible
• The tasks you performed were not aligned with the activities listed in the NOC description

Education

You must have a certificate, degree or diploma from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution. If you obtained your education in another country, you must submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), which will demonstrate that your education meets minimum Canadian standards. The EPA cannot be more than five years old.

Language Ability

You need to show that you have basic proficiency in either English or French, that corresponds with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 4 or above. There are several recognized language tests that you can take, including the following:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) — general test
• CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) — general test
• TEF (Test d’évaluation de français)

The language test results cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.

Settlement Funds

You must demonstrate that you have the financial means to support yourself and any family members that accompany you, unless you are already working in Canada under a valid work permit. These settlement funds cannot be money that is borrowed from another person.

Provincial Endorsement

You must obtain a letter of endorsement from the province that you are applying to immigrate to. Provincial endorsement letters are valid for six months, with no possibility of an extension. You need to ensure that you submit your permanent residence application before the expiry date of the letter.