Prince Edward Island Restricts Atlantic Immigration Program to Specific Sectors Amid Immigration Space Shortage
In a significant shift in immigration policy, Prince Edward Island (PEI) has now limited the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) to foreign nationals working in healthcare, construction, and manufacturing. This restriction, which took effect on January 24, 2025, means that employers in other sectors will no longer be able to have their workers endorsed under the AIP for permanent residency (PR).
Foreign nationals currently working outside of these targeted sectors will need to explore other immigration pathways to establish permanent residence in PEI.
New Eligibility Requirements for AIP
The Atlantic Immigration Program has long served as a vital pathway to permanent residency for international workers and graduates aiming to settle in Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. However, with the recent changes, only those employed in healthcare, construction, or manufacturing are eligible for the program in PEI.
To qualify for the AIP, foreign nationals must meet the following requirements:
- A valid job offer from a designated employer in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
- The job offer must be endorsed by the province.
- A minimum of one year of post-secondary education for positions in NOC TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or a high school diploma for NOC TEER 2, 3, or 4 occupations.
- Language proficiency with at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions, or CLB 4 for TEER 4 positions.
- A minimum of one year of relevant work experience or at least a two-year post-secondary degree obtained within an Atlantic province.
- Sufficient settlement funds for the applicant and their family, as outlined by the Canadian immigration authorities.
If eligible, applicants can proceed with the following steps to apply for PR through the AIP:
- Obtain a settlement plan for their new life in PEI.
- Get the job offer endorsed by the PEI Office of Immigration.
- Submit a permanent residency application to the federal government for processing.
However, the restriction limiting endorsements to the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors means that those working in other fields must look at alternative immigration programs.
Exploring Other Pathways to Permanent Residency
For foreign nationals not working in the restricted sectors, PEI has outlined several alternative immigration pathways to pursue permanent residency.
Express Entry System
Express Entry remains one of the most competitive and popular immigration options for individuals looking to settle in Canada. If you aim to reside in PEI, you must first meet the criteria for one of the federal immigration programs managed under Express Entry, including:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which considers factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. The higher the CRS score, the better the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
Although Express Entry is competitive, it provides faster processing times for successful candidates compared to other pathways.
PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Another potential pathway is the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which is especially beneficial for individuals with lower CRS scores or those who do not qualify for Express Entry.
By obtaining a provincial nomination from PEI, candidates can either receive an additional 600 CRS points (if nominated under the enhanced PNP stream) or a nomination certificate under the base PNP stream.
There are multiple streams under the PEI PNP that cater to different profiles, including:
- Critical Worker Stream: For those working in NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupations.
- International Graduate Stream: For graduates from PEI postsecondary institutions.
- Skilled Worker Stream: For professionals in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations.
- Occupations in Demand Stream: This includes roles such as nurse aides, truck drivers, construction workers, and food processing workers.
To qualify for the PEI PNP, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements regarding job offers, work experience, education, language proficiency, and settlement funds.
Once nominated by PEI, applicants can proceed with the PR application to the federal government.
Why the Change?
The move to limit AIP endorsements to healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors is a response to several factors. Most notably, the federal government has reduced its immigration quotas for economic immigration programs, with only 5,000 AIP spaces available in 2025—down from 6,500 in 2024. This reduction in available spaces means the Atlantic provinces, including PEI, are now forced to make difficult decisions about where to direct their limited immigration resources.
Given the significant demand for workers in these specific industries and the large pool of applicants already eligible for AIP endorsement, PEI has chosen to allocate all its available spaces to workers in the most critical sectors for the province’s economic growth.
This restriction is not unique to PEI. Other Atlantic provinces have also set similar limitations. For example, New Brunswick is only endorsing job offers in the healthcare, construction, and education sectors for the AIP.
Looking Ahead
While the shift in PEI’s immigration policy may present challenges for foreign nationals working outside of healthcare, construction, and manufacturing, alternative immigration pathways like Express Entry and the PEI PNP remain viable options. Individuals interested in settling in PEI must now carefully evaluate their eligibility for these programs or consider seeking job opportunities in the targeted sectors.
For employers in PEI who cannot hire foreign nationals through the AIP, they will need to look into other immigration avenues or work permit programs to address their labor shortages.
This change in PEI’s immigration strategy highlights the growing competition for limited immigration spaces and the evolving dynamics of Canada’s Atlantic Immigration Program.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
