Canada’s Atlantic Immigration Program 2025: Provinces Narrow Focus to Key Sectors Amid Reduced Allocations
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) continues to be a crucial tool in helping Canada’s four Atlantic provinces – Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island (PEI), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick – attract much-needed skilled workers.
But in 2025, the program is facing reduced federal allocations, forcing provinces to prioritize only the most critical sectors for their labour markets.
Despite these changes, AIP remains a pathway to permanent residence (PR) that is employer-driven, LMIA-exempt, and designed to not only bring in workers but also ensure that they and their families receive settlement support to stay long-term.
Prince Edward Island (PEI): Streamlined to Just Three Sectors
PEI has significantly narrowed its focus under AIP. For the rest of 2025, it will only accept endorsement applications for workers in the following industries:
- Healthcare – nurses, support workers, and other allied health roles
- Construction – skilled trades like carpenters, electricians, and heavy equipment operators
- Manufacturing – including food processing and industrial production
Candidates in other occupations are encouraged to apply through the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) instead.
This move is a direct response to both labour market shortages and the province’s limited allocation from the federal government.
Nova Scotia: Balancing Immediate and Long-Term Needs
Nova Scotia is taking a slightly broader approach. Its 2025 priorities include:
- Healthcare and social assistance – including doctors, nurses, and care workers
- Construction – skilled trades remain in short supply
Special Priority: Nova Scotia is also giving preference to workers already in the province with work permits expiring this year, recognizing the importance of retaining existing talent.
Beyond AIP, the province is making exceptions for certain industries such as:
- Trucking and transport
- Science and technology sectors
- Clean energy
- Natural resource development
This shows Nova Scotia’s strategy to not only fill shortages today but also prepare for future economic transitions, such as the clean energy shift.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Wide-Ranging Priority Occupations
Newfoundland and Labrador has cast a wider net with a detailed priority list of occupations in:
- Healthcare – doctors, registered nurses, personal care attendants, and allied health roles
- Information & Communications Technology (ICT) – software developers, engineers, and IT specialists
- Aquaculture – technicians, plant workers, and processing roles
A key change in 2025: Since February, the province introduced an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. This means workers can’t simply apply — they must first submit an EOI and wait for an invitation to apply.
This shift allows Newfoundland and Labrador to control intake more strategically, ensuring the limited spots go to the most in-demand and ready-to-settle candidates.
New Brunswick: AIP on Pause for 2025
Unlike the other provinces, New Brunswick has already maxed out its AIP allocation for 2025 and has paused new applications under the program.
- Applications submitted before April 4, 2025 are still being processed.
- New candidates must apply through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which earlier this year received an additional 1,500 nomination spaces to help offset the AIP pause.
This pause highlights the intense demand for PR spots in New Brunswick and the importance of the PNP as an alternative pathway.
Why the Shift in 2025?
Several factors explain why provinces have had to narrow their focus this year:
- Reduced Federal Allocation – Ottawa cut AIP spaces for 2025, meaning provinces had to prioritize critical sectors instead of keeping the program wide open.
- Severe Labour Shortages – Healthcare and construction have been struggling to fill roles for years, pushing provinces to concentrate efforts here.
- Retention Over Recruitment – Especially in Nova Scotia, keeping workers already in the province has become just as important as attracting new ones.
- Sector-Specific Growth – Newfoundland’s aquaculture and ICT industries, and Nova Scotia’s clean energy sector, reflect economic growth priorities unique to each province.
Bottom Line
The Atlantic Immigration Program in 2025 is more competitive than ever.
- Healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople are the biggest winners, with nearly every province prioritizing them.
- ICT and aquaculture remain niche but important growth industries.
- New Brunswick applicants will need to pivot to the PNP.
- Overall, those with job offers in high-demand occupations continue to have the best chances of securing PR in Atlantic Canada.
For prospective immigrants, staying informed about which sectors are prioritized in which province is key to making a successful application strategy.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
