Atlantic Immigration Program

[ibteshamahmed22]

Hey everyone! Planning my immigration journey and need some advice.

I'm moving to Atlantic Canada in November 2026 on a PGWP to work in the healthcare sector. My goal is to gain 1 year of experience and apply for PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

My PGWP expires in July 2028, giving me 1 year and 8 months to complete my hours and apply for the provincial endorsement and a work permit extension.

For those who have done the AlP route:

What are the real-world processing times you've experienced for the provincial endorsement and federal IRCC PR stages?

Does this timeline sound safe, or am I cutting it close with my PGWP expiry?

Would love your honest thoughts! TIA!

 

[Naturgrl]

So your employer is a designated employer and approved for AIP. And employer knows and is supporting your application. Who is providing settlement support? Look at IRCC processing. Current processing is over 2 years.

 

[ibteshamahmed22]

So your employer is a designated employer and approved for AIP. And employer knows and is supporting your application. Who is providing settlement support? Look at IRCC processing. Current processing is over 2 years.

I don't have idea regarding that.

 

[Naturgrl]

I don't have idea regarding that.

Well if they are not a designated employer and approved as one then AIP is not an option. You have to ask them if they are willing to start the process if not designated. Look at the PNP streams for the province you are working in.

 

[ibteshamahmed22]

Oh i was talking about the settlement plan. But they are designated and willing to help.

 

[Naturgrl]

Oh i was talking about the settlement plan. But they are designated and willing to help.

So look on the AIP and research the settlement plan. Processing is over 2 years, if approved.

 

[ibteshamahmed22]

So look on the AIP and research the settlement plan. Processing is over 2 years, if approved.

Do i need settlement plan even before start working?

 

[Naturgrl]

Do i need settlement plan even before start working?

Again all on the site but no. Research the program, the quotas are small so chance you will not get PR through the stream.

 

[ibteshamahmed22]

I know everything is on the site. I looked at it but I don't think you understood my query. I just want to know that if I go there get my 1-year experience then because of the fact that the processing time is almost 2 years more than 2 years, I would definitely have to extend my work permit. So I have one year 8 months in my work permit left so because of that I want to know is that time enough for all this process or no. Especially the work permit situation. If I can extend the word permit before that then 2 years processing time doesn't matter

 

[ibteshamahmed22]

And this information are not on the site honestly. Like the endorsement time, if I apply for work permit then how long the work permit takes. If I apply for the work permit then I am already on implied status then it won't be an issue. But the main thing is the endorsement letter if I apply for the endorsement letter on 2027 December then how the situation is going to be that is the main issue. That I want to know.

 

[sarzamineno]

Hey everyone! Planning my immigration journey and need some advice.

I'm moving to Atlantic Canada in November 2026 on a PGWP to work in the healthcare sector. My goal is to gain 1 year of experience and apply for PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

My PGWP expires in July 2028, giving me 1 year and 8 months to complete my hours and apply for the provincial endorsement and a work permit extension.

For those who have done the AlP route:

What are the real-world processing times you've experienced for the provincial endorsement and federal IRCC PR stages?

Does this timeline sound safe, or am I cutting it close with my PGWP expiry?

Would love your honest thoughts! TIA!

Hi,


Your timeline is worth planning carefully because there are several steps involved in the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), not just the one year of work experience.


One important point is that AIP does not work exactly like a program where you simply complete one year of Canadian work experience and then automatically receive PR. You still need to meet the program requirements, have a valid job offer from a designated employer, obtain provincial endorsement, and then submit your permanent residence application to IRCC.


Since your PGWP expires in July 2028, the key question is not only how long it takes to gain the required experience, but also whether you have enough time to complete the endorsement process and maintain valid status while your PR application is being processed.


Processing times can vary. IRCC’s published AIP processing time has changed over time, and applicants should not assume the PR stage will always be completed quickly.


If I were planning this pathway, I would try to start the endorsement and PR preparation as early as possible rather than waiting until the final months of the PGWP. Also, keep copies of employment documents, pay records, and any documents related to your designated employer.


Good luck with your move to Atlantic Canada!

 

[canuck78]

The other big issue is what is your NOC? You may have a much higher chance of approval in certain NOC where there is a demand for the profession but also very few applicants who have the skills. For example if you are an RN your chances are likely better than a PSW or if you are a pharmacist your chances are likely better than a pharmacy assistant because there are many pharmacy assistants & PSWs applying. The quota for these programs is relatively small so I would be learning French on top of your planned move to the Maritimes. Moving to the Maritimes used to be a much easier way to secure PR but hasn’t been the case for 5+ years. There was a huge influx of international students into the Maritimes in the 2020s and at the same time many were leaving the larger provinces to secure PR in the Prairies and Maritimes because historically it had been easier to secure PR there. In general it is no longer easier to secure PR in some provinces versus others. It can be easier to secure PR for certain NOCs but you may also need proof of education and work in that province to make securing PR easier. Securing PR in Canada is quite difficult except if you work in certain NOCs or if you are fluent in French do you need to do your research and should be working towards a few PR pathways at once.