Effective August 17, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has started accepting online Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) work permit applications. Paper applications will be continuing to be accepted until September 1, 2020.

Eligibility for temporary work permit

Foreign nationals who obtain a job offer from an employer and a referral letter from one of the Atlantic provinces, are eligible to apply for a one-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt employer-specific work permit.

The referral letter will be issued once the province has:

• received the needs assessment and settlement plan as well as the job offer, provided by the employer

• received a confirmed receipt of a commitment by the applicant to submit an eligible permanent residence application within 90 days from the submission of the work permit application

• received all the documents

To be eligible to apply for a one-year employer-specific work permit, foreign nationals must submit an online work permit application. The application must include the following:

• referral letter, issued by one of the Atlantic provinces, requesting IRCC issue a work permit

• signed commitment form, undertaking for an application for a work permit exempted from a LMIA as part of the AIP, showing the foreign national will apply for permanent residence within 90 days of submitting the work permit application

• an offer of employment number

• proof of work experience

Spouses and common-law partners can apply for an open work permit.