Canada encourages and welcomes applications for permanent residence from candidates with education, skills, work experience who can contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of Canada.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot program is aimed at skilled workers and international graduates who wish to settle in one of the four Atlantic provinces Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward island. This program requires applicants to have a job offer from a designated Canadian organisation or business.

There are three available options for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program – two for skilled workers and one for international student graduates. Each program has its own set of requirements but the minimum requirements for all three programs are as follows:

• You must have a job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province;
• You must get an endorsement letter from the province where you intend to reside;
• You must meet the minimum level language requirement in English or French; and
• You must show that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family (unless you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit).

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program. It is designed to attract skilled foreign workers who want to work in one of the northern and rural communities.

There are several communities that have participated in the pilot. Each community has their own set of requirements.

The pilot program requirements are as follows:

• You must show qualifying work experience whether its inside or outside of Canada
• You must meet the educational requirement of having graduated from a publicly funded university in the recommending communities;
• You must meet or exceed the language requirements in English or in French;
• You must show that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family (unless you’ve already been working legally in Canada when you apply).