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Prince Edward Island Updates Atlantic Immigration Program: Designates 20 New Employers, Focuses on High-Demand Sectors
Published Date: May 19, 2025

Prince Edward Island's immigration authorities released a significant update on May 15, 2025, regarding the designated employer list for its Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The AIP serves as a crucial pathway to permanent residency for foreign skilled workers and international graduates aspiring to live and work in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces: PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Nova Scotia. A key requirement for the AIP is securing a job offer from a designated employer.

In this update, PEI has added 20 new businesses to its roster of AIP designated employers, opening new avenues for job seekers in relevant fields. The newly designated employers include (operating names in parentheses where applicable):

  1. 100367 PEI Inc. (Operating as: The Pilot House - restaurant and bar)
  2. 100542 PEI Inc. (Operating as: FastSigns - custom signs and graphic solutions)
  3. 9892788 Canada Inc. (Operating as: Stay Golden Customs - merchandising and branding solutions)
  4. ALG (PEI) Management Ltd
  5. Blackbush Beach Resort
  6. Cardigan Bearing And Steel Ltd.
  7. CBI Island Health Centre Inc.
  8. Highfield Construction Company Ltd.
  9. Jeremy & Joel Holdings Inc.
  10. KY Home Solutions Inc.
  11. Larkin Bros Inc.
  12. Majhail Construction Ltd.
  13. Maritime Industrial Services 2022 Inc
  14. Nabuurs Gardens Ltd.
  15. Oyster Creek Farms Inc.
  16. PEI Lube Limited
  17. Precision G&T Engineering
  18. SpryPoint Services Inc
  19. Tethys Aquaculture Canada, Inc.
  20. TopGum Canada Ltd.

The provincial government's official list often highlights employers in current high-demand sectors to guide applicants.

Simultaneously, 14 businesses have been removed from the designated employer list and will no longer be able to endorse new foreign workers through the AIP. These include: Island Abbey Food Science Ltd., Pivot Drive Inc., Silver Fox Entertainment Complex, Taco Boyz Inc., Taco Boyz II Inc., Whisperwood Villa Inc., Willscott Farm Ltd., Wilmac Construction Inc., WM&M (1993) Ltd., Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island, Worklinks Inc., XPY Union Ltd., Yumi Sushi Inc., and Z&C Flourish International Ltd.

Following these changes, PEI now has a total of 364 AIP designated employers. The provincial immigration department cautions that an employer's presence on the list does not guarantee they are currently hiring.

Prioritization of High-Demand Sectors

A significant policy shift highlighted is PEI's current prioritization of applications from high-demand sectors. Due to reduced immigration allocations from the federal government for 2025 and a substantial backlog of applications, the provincial nominee office will, for the time being, only accept endorsement requests for workers in key industries, primarily healthcare, construction, and manufacturing. Job offers for workers outside these sectors will not be endorsed by the province at this time. Such applicants may need to explore other pathways to permanent residency, such as Express Entry or the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP).

AIP Eligibility Overview

To be eligible for permanent residency through the AIP, candidates generally need to meet the following criteria:

  1. Job Offer: A valid job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province.
  2. Provincial Endorsement: The job offer must be endorsed by the province (the designated employer is responsible for this).
  3. Education: At minimum, a one-year post-secondary credential for NOC TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or a high school diploma for NOC TEER 2, 3, or 4 occupations.
  4. Language Proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations, or CLB 4 for TEER 4 occupations.
  5. Work Experience or Education: One year of relevant work experience, or a two-year post-secondary credential obtained while studying in an Atlantic province.
  6. Settlement Funds: Proof of sufficient funds to support oneself and any family members upon arrival in Canada, with the amount varying by family size.

Note: The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s standardized framework for identifying and categorizing occupations based on Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER), ranging from TEER 0 (highest education/training) to TEER 5 (lowest).

AIP Application Process

Once an applicant meets all education, language, work experience, and settlement fund requirements and has secured a job offer from a designated PEI employer, the following steps must be taken:

  1. Obtain Provincial Endorsement: The employer must apply to the province for endorsement of the job offer. If approved, the applicant receives a Certificate of Endorsement.
  2. Develop a Settlement Plan: Work with a designated settlement service provider organization.
  3. Apply for Permanent Residence: Submit an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), including the Certificate of Endorsement.

Work Permits for AIP Applicants

After submitting their AIP permanent residence application, candidates may also be eligible for a special two-year work permit. This allows them to come to Canada and begin working for their designated employer sooner while their PR application is processed. The employer will need to request a referral letter from PEI when applying for the job offer endorsement. This referral letter must be included with the work permit application.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit PEI’s official government website for the complete updated list of designated employers and more detailed program requirements.

Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
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