New Brunswick closes intake for AIP

Thu May

Admin

As of April 4, 2025, the province of New Brunswick officially closed its intake for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for the remainder of the year. The closure came after the province reached its full annual allocation of 1,250 endorsement spaces. This marks a significant policy moment in New Brunswick’s immigration strategy and highlights broader national trends, including reduced immigration quotas and increased pressure on regional immigration programs.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the closure, key contributing factors, the current state of the AIP in other Atlantic provinces, and projections for the future of regional immigration programs in Canada.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal-provincial initiative aimed at addressing regional labour shortages by facilitating permanent residency for skilled foreign workers and international graduates in the four Atlantic provinces:

New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island

Key features of the AIP include:

Requirement for employer designation.
Employer-driven process.
Endorsement application for job offers.
PR application following provincial endorsement.
Temporary work permit access for approved candidates awaiting PR.

The program was designed to support population growth and labour market needs in Atlantic Canada and is considered an essential component of regional immigration planning.

Effective April 4, 2025, New Brunswick ceased accepting new endorsement applications for the AIP. No new applications for PR via AIP will be processed in New Brunswick for the remainder of 2025. Employers not previously designated under the program will be ineligible for designation until 2026.

Endorsement applications submitted on or before April 4 will continue to be processed.

This early closure contrasts with 2024, when New Brunswick closed intake in September, indicating accelerated program demand in 2025.

In February 2025, New Brunswick announced it would no longer endorse applications for specific occupations. These restrictions aimed to prioritize high-need sectors and better align endorsements with regional workforce demands.

Status of AIP in other Atlantic Provinces

While New Brunswick’s AIP stream has closed for 2025, the program remains active in the other three Atlantic provinces:

Prince Edward Island

Accepting applications only for jobs in healthcare, construction, and manufacturing. These sectoral restrictions were introduced earlier in the year to manage intake.

Nova Scotia

Continues to accept endorsement applications with restrictions like excluding applications with job offers under NOC 62020 (food service supervisors).

Newfoundland and Labrador

No official restrictions announced as of this writing. Still processing endorsement applications under the AIP.

Future Projections

Atlantic provinces are shifting toward more selective AIP usage, focusing on specific industries with critical labour shortages. Sector-specific endorsements are likely to become the norm, aligning immigration policy more closely with regional economic planning.

As AIP allocations shrink, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are expected to play a more prominent role in immigration intake. Candidates not eligible for the AIP may be redirected to PNPs, especially streams that are employer-driven or aligned with Express Entry.

Employers will face greater competition for endorsement spots and may need to adjust recruitment timelines and expectations. Designated employers may also need to explore PNP-based hiring or other federal streams to fill positions. Processing timelines (currently at 11 months for AIP PR applications) may become longer if caps are not increased in subsequent years.

The early closure of New Brunswick’s AIP stream is a clear indicator of the growing tension between immigration demand and policy limitations in Canada’s Atlantic region. As federal immigration targets tighten and provincial allocations decline, regional programs like the AIP are becoming more targeted, strategic, and competitive.

Going forward, stakeholders—including employers, immigration advisors, and applicants—must adapt to a more constrained and selective environment. Planning ahead, focusing on high-need sectors, and leveraging multiple immigration pathways will be critical for success in this evolving landscape.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, at +1 778 239 7861 or +1 647 453 7660 with RCIC # R413239, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need.

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