Atlantic Immigration Program

One of the most popular programs to immigrate to Canada is the Atlantic Canada Entrepreneurship and Investment Immigration Program. In general, immigration to this area has many fans, and the reason for this popularity can be found in the simplicity of the conditions for immigration to the Atlantic region. In this area, work immigration and investment immigration are easier than in other parts of Canada. Atlantic Canada includes Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Atlantic region of Canada is a less populated part that includes older parts of the country. This region has cold and rainy weather in autumn and winter, but it has mild and warmer weather in summer.

Due to the proximity of the Atlantic provinces to the ocean, maritime trade plays an important role in this region. In addition, it is interesting to note that most of the jobs in the Atlantic provinces are related to maritime trade

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Table of Contents

Atlantic provinces Introduction
Province Description
New Brunswick
It is the only bilingual province in Canada, apart from Quebec. Technology, forestry and agriculture sectors are growing in this province.
Nova Scotia
It is a suitable province for study and work. This province is one of the popular destinations of international students
Prince Edward Island
It is famous for its tourist attractions and red sandstone cliffs. This province is known mostly for its traditional agricultural industries. This island is one of the best places for software development, production of specialty chemicals and life science research
Newfoundland and Labrador
These two regions have better weather than other provinces in the Atlantic region. Newfoundland and Labrador is a safe haven for creative ocean activities

Working in Atlantic

The work immigration program to the Atlantic region is a program for permanent residence in Canada, with the help of a part of the country called Atlantic. This program has two main parts, which are:

International graduate student program in the Atlantic region

Internship program and work migration to the Atlantic region

This program helps people to easily obtain work residency in the Atlantic region with simpler conditions and eventually obtain Canadian citizenship.

In the first case, the person must be a graduate of a recognized university in the Atlantic region and also have a valid job offer from the Atlantic region.

In the second case, it is enough that the person has at least one year of work experience and can receive a job offer from the Atlantic region.

Entrepreneurship and investment in Atlantic

Each province of Atlantic Canada has its own rules and regulations for investment and entrepreneurship. With the exception of Nova Scotia, to immigrate to any of the Atlantic provinces, you must earn the necessary points through the points system.

For example, to immigrate to Canada through entrepreneurship in the province of New Brunswick, you must first obtain a work visa. Then, after entering this province, you start your business with a minimum capital of 150 thousand Canadian dollars. After one year of starting the business, you can get Canadian permanent residence. This immigration program has its own scoring system and you can be accepted in this program only by obtaining the necessary points from this system.

The criteria that are evaluated in this system:

  • Age

  • compatibility
  • Work experience
  • business plan

  • language skill

  • Level of Education

  • Personal property

In order to qualify for the entrepreneurship system in New Brunswick, applicants must be able to score at least 65 points in the scoring system of the entrepreneurship program of this province.

Entrepreneurship in Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Entrepreneurship Immigration Program is a score-based program. This Atlantic Entrepreneurship and Investment Immigration System scores individuals according to the following criteria:

  • Age

  • Language Certificate

  • Confirmation letter
  • Work Experience

  • Adaptation level

  • Education degree

The application processing fee for the Prince Edward Entrepreneurship Program is CAD 10,000. Entrepreneurship and investment in Prince Edward province is a unique opportunity that allows the applicant to obtain permanent residence and then citizenship of this country for himself and all his family members with 150 thousand Canadian dollars.

Entrepreneurship in Nova Scotia

The fee for the Atlantic Investment Visa and its acceptance by the Nova Scotia Immigration Department is absolutely free. In this program, you first enter Canada with a work permit and a year later you are introduced to receive permanent residence. In the Nova Scotia Entrepreneurship Program, you need to invest 150,000 Canadian dollars to start a business in this province and the minimum financial ability of 600,000 Canadian dollars are required. You can make profit of your spouse’s assets in addition to your own assets.

Entrepreneurship in Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador have many mines. The immigration program of entrepreneurs in this province is also based on the scoring system. In order to be able to immigrate to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador through this program, it is necessary to earn at least 72 points through the scoring system of this program. This province is located in the easternmost point of North America.

The scoring system of the migration program to this province is based on the following factors:

  • Age
  • language skill

  • Business ownership or senior management experience
  • Education degree

  • Adaptability level

  • Economic priorities of Newfoundland and Labrador

Entrepreneurship and investment stages in Atlantic Canada

Although the Atlantic Investment and Entrepreneurship Immigration Program can be different in details for different provinces; but in general, the steps of investment and entrepreneurship in Canada can be summarized as follows:

Step Description
1- Score calculation
At this step, a person should calculate his score according to the scoring system of the province in question and his own conditions. If the minimum score is obtained in this method, the person can proceed to fill the EOI form.
2- Registration of expression of interest
At this step, applicant shall complete the EOI form and send it. After this step, the person should wait for the acceptance of his EOI.
3- Receiving an invitation
If the person's EOI request is approved, they will receive an invitation. The applicant must respond to this invitation and send the necessary documents within 90 days.
4- Interview and signing the executive agreement with the province
Generally, after sending the documents, a date is set for an in-person interview. The person must be able to conduct an interview in this opportunity. At this time, an agreement is signed with the province, which is the acceptance of obligations by the investor.
5- Applying for a Canadian work permit
After signing the agreement, the person can apply for a Canadian work permit. After receiving the work permit, if the person is able to adhere to his obligations within the specified time, he can receive permanent residence in this country.
Investment conditions in Atlantic

Investment conditions in the province of New Brunswick

  • IELTS 4 in reading skill and 5 in other three skills
  • Age: 21 to 59 years
  • Working experience as a manager or a business owner: 3 years
  • At least 65 points in the New Brunswick Entrepreneurship Scoring System
Investment conditions in the province of Nova Scotia
  • Age: at least 21 years old
  • Work experience: three years as a business owner or 5 years as an executive director
  • Reading score of 4 and 5 in other skills
  • Educational qualification: minimum diploma
Investment conditions in Prince Edward Island
  • Age between 21 and 59 years
  • Educational qualification: At least a diploma
  • Language certificate at least CLB 4 level
  • Work experience as a business owner or manager 
Investment conditions in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Age: between 21 and 59 years
  • Educational qualification: minimum diploma
  • Language proficiency at CLB5 level in English or French
  • Conducting an exploratory trip
  • Creating a full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Work experience: at least 2 years of active management experience and business ownership in the last 5 years
5- Costs of Atlantic Immigration Program
Province Minimum Investment (CAD) Minimum Financial Ability (CAD)
New Brunswick
150,000
500,000
Nova Scotia
150,000
600,000
Prince Edward
150,000
600,000
Newfoundland and Labrador
200,000
600,000
Necessary documents for immigration to Atlantic

The general documents required for investment immigration vary in the Atlantic provinces, but in general the following documents are required:

  • CV

  • Marriage certificate

  • Language Certificate

  • Business plan

  • Job references

  • Identity documents

  • Support letter from the province

  • Police Clearances

  • Required application forms

  • Evidence of financial ability

  • Evidence of an exploratory journey

  • Translation of academic documents and transcripts