Atlantic High-Skilled Program

The Atlantic High-Skilled Program is a part of the Atlantic immigration Program to Immigrate to Canada. With this program, foreign workers with a job offer from an employer based in Atlantic Canada can apply for Permanent Residency or PR. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) processes up to 80% of applications within 6 months for the AHSP candidates. 

To apply for AHSP or Atlantic High-Skilled Program, you must have the following: 

  • Check your eligibility 
  • Get a job offer 
  • Submit application 

1) Check Eligibility:

Work Experience: 

If you want to apply for AHSP, you need to have worked at least 1560 hours in the last 3 years. This work experience must be at a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type/level 0, A, or B. 

To qualify for AHSP, you can calculate your hours by:

  1. Count hours worked in full-time and part-time 
  2. The hours can be under different employers but for the same occupation 
  3. You must be paid for the hours worked. Volunteer work does not count 
  4. These hours may or may not be inside Canada. 
  5. The hours counted must be over 12 months without a gap. 

If you are not eligible for AHSP, see if you can apply for Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program. 

Education: 

To apply for AHSP you must have 1 of the following: 

  1. A Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary education certificate, diploma, or degree from a recognized institution 
  2. A degree, diploma, or certificate, is equal to a Canadian counterpart. 

For applicants who have completed their education out of Canada, an ECA or Educational Credential Assessment must be included. This ECA must be less than 5 years old. 

Language Testing: 

Candidates applying for Atlantic High-Skilled Program must prove their basic language ability with fluency in English or French. This is equivalent to Level 4 of CLB or Canadian Language Benchmark. The following tests are approved for AHSP: 

  1. International English Language Testing System or IELTS 
  2. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program or CELPIP 
  3. Test d’évaluation de français or TEF 

Applicants must note that the language threshold for these programs is lower than that for other Canadian economic immigration programs, including those under the Express Entry System. 

The language test result must be less than 2 years old at the time of application. 

Proof of Funds: 

Candidates applying for AHSP must show enough money to support themselves and their families when they apply to immigrate to Canada. The amount depends on the size of the family, and should also include anyone you support who is not immigrating with you. 

If you are already working and living in Canada with a valid work permit, then you do not need to show proof of funds. 

2) Get a job offer:

The Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP) is an employer-driven program where candidates must receive a valid job offer. The job offer must be: 

  1. Sent from a designated employer from any one of the four Atlantic Provinces (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island)
  2. For full-time employment for a minimum of 1 year 
  3. Non-seasonal in nature, and
  4.  Supported with an Endorsement certificate from the province to show that the job offer is genuine 

The job may not be under the same NOC as other jobs previously held by the candidate. 

3) Submit Application:

Once all the steps have been completed and the candidate’s application has been accepted, you can submit your PR or Permanent Residency application. 

Planning to apply for Atlantic High-Skilled Program? Want to know if you are eligible or not? Contact us at contactus@wisaindia.com or call our Toll Free number at 1800 123 9212!