The federal government has introduced new requirements for certain permanent residence applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program when an applicant’s employment situation changes.
Under the updated instructions, immigration officers must refuse some applications if applicants fail to provide the required documents within 90 days.
Previously, officers had no fixed deadline for receiving these documents. Instead, they could place an application on hold until the applicant provided the information needed to continue the assessment.
The updated instructions, published on July 23, 2026, explain how officers should handle several employment-related situations. These include a change in ownership of an applicant’s employer, a change in the applicant’s role with the same employer, and a move from one designated employer to another.
When an employment change occurs, the officer sends the applicant a procedural fairness letter explaining which documents are required and giving the applicant 90 days to submit them.
If the applicant does not provide the required documents within that period, the officer must refuse the permanent residence application.
The updated instructions also change which documents applicants must provide in different employment situations.
Employer Ownership Changes
The updated rules now cover situations where an Atlantic Immigration Program applicant’s employer changes ownership while the permanent residence application remains under review.
The province that originally endorsed the applicant must reassess the employer and the endorsement after the ownership change. The province must determine whether the employer continues to meet the requirements for designation and whether it will continue supporting the applicant.
If the province continues to support the applicant, the officer can continue assessing the permanent residence application once the applicant provides the required updated documents within 90 days.
Depending on the circumstances, the applicant may need to provide either a provincial letter confirming continued support or an updated endorsement and offer of employment.
If the province withdraws its support, the officer must refuse the permanent residence application.
Previously, the instructions did not provide specific guidance for a change in employer ownership.
Employment Changes With The Same Employer
The updated instructions also explain what applicants must do when their employment terms change while they remain with the same employer.
Changes can include wages, occupation or working conditions. A change in position that results in a different National Occupational Classification or Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities code can also trigger the updated requirements.
In these situations, applicants must submit the required documents through the immigration department’s online web form within 90 days.
The documents include:
- An updated provincial endorsement certificate showing the new employment information; and
- An updated Offer of Employment form reflecting the employment changes.
A job title change alone may not always require a new endorsement certificate. Officers must assess these situations individually to determine whether an updated certificate is necessary.
The previous instructions had more limited guidance for employment changes with the same employer. They stated that an applicant receiving a promotion from the same employer needed to request a new job offer, a modified endorsement certificate and a new provincial letter of support.
Changing To Another Designated Employer
Applicants who move from one designated Atlantic Immigration Program employer to another must also update their documents.
They must submit an updated provincial endorsement certificate and an updated offer of employment form reflecting the new employer.
Applicants must provide these documents within 90 days. If they fail to meet the deadline, the officer must refuse the permanent residence application.
The previous instructions did not specifically require applicants to submit the updated Offer of Employment form in this situation.
About The Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program is an employer-driven pathway for foreign nationals who want to settle in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Applicants must have a full-time job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating provinces. The employer must also obtain an endorsement from the relevant provincial government.
Moreover, applicants must meet additional requirements related to work experience, education, language ability and settlement funds to qualify for permanent residence through the program.
After receiving a provincial endorsement, applicants can submit their permanent residence application to the federal government.
The current estimated wait period for permanent residence applications through the Atlantic Immigration Program is 26 months. The lengthy wait has created challenges for some applicants already living and working in Canada, particularly those whose work authorization may expire before they receive permanent residence.
Unlike applicants in several other permanent residence programs, Atlantic Immigration Program applicants cannot obtain a Bridging Open Work Permit.
Instead, eligible applicants can apply for a two-year employer-specific work permit. This permit allows them to continue working for the employer that provided the job offer supporting their Atlantic Immigration Program application.
Spouses and common-law partners of eligible applicants may also qualify for an open work permit, subject to the applicable requirements.
The updated rules mean applicants with employment changes must carefully follow the new document requirements and submit the requested information within the 90-day deadline to avoid refusal of their permanent residence applications.
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