Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Admissibility and making a final decision

IRCC started accepting permanent residence applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) on March 6, 2022.

On this page

• Determining admissibility
• Approving the application
• After approving the application
• Refusing the application

Determining admissibility

Once the officer has determined that an applicant meets the requirements of the AIP established under subsection 14.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the principal applicant and their family members, whether accompanying or not, must complete medical examinations, and pass criminal and security checks.

Approving the application

When a final decision is made on the application, the endorsement certificate can be expired, but it cannot have been revoked by the province.

To verify that the endorsement certificate has not been revoked by the province, the processing officer must verify the notes in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). If the employer was de-designated after the endorsement certificate was issued, the processing office must contact the province to verify if the province continues to support the endorsement.

If the province revokes the endorsement certificate, the processing officer must refuse the application as the application no longer meets the AIP criteria.

After approving the application

If an officer approves an application from a temporary resident in Canada who is a member of a program referred to in paragraph 70(2)(a) or (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), the officer will send the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa (PRV) counterfoil (if applicable) to the applicant’s address in Canada.

If the principal applicant is currently in Canada, they can confirm their permanent resident status by

• following the virtual landing instructions, as can any in-Canada accompanying dependent family members

• requesting an appointment at a local IRCC office by contacting the IRCC Client Support Centre, with their family members, if applicable [R71.1(2)], or
• presenting the COPR and PRV counterfoil (if applicable) to an officer at a Canadian port of entry [R71.1(1)]

If the applicant or any accompanying dependent family members live outside of Canada, officers should send the ready for visa letter, COPR and PRV (if applicable) to the applicant’s address outside of Canada.

Officers should not issue a PRV counterfoil to applicants whose passport was issued by a visa-exempt country identified in paragraph R190(1)(a) or (b), R190(2)(b) to (f), or R190(2.1). However, officers may request to see the applicant’s original passport in these cases.

Refusing the application

All refused AIP applicants must be provided with a formal refusal letter. The refusal letter must

• inform the applicant of the immigration program in which their application was considered
• explain to the applicant why their application in that program has been refused
• inform applicants who have paid the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) that they are entitled to a refund and provide an approximate timeframe for its receipt

Unauthorized work experience

Foreign nationals who work without authorization may be

• prohibited from being issued a work permit for a period of 6 months from the time the authorized work stopped if more than 1 of the factors under subparagraphs R200(3)(e)(i) to (iv) are met
  • More information is available in the Work permit issuance prohibitions
• non-compliant with subsection A30(1), and on that basis could be found inadmissible under section A41