Pilot Programs
At times when there are some job shortages in particular fields or locations, the Government of Canada will introduce temporary or pilot programs which will be active for a short period of time. These routes offer a great opportunity for workers in particular fields to expedite their work permit process and speed their arrival in Canada with the intention to settle permanently. Think of Pilot Programs as a crossover between a Work Permit and Permanent Residency applications, they are the best of both worlds!
At the moment, there are 3 active pilot programs: the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot and last but not least the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program.
Atlantic immigration pilot program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot allows employers in Canada's Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island to hire foreign nationals for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally. The foreign workers coming to Canada must have a valid job offer from a designated employer AND intend to settle permanently in the Atlantic provinces (settlement plan).
This program is EMPLOYER driven and is NOT the same process as obtaining a work permit.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has 3 different streams:
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Atlantic High-Skilled Program
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Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
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Atlantic International Graduate Program
Candidate requirements
Requirements International Graduate High Skilled Intermediate Skilled
Education
Language
Work Experience
Funds
Attend a post-secondary Atlantic institution for at least 2 years as a full-time student and obtained certificate within the 12 months before the submission of the application for permanent residence.
High School or Post-secondary credential with Canadian equivalency
IELTS General Speaking 4. Listening 4.5 Reading 3.5 Writing 4
Or equivalent in French
None
At least 1 year full-time paid position in NOC 0, A or B
At least 1 year full-time paid
position in NOC C or Nursing
12.5% Low-Income Cut Off + intent and ability to reside in Atlantic province
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot Program
Are you a caregiver or a nanny? Have you wanted to move to Canada permanently but don't want to leave your family behind for years at a time? You are in luck because the Government fo Canada has launched a brand new pilot program just for you!
In order to facilitate family reunification for caregivers and nannies, Foreign caregivers coming to work in Canada will no longer have to leave close family members behind and now have a more straightforward pathway to attain their permanent residency. After working as either a caregiver or home child care provider and gaining 2 years of full time experience you qualify to apply for permanent residency!
Through these pilots, you’ll get an open work permit to come to Canada and work temporarily. This work permit:
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Is occupation-restricted (so you have to work in that specific occupation)
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Does NOT need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
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Lets you get the work experience you need to be eligible for permanent residence
You will benefit from:
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An occupation-specific work permits which allows for a fast change of employers when necessary (to protect you)
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Open work permits and/or study permits for your immediate family
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A clear transition from temporary to permanent status
Candidate Requirements:
You may be eligible to apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot, if you:
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Have a genuine and valid job offer
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Are able to do the job
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Meet language proficiency level of IELTS score of speaking: 5, listening: 5, reading: 4, writing: 5 or French equivalency
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Completed post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year with Canadian equivalency
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Plan to live outside the province of Quebec as a permanent resident
If you recently worked as a home child care provider or support worker, your experience may count towards your eligibility for permanent residence.
TIPS!
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The new pilots, Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilot will each have a yearly limit! A maximum of 2,750 principal applicants, for a total of 5,500 principal applicants per year, plus their immediate family.
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Initial applications will have a processing time of about 12-months PLUS another 6-month processing time to finalize the application!
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities. Through this path you can gain your Canadian permanent residency as a skilled foreign worker who intends to work and reside in one of the participating communities.
Participating communities:
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North Bay, Ontario (Coming Soon)
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Sudbury, Ontario
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Timmins, Ontario
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Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
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Thunder Bay, Ontario
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Brandon, Manitoba
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Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
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Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Coming Soon)
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Claresholm, Alberta
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Vernon, British Columbia
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West Kootenay (Coming Soon)
Who Can Apply?
In order to qualify under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program you must meet the following base criteria.
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Have 1 year of full-time paid work experience or have graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the recommending community
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Meet the language requirements (the requirements differ depending on your occupation)
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Have a high school diploma or Post-secondary credential with Canadian equivalency
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Prove you have enough money to support your transition into the community (fund depends on size of your family)
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INTEND to live in the specified community
In addition to meeting the top criteria, each community will have their own community-specific requirements which you will need to meet.
If you meet all of the requirements, you can start to look for a full-time paid job in the participating community of your choice. Once you have a job offer, you will need to apply for the community recommendation and once accepted, you can now successfully apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Sounds simple enough right? No, we didn't think so either! Immigrating is never easy especially if it contains as many steps as the above pilot programs. We at Nilak know this process inside and out and have the expertise to provide you with a smooth sailing into Canada. Our values at Nilak Immigration Services dictate our every move and you can rest assured our expertise in this field will save you both time and money because we do things right the first time around.