New Brunswick Suspends Atlantic Immigration Program Until 2026, Affecting Moroccan Applicants

The government of the Atlantic province of New Brunswick has temporarily suspended the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This suspension has been in effect since April 4, 2025 and runs until the end of 2025. It follows the reaching of the annual quota of applications allocated for 2025. "Since that date, no new approval applications will be accepted and no new invitations will be sent to employers wishing to become designated employers under the program," reports the website immigrer.com, specifying that "however, complete applications submitted no later than April 4, 2025 will continue to be processed normally."

This suspension will be detrimental to skilled foreign workers, as well as international graduates of recognized post-secondary institutions located in the Atlantic region of Canada. They will no longer have privileged access to permanent residence (PR). This measure prevents designated employers in New Brunswick from filling positions that they find difficult to fill locally with permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

"Only designated employers in the province can initiate an application under the AIP. An updated list of designated employers is available for download on the Government of New Brunswick website," it is specified.

Other immigration options are available to those planning to settle in New Brunswick through the AIP. They can explore the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which allows provinces to nominate candidates for permanent residence according to their specific needs; Express Entry, a fast-track selection system for skilled workers wishing to settle in Canada; the Work Permit, particularly through Francophone mobility, for French-speaking workers wishing to work outside Quebec, but also the Study Permit, including the Pilot Program for Students in Minority Francophone Communities, which supports Francophone students wishing to study and settle in Canada.