Closed
Source verified August 21, 2026
Hire a permanent foreign worker
Hire foreign workers and recent graduates
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Latest source updateLast Update: August 19, 2026Latest change: The Endorsement Application Guidelines were revised with a new INB portal submission flow, expanded document requirements, and updated compliance and settlement instructions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 19, 2026
Latest change: The Endorsement Application Guidelines were revised with a new INB portal submission flow, expanded document requirements, and updated compliance and settlement instructions.
Endorsement guide updated
The Endorsement Application Guidelines were revised to require submission through the INB portal and to expand the application package with a detailed job description, proof of recruitment efforts, the candidate’s settlement plan, and candidate-side uploads such as work experience, language test results, and passports. The guide also adds a temporary work permit support form and reorganizes the employer and candidate declaration steps. Eligibility and compliance language was also updated, including a new note that New Brunswick may not issue an endorsement for a candidate on a study permit who has not completed their studies when the job offer is at TEER 4.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Closed
Location
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Overview
Hire a permanent foreign worker helps employers fill labour or skills shortages by hiring foreign workers and recent graduates and supporting employees on the path to permanent residence. Available pathways include Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, rural or Francophone community pilots, and home care worker hiring.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hire foreign workers and recent graduates to fill labour or skills shortages
- Support an employee in their journey to permanent residence
Documents Needed
- Endorsement application form
- Offer of Employment to a Foreign National (IMM 0157)
- Settlement plan for the principal applicant and accompanying family members
- Proof of recruitment efforts
- If the candidate is already in Canada, a copy of their legal status in the country, such as a work permit, visitor permit or study permit
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian employers hiring through Express Entry
- Employers in Atlantic Canada seeking designation under the Atlantic Immigration Program
- New Brunswick employers seeking designation by Immigration New Brunswick under the Atlantic Immigration Program
- Businesses or private homes applying for an Employer Registration Certificate to recruit foreign workers for employment in Nova Scotia
Who is not eligible
- Businesses or agencies that recruit and hire workers to establish a pool of workers who can later be transferred or contracted to separate businesses for staffing purposes
- Employers that are in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
- In New Brunswick, home-based businesses and businesses located in residential homes may not be eligible for designation
- In Nova Scotia, companies operating from a residential address or with a telework arrangement may not be eligible for designation
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- In Nova Scotia, job offers with NOC 62020 – food service supervisors under the Atlantic Immigration Program are currently not eligible.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada, for Canadian employers hiring through Express Entry
- Atlantic Canada, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, for the Atlantic Immigration Program
Selection criteria
- In Nova Scotia, Atlantic Immigration Program employer expressions of interest are periodically selected for processing based on provincial priorities and program integrity considerations.
- In New Brunswick, endorsement applications are selected from the AIP candidate pool for processing based on provincial labour market needs, available allocation, and other priorities determined by the Government of New Brunswick.
How to apply
- Complete the required onboarding training and intercultural competency training before applying for designation with the province.
- Apply to the provincial government of the Atlantic province where the candidate will be working to become a designated employer.
- Apply to the province for an endorsement of each job offer and candidate.
- If the endorsement is approved, the candidate can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.
- If needed, the candidate may also apply for a work permit with a letter of support from Immigration New Brunswick and an offer of employment number from the employer.
Processing and Agreement
- Employer Registration Certificate applications in Nova Scotia are recorded when submitted, and processing times may vary from a few days to a few weeks depending on application volume.
- In Nova Scotia, Atlantic Immigration Program employer designation submissions are treated as expressions of interest and placed into an EOI pool.
- Effective May 1, 2026, Nova Scotia introduced a 12-month validity period for expressions of interest, with transition measures for EOIs currently in the pool.
- In Nova Scotia, only submissions selected for processing receive direct communication, and selection does not guarantee approval.
- In New Brunswick, Atlantic Immigration Program endorsement applications are placed in the AIP candidate pool; applications that are not selected expire after 365 days, and the designated employer and candidate can submit a new endorsement application.
Additional information
- Under the Atlantic Immigration Program, you can apply for designation before you find a candidate, and you only have to apply once to be designated by a province.
- You do not need a labour market impact assessment for Atlantic Immigration Program endorsement applications.
- As of March 25, 2025, job offers no longer give points in the Comprehensive Ranking System, but a valid job offer is still required where it forms part of eligibility.
- Effective 1 November 2025, Nova Scotia employers with multiple locations need only one Employer Registration Certificate, while employers with multiple business names still need an ERC for each business that wants to employ foreign workers.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Hire a permanent foreign worker Program
What is the Hire a permanent foreign worker?
Hire a permanent foreign worker helps employers fill labour or skills shortages by hiring foreign workers and recent graduates and supporting employees on the path to permanent residence. Available pathways include Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, rural or Francophone community pilots, and home care worker hiring.
Who is eligible for the Hire a permanent foreign worker program?
To be eligible for the Hire a permanent foreign worker program, you must:
Express Entry employers must show the job cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada.
Atlantic Immigration Program employers must become designated by the provincial government where the candidate will work.
Atlantic Immigration Program employers must be in good standing, comply with employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation, and complete intercultural competency training unless exempted by the province.
What expenses are eligible under Hire a permanent foreign worker?
Hire foreign workers and recent graduates to fill labour or skills shortages
Support an employee in their journey to permanent residence
Who can I contact for more information about the Hire a permanent foreign worker?
You can contact Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) by email at immigration@novascotia.ca.
Where is the Hire a permanent foreign worker available?
The Hire a permanent foreign worker program is available the province of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.
Is the Hire a permanent foreign worker a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Hire a permanent foreign worker is a Other Support
Who are the financial supporters of the Hire a permanent foreign worker?
Hire a permanent foreign worker is funded by Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Immigration