AIP Job Offer Requirements: What Makes an Offer Valid for the Atlantic Immigration Program

Not every job offer from a designated employer is a qualifying AIP job offer. The Atlantic Immigration Program has specific rules about what the offer must contain — rules that go beyond wages and hours and touch on the form used, the NOC classification, and whether the position meets the "permanent" threshold. A non-qualifying offer means a provincial refusal at the endorsement stage.

Here's what makes an AIP job offer valid.

The Four Core Requirements

Every AIP job offer must satisfy four conditions:

1. Full-time hours. The position must require at least 30 paid hours per week. Part-time roles, casual contracts, and on-call arrangements don't qualify.

2. Non-seasonal employment. The job must be year-round with no defined seasonal break. This is a specific requirement that causes confusion in industries like fisheries, tourism, and agriculture — where work is inherently tied to seasons. A fish plant that processes lobster from May to August doesn't automatically qualify. Employers in these industries typically need to demonstrate a year-round operation, often through diversification into cold storage, secondary processing, or maintenance roles.

3. Duration aligned with TEER level.

• TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 (High-Skilled): The offer must be for at least one year from the date PR is granted. Fixed-term contracts are acceptable here.
• TEER 4 (Intermediate-Skilled): The offer must be permanent and indeterminate — no end date. A fixed-term contract for a TEER 4 role will not qualify.

4. Prevailing wage compliance. The offered salary must match the regional median wage for the specific NOC code, as listed in the federal Job Bank. Offering below-median wages raises a red flag: the province may interpret it as potential exploitation of a foreign national or displacement of a local worker. Benefits (dental, medical, vacation pay) must also be stated clearly in the offer documentation.

The Required Form: IMM 0157

One of the most common procedural mistakes in the AIP is using a standard employment offer letter as the job offer documentation. This is not sufficient for the provincial endorsement stage.

The employer must complete the AIP-specific federal form: IMM 0157 (Offer of Employment to a Foreign National — Atlantic Immigration Program). The older form IMM 5650 was used under the pilot program and is no longer valid.

The IMM 0157 requires:

• The employer's declaration confirming they are actively engaged in the business
• Confirmation of employment standards compliance
• Details of the specific position: NOC code, wage, hours, duration
• Benefits information
• The employer's signature and dated certification

A copy of the completed IMM 0157 goes to the applicant for inclusion in the federal PR application. The employer retains a copy for their records. The province uses the information on this form as the basis for assessing whether the job offer meets program requirements.

Conditional Job Offers

A job offer can be made conditional — for example, "contingent upon receiving permanent residency" or "contingent upon obtaining a valid work permit." This is normal and acceptable. Many employers can't hold a position open for 12–18 months while waiting for PR processing, so the offer may be structured around when the candidate is cleared to work.

What's not acceptable is a conditional offer with conditions that are entirely within the employer's discretion to cancel at any time. The offer must reflect a genuine business need and a real commitment to hire.

The NOC Match Requirement

The job offered must be in an NOC 2021 code that aligns logically with the applicant's work experience and education. If you're applying under the High-Skilled stream, your prior experience should reasonably lead to the role being offered. The province and IRCC will scrutinize cases where the job offer seems mismatched — for example, a candidate with years of accounting experience applying for a welding role raises questions about whether the employer genuinely needs that person for that position.

For the Intermediate-Skilled stream, the job offer must be in a TEER 4 occupation, and the applicant's prior work experience must also be in TEER 4 roles (or evidence must show they can perform the role).

TEER 5 Roles

TEER 5 occupations — roles like landscaping laborers, certain delivery drivers, or general laborers with no vocational training requirements — are not eligible under the AIP. If your job offer falls into a TEER 5 category, the endorsement will be refused regardless of other qualifications.

Common Job Offer Mistakes

Using a letter of intent instead of IMM 0157. The form is mandatory. A well-intentioned offer letter is not a substitute.

Offering wages below the Job Bank median. Even a small shortfall can trigger a refusal. Check the Job Bank for the specific NOC and the specific Atlantic province or census metropolitan area before finalizing the wage.

Misclassifying the TEER level. If an employer writes "NOC 12010 — general office clerk" for a position that's actually more senior, the province may reclassify it or refuse it. Match the NOC code to the actual duties, not the most favorable category.

Seasonal framing. Language in an offer letter like "subject to fishery operations" or "based on harvest volumes" will indicate seasonal employment. Year-round commitments need year-round language.

Fixed-term contracts for TEER 4 roles. A one-year contract for a fish plant worker is not permanent and indeterminate. TEER 4 offers must have no defined end date.

What a Genuine Offer Looks Like

From the province's perspective, a genuine job offer means the employer has a real operational need for the position, is paying a fair wage, and is prepared to maintain the role for the required period. The IMM 0157 formalizes this — but the underlying reality needs to match what's on the form. IRCC conducts employer compliance audits, and misrepresentation on the job offer form can result in the employer losing designation status, the applicant receiving a refusal, and potential inadmissibility findings.

For a complete guide to AIP documents — including the full list required for the provincial endorsement and the federal PR application — and templates for verifying wage compliance, see the Canada Atlantic Immigration Program Guide.