Important AIP Update: Employment Changes During AIP Permanent Residence Processing

September 2026 | Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated and clarified its Program Delivery Instructions (PDIs) concerning changes that may occur while an application for permanent residence under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is being processed.

On July 23, 2026, IRCC published a Program Delivery Update to its AIP instructions titled “Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Other situations.” The update specifically clarified documentary requirements related to changes in employer ownership, while the underlying AIP instructions also address changes in employment and changes of employer during PR processing.

These instructions are particularly important for applicants who:

• Have already received an AIP endorsement;
• Have submitted an AIP permanent residence application;
• Are considering changing employers;
• Have been promoted or moved into a different position;
• Have experienced changes to their employment conditions; or
• Work for an AIP employer that has undergone a change in ownership.

Because the AIP is an employer-driven immigration program, changes to the employment relationship during PR processing should be carefully reviewed.

What Does IRCC Require When Employment Changes?

IRCC requires applicants to keep their application information up to date. This includes changes that may affect eligibility, specifically including changes to an applicant’s job situation.

For AIP applicants, the consequences depend on the type of employment change.

1. Changing Position With the Same Employer

If an applicant remains with the same employer but the terms of employment change, or the change results in a different NOC or TEER classification, IRCC’s AIP processing instructions may require:

• An updated provincial endorsement certificate reflecting the new employment information; and
• An updated Offer of Employment to a Foreign National – Atlantic Immigration Program (IMM 0157).

A change in job title alone does not necessarily have the same consequence. Where the actual employment terms and NOC/TEER remain unchanged, the circumstances may be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This is particularly important when an AIP applicant receives a promotion. A promotion may result in a different NOC or TEER classification and could therefore affect the applicant’s AIP eligibility and endorsement.

2. Changing to a New Employer

Changing employers does not necessarily mean that an AIP permanent residence application must start again from the beginning.

However, where an applicant changes to another employer, the new employment must meet the AIP requirements and the appropriate provincial and federal documentation must be obtained.

This can include:

• An updated provincial endorsement certificate; and
• A new or updated IMM 0157 Offer of Employment from the new employer.

The updated documentation should be submitted to IRCC so that the existing permanent residence application can be updated.

Applicants should therefore not assume that simply finding another designated AIP employer is sufficient. The new job offer and provincial support must be properly documented.

3. Change in Employer Ownership

IRCC’s July 23, 2026 Program Delivery Update specifically addressed situations involving a change in employer ownership.

IRCC clarified the documentary requirements where the supporting province decides to continue supporting an AIP applicant even though, following the ownership change, the employer is no longer designated.

The province plays a critical role in determining whether the applicant’s endorsement will continue to be supported.

Depending on the circumstances, IRCC may require an updated endorsement and IMM 0157, or documentation from the province confirming that it continues to support the applicant.

If provincial support for the endorsement is withdrawn, this can have serious consequences for the pending AIP permanent residence application.

4. The 90-Day Period Can Be Critical

A particularly important part of IRCC’s AIP processing instructions concerns situations where IRCC becomes aware of a relevant employment change but does not have the documentation required to continue processing the application.

IRCC’s instructions provide for the application to be placed on hold for 90 days, with a Procedural Fairness Letter requesting the required documentation.

If the applicant does not provide the required documents within the allotted period, the application may be refused.

For applicants with a pending AIP application, an employment change should therefore not be ignored or left unreported.

IRCC separately instructs applicants with applications in progress to report changes that may affect their eligibility, including changes to their job situation, and to provide proof of the change.

5. Your Work Permit Is a Separate Immigration Issue

A change that can be accommodated within an existing AIP permanent residence application does not automatically authorize the applicant to work for the new employer.

Applicants holding an employer-specific work permit generally need to apply for a new work permit when changing jobs or employers.

In some circumstances, a worker who has submitted an application for a new employer-specific work permit from inside Canada may request authorization from IRCC to begin working for the new employer while the application is being processed.

Therefore, an AIP applicant considering an employment change should review two separate issues:

Permanent Residence / AIP
Does the change require an updated endorsement, IMM 0157 or other provincial documentation?

Temporary Status / Work Authorization
Does the applicant need a new work permit or authorization before beginning work for the new employer?

These are separate immigration considerations and should be reviewed before changing employment.

Are You Currently Applying—or Planning to Apply—for AIP?

If you are planning to immigrate through the Atlantic Immigration Program, it is important to understand that obtaining the initial endorsement is only one part of the process.

Your employment circumstances can continue to be relevant while IRCC processes your permanent residence application.

Before resigning, changing employers, accepting a promotion, moving into another occupation, or making significant changes to your employment conditions, consider how the change could affect:

• Your AIP endorsement;
• Your federal permanent residence application;
• Your NOC and TEER classification;
• Your continued eligibility under AIP; and
• Your authorization to work in Canada.

Getting advice before making the employment change can help avoid unnecessary complications with both your AIP permanent residence application and your temporary status.

How Atlantic Summit Can Help

Atlantic Summit Immigration Consulting Inc. assists applicants and employers throughout Atlantic Canada with the Atlantic Immigration Program, including:

• AIP eligibility assessments;
• Employer designation and endorsement matters;
• AIP permanent residence applications;
• Changes of employer during AIP processing;
• Changes in position, NOC or TEER;
• Employer ownership changes;
• AIP work permits; and
• Maintaining or changing work authorization while permanent residence is being processed.

If you are currently in the AIP process or are considering applying through AIP, we can review your circumstances before an employment change is made.

Atlantic Summit Immigration Consulting Inc.