Canada increases the Atlantic Immigration Program’s settlement grants to better strengthen their immigration system.
The amount of money required to immigrate under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) has increased, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Starting July 29, 2025, foreign applicants will be required to pay an additional fee of at least $140 to use the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for immigration to Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
The minimum amount of money needed for a family of one to be eligible for AIP went up from $3,672 in 2024 to $3,815 in 2025, a 3.89% rise.
The settlement funds requirement does not apply to foreign citizens who are currently employed in Canada on a valid work permit.
How much money do I need to immigrate to Canada through AIP?
The minimum amount of funds needed to immigrate through AIP depends on the size of your family:
| Number of family members | Funds needed as of July 29, 2025 | Funds needed in 2024 |
| 1 | $3,815 | $3,672 |
| 2 | $4,750 | $4,572 |
| 3 | $5,840 | $5,620 |
| 4 | $7,090 | $6,824 |
| 5 | $8,042 | $7,740 |
| 6 | $9,070 | $8,729 |
| 7 | $10,098 | $9,718 |
| For each additional family member over 7 | $1,028 | $989 |
How do I calculate size of family?
To calculate size of family, count:
- Yourself;
- Your spouse or common-law partner;
- Your dependent children; and
- Dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner.
You must include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children even if they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and/or even if they are not coming to Canada with you.
What does IRCC accept as proof of funds?
For proof of funds, you must show official letters from banks or financial institutions where you have an account.
These letters must be printed on the institution’s letterhead and include the following:
- Your name;
- The bank/ financial institution’s contact information (address, telephone number, and email address;
- Outstanding debts;
- Details for each current banking and investment account (account numbers, date when the account was opened, current account balances, average balance over the last six months).
You must also prove that you can legally access your money when you arrive. That means that you can’t use equity on real estate as proof of settlement funds, nor can you use borrowed money.
If your spouse is coming with you, you can show money from a joint account. You may be able to show money from an account under a spouse’s name only, if you prove you can access the money.
About the AIP
The AIP is an employer-driven immigration pathway for foreign workers who would like to live permanently in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island.
To be eligible, a foreign national needs a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada, and that job offer must be endorsed by the province.
In addition, candidates must be either:
- A skilled worker (whether this experience is inside or outside Canada); or
- A recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada
Apart from that, the AIP has additional criteria regarding education, language proficiency, and settlement funds.
Once an eligible candidate has an endorsed job offer in hand, they can apply directly to the federal government for PR.
Candidates who have applied to the AIP can also apply for a special work permit that can be issued for up to two years, providing them with work authorization while their PR application is being processed.
Reference – cicnews
