Permanent residence applicants under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) are seeing significantly shorter processing times as of June 8, 2026. Current estimates indicate that new applications may take approximately 26 months to process, down from 38 months recorded in May — a reduction of 12 months. The AIP continues to serve as an important employer-driven pathway for skilled workers and international graduates seeking permanent residence in Atlantic Canada. Large application inventories remain in the system, suggesting that processing pressures have not yet been fully resolved.