Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)

Foreign workers must have full-time work experience and a full-time job offer to apply under the Alberta opportunity stream. However, an applicant must not work at any position in the AOS ineligible occupation list at the time of application submission and assessment to be eligible under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. In addition to these requirements, the applicant must:

• Have a valid work permit
  • LMIA based work permit
  • LMIA exempt work permit issued under International Trade Agreements, workers transferred within company, International Experience Class and Mobilité Francophone
  • Post-Graduate work permit issued to foreign workers who have graduated from publicly-funded post-secondary institutions in Alberta.
• Meet minimum language requirement – CLB 5 if working in NOC O, A or B / CLB 4 for NOC C or D
• Meet minimum education requirements
• Have eligible work experience in the same occupation before application submission
• Minimum of 12 months of work experience in Alberta within the last 18 months
• Minimum of 24 months of work experience in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months
• Alberta post-graduates require only 6 months of work experience in Alberta within the last 18 months.

Alberta Express Entry

The Alberta Express Entry is the most effective and prompt process to obtain permanent residency under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. To be eligible under this program, applicants must meet the Federal Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry Profile. Moreover, applicants must have strong ties to Alberta and be able to economically establish themselves in the Province.

The AINP selects potential candidates from the federal Express Entry Pool and issues a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter to the candidates. The recipients must submit the required information and NOI letter to AAIP within 2 weeks of receiving it. After evaluating the information, the AAIP may ask the candidates to submit an application.

The AAIP will issue a certificate of nomination once the application is approved, and the applicant will have 30 days to accept it in their express entry profile to score additional 600 points. With these additional points, the applicant will more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to submit an application for permanent residency.

Accelerated Tech Pathway

AAIP introduced a new sub-stream, Accelerated Tech Pathway under the Alberta Express Entry on January 13, 2022.

The new program is to strengthen Alberta’s tech industry and support Alberta’s Recovery Plan. Applications under this program will be fast-tracked, and candidates can secure their permanent resident status in Canada within 6-7 months. To apply under this program, applicants must have:  

• An active Express Entry Profile and eligible for the Express Entry Program
• Job offer in one of the eligible Tech occupations.

Rural Renewal Stream 

This stream is designed to fill the labor shortage in rural communities of Alberta and grow local economies. This stream is community-driven: therefore, applicants must need a community support letter to apply for a nomination. Alberta rural communities will require to address their interest to be part of this program. Once AAIP designated an eligible rural community, they will be able to issue endorsement letters to foreign nationals which will be used to apply to AAIP for nomination.

Program Requirements:

• Must have an intention to live in a designated community in Alberta.
• A valid Endorsement of Candidate Letter from the Economic Development Organization.
• Must have a full-time job offer for a minimum of 12 months from an Alberta employer.
• Must have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months.
• Must have CLB 5 if job offer in NOC O, A, or B. Or CLB 4 for a job offer in NOC c or D.
• Must have a minimum high school education.
• Must have sufficient settlement funds.

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is to attract foreign entrepreneurs to start their businesses in rural Alberta and create jobs in the local communities. Foreign nationals can start a new program or buy an existing business in Alberta. This program is also community-driven; therefore, a Community Support Letter is also mandatory to apply under the program.

Program Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years of experience as business owner/manager or a minimum of 4 years experience as a senior manager within the last 10 years.
• Minimum high school education with ECA report.
• Minimum CLB 4 in language assessment exam.
• The minimum Net worth of $300,000.
• A minimum investment of $200,000.
• Must create jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
• Must have a Community Support Letter from a Rural Alberta Community.   

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an economic program to bring foreign-educated graduates to Alberta who want to start their innovative business and support Alberta’s economy. Foreign graduates must receive a letter of recommendation from a designated agency to submit their Express of Interest. Moreover, they must meet the following requirements as well:

• Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in business management
• A degree from a post-secondary institution.
• A business plan
• Minimum CLB 5 in English or French.
• Must have a minimum of 34% ownership if a business is located in an urban center or 51% otherwise.
• Minimum investment of $100,000 in an urban centre or $50,000 for a regional area.
• Must have sufficient settlement funds.

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (Formerly International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream)

The AAIP has introduced a new pathway on October 26, 2020, for the international graduates from publicly-funded post-secondary institutions in Alberta to obtain permanent residency in Canada. International graduates will be able to receive Alberta Nomination by establishing and operating a business in Alberta during their Postgraduate work permit. However, applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this program:

• Have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary diploma from a designated post-secondary institution in Alberta.
• Must have at least 2 years valid post-graduation work permit at the time of Expression of Interest submission
• Score at least CLB 7 or NCLC 7.
• Business must not be on the list of ineligible businesses, and an applicant must hold at least 34% of ownership and have at least 6 months of full-time work experience related to the business.

Farm Stream (Formerly Self-employed Farmer Stream)

Farm Stream is intended to immigrate experienced farmers who have financial resources and skills to establish their farms in Alberta. This is also a provincial nominee program that leads prospective individuals to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant must demonstrate their farm management experience
• A proposed business plan for farming in Alberta
• A letter from a Canadian financial institution to finance the business
• Applicant must have a minimum net worth of $500,000.
• Must be able to invest at least $500,000 in the farming business in Alberta.