How to get your Permanent Residency in Canada through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces, is well known for its oil and gas resources and its agricultural production. You might already be familiar with Alberta after having visited the famous and stunning Rocky Mountains, one of Canada’s most picturesque and touristic places to visit. With important Canadian cities such as Edmonton and Calgary, the province of Alberta also provides diversity and new opportunities for your career growth and immigration.
What is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) used to be called the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). It’s a provincial nominee program (PNP) specific to the province of Alberta. The purpose of the program is to attract skilled immigrants who can fill job shortages in the province or who plan on buying or starting a business in Alberta.
If you’re nominated, you can apply for your permanent residency together with your spouse or common-law partner, and your dependent children. The program is run by both the provincial government of Alberta and the federal government of Canada.
Overview of the 3 Streams for Foreign Workers
If you live and work in Alberta, or you plan on doing so, there are 3 streams available for foreign workers through the AAIP. Let’s walk through each one in detail.
To find out which program you’re eligible for, book a consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton.
Alberta Opportunity Stream
The Alberta Opportunity Stream is for qualified candidates who live and work in Alberta and who already have an official offer of employment from their employer to continue working full-time in the province. There are additional eligibility requirements including work experience, language proficiency, and education.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Alberta Express Entry stream allows the province of Alberta to invite candidates who have active profiles in the federal Express Entry pool that meet the minimum requirements and other factors for selection, including the province's economic, sector, and occupational priorities.
In other words, the province will nominate candidates depending on its needs. For example, there are dedicated pathways within this stream for professionals within the healthcare and technology sectors.
This Provincial Nominee Program could be a fantastic option for you as a successful nomination would get you an additional 600 points towards your Federal Express Entry profile. Due to the current high draws within the Express Entry program, it is definitely worth it to explore alternative options such as the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
Rural Renewal Stream
The Rural Renewal Steam is intended to meet the demand of rural communities in Alberta for skilled workers. Newcomers and foreign workers coming to Canada must have the endorsement and support of both an employer in Alberta and of a local community.
Which one am I eligible for?
Now that you have an overview of the 3 streams available to you, let’s break down the eligibility requirements for each one.
Want to make sure you’re applying for the right program?
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Alberta Opportunity Stream
You can qualify for the Alberta Opportunity Stream if you live and work full-time in Alberta and you have an official offer of employment from your employer to continue working full-time in the province. Let’s review the additional eligibility requirements including work experience, language proficiency, and education.
Residency & Work Permit Requirements
When your application is submitted and assessed, you must have a valid temporary foreign worker permit/residency status. The status of your work permit cannot be “maintained during processing” (implied status) or “restoration status” - it must be valid.
So what is a valid work permit?
Great question! Valid work permits are based on one of the following:
- Having a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- an LMIA exemption for workers based on one of the following exemptions as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
- international trade agreements
- workers transferred within a company
- International Experience Canada
- Mobilité Francophone
- R205(d) for religious work
- an open work permit issued by IRCC to:
- vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or
- the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
- a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
- PGWP holders must also meet specific occupation, education and work experience requirements as set out below.
- an open work permit issued under one of IRCC’s open work permit public policies:
- 2022 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program or 2023 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program
- Permit must be held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.
- Holders of these open work permits must also meet the same specific occupation, education, and work experience requirements as PGWP holders as set out below
- an open work permit issued under the public policy for Hong Kong recent graduates
- an open work permit issued under IRCC’s Ukraine immigration measures (also known as the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)).
- 2022 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program or 2023 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program
If your work permit type is not included in the list above, you are not eligible to apply.
Ineligible Applicants
The following individuals cannot apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream:
- Refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process – the AAIP does not intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process
- temporary residents living or working in a province or territory of Canada other than Alberta
- Foreign nationals living or working in Canada who do not have valid temporary resident status
Occupation Requirements
The occupation you are working in at the time your application is submitted and at the time the AAIP assesses your application is your ‘current occupation'. To qualify, you must work in an eligible occupation. Occupation requirements apply to your work experience and job offer.
Eligible Occupations:
Most occupations under NOC TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 are eligible under the AAIP.
Use the IRCC’s Find your NOC TEER Category tool or get in touch with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton and Calgary to help identify your TEER.
Ineligible Occupations:
If you’re working in any of the following occupations at the time of submission and assessment, you’re not eligible to apply or be nominated for the Alberta Opportunity Stream
| NOC Code | TEER Category | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| 00010 | 0 | Legislators |
| 40021 | 0 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
| 40030 | 0 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
| 40041 | 0 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
| 60040* | 0 | Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers |
| 41100 | 1 | Judges |
| 41220 | 1 | Secondary school teachers |
| 41221 | 1 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 51111 | 1 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 51122 | 1 | Musicians and singers |
| 42200* | 2 | Justices of the peace |
| 42202* | 2 | Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children's Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant) |
| 43100 | 3 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
| 43109 | 3 | Other instructors |
| 53121 | 3 | Actors, comedians and circus performers |
| 53122 | 3 | Painters, sculptors and other visual artists |
| 53124 | 3 | Artisans and craftspersons |
| 53200 | 3 | Athletes |
| 63101 | 3 | Real estate agents and salespersons |
| 33100* | 3 | Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers |
| 44100 | 4 | Home child care providers |
| 44101 | 4 | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 64321 | 4 | Casino occupations |
| 55109 | 5 | Other performers |
| 65109 | 5 | Other sales related occupations |
| 65211 | 5 | Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport |
| 65229 | 5 | Other support occupations in personal services |
| 65329 | 5 | Other service support occupations |
| 75200 | 5 | Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs |
| 85101 | 5 | Harvesting labourers |
| 85102 | 5 | Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers |
| 85104 | 5 | Trappers and hunters |
| 85110 | 5 | Mine labourers |
| 85121 | 5 | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
Are you still unsure if your work experience is eligible for this stream?
Book a consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton.
Post-Graduation Work Permit holders
Are you a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder?
Take note that your occupation must also be related to your field of study in Alberta.
Note that if you apply to the AAIP under NOC code 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), you will need a minimum language test score of a CLB 7 for each English language skill, or a NCLC 7 for each French language skill.
Want a professional opinion about your case?
Education requirements for applicants without a PGWP
At the time your application is submitted you must:
- Have completed a minimum of high school education equivalent to Canadian standards.
- Provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your highest level of education.
You don’t need to provide an ECA if:
- you have a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution listed as:
- a recognized institution in the Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada, or
- an authorized, registered, or licensed institution in the Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada, and the institution was authorized by Advanced Education to grant your degree, diploma or certificate.
You have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).
Education requirements for applicants with a PGWP
Are you a PGWP holder? Then you must meet the following additional education requirements at the time of your application submission.
Your credential must be issued by an Alberta Approved Institution. Here’s a comprehensive list of publicly funded post-secondary institutions, but if you want to find out right away if you’re eligible, book a consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Alberta.
Work experience requirements
First, your current occupation must match your work experience at the time your application is submitted and at the time the AAIP assesses your application.
Then to be eligible, you must have one of these two:
- a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months
- a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months or both – this work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) or abroad.
For Post-Graduation Work Permit holders:
- a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders, work experience in the qualifying period:
- Must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours a week
- Must be for the same occupation as your current occupation
- Must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada
- Cannot have been gained while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program, unless you are a PGWP holder who completed during paid co-op work terms as a part of your program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution. To qualify, the work terms must have been:
- paid and full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
- for work experience directly related to your current occupation, and
- for work experience all gained in Alberta
Work Licenses, Registrations, and Certifications
All applicants, including PGWP holders, must meet the following licensing, registration and certification requirements at the time your application is submitted and at the time the AAIP assesses your application:
- You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
- If you are working in a compulsory trade in Alberta, you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate.
- If you are working as a childcare worker, you must have valid certification as a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker) or Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor).
Job Offer Requirements
For all applicants, including PGWP holders, at the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must:
- Have a full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
- Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
Also, your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:
- continuous, paid work
- full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week
- employment for 12 months or more
- work in your current occupation
- wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:
- meet or exceed the requirements set out in your LMIA, or
- if you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta.
Ineligibility Based on Job Offer
There are some cases in which some individuals are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, even if they have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month period:
- part-time, casual or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
- independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as directors, shareholders or agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES)
- employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business
- employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a ‘virtual’ location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta
Now that we’ve covered the Alberta Opportunity Stream, book a consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton and Calgary to get your application started today.
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Please provide additonal information by filling the initial assessment form
Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Alberta Express Entry stream allows the province of Alberta to invite candidates who have active profiles in the federal Express Entry pool that meet the minimum requirements and other factors for selection, including the province's economic, sector, and occupational priorities.
In other words, the province will nominate candidates depending on its needs. For example, there are dedicated pathways within this stream for professionals within the healthcare and technology sectors and more as discussed below.
Who is selected from the Express Entry Pool
Candidates may receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter or be asked to submit an application if they have either:
- experience in an in-demand occupation and an immediate family connection in Alberta
- a job offer from an Alberta employer in the healthcare sector and are licensed to practice in one of the eligible healthcare professions under the Designated Healthcare Pathway
- a job offer for an eligible tech occupation from an Alberta employer in an eligible tech industry under the Accelerated Tech Pathway
- experience needed to help support labour needs in keys sectors, including agriculture, construction and tourism and hospitality
Minimum Requirements
You may receive a Notification of Interest letter or be considered for the Accelerated Tech Pathway if:
- you have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
- you meet the criteria of at least one of the federal immigration programs managed by Express Entry:
- your primary occupation in your federal Express Entry profile is an occupation in demand, included as part of a specific Express Entry stream pathway, or is identified as an occupation connected to a provincial economic, sector or occupational priority
- you intend to and be able to live and work permanently in Alberta and have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta
- you have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
- your primary occupation is not on the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list
- AAIP volume of applications or nominations for your primary occupation in the current calendar year is considered reasonable to meet provincial economic immigration priorities
- you are neither a refugee claimant nor subject to a federal appeal or removal process
- you do not have an active nomination under any AAIP stream
- you are not currently identified as ineligible to re-apply to the AAIP due to misrepresentation
How can I improve my chances of getting invited?
Great news! There are some factors that can increase your chances of being selected from the federal Express Entry Pool.
Of course, every profile is different so we still recommend booking a personalized consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton and Calgary to make sure your profile is complete and accurate.
Your chances of receiving a Notification of Interest letter (NOI) or preference from the AAIP may increase if:
- you have an Alberta job offer
- you are a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
- you have a parent, child, or sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Alberta
- French is your first language
- your Express Entry profile is valid for more than 5 months
Want a professional opinion about your case?
Additional factors specific to the province of Alberta that can increase your chances of being nominated
The province of Alberta may select candidates and send them a Notification of Interest letter in their federal Express Entry profile based on some additional factors. You might get nominated based on your available profile information in the federal Express Entry portal, so it’s important to keep your profile up to date.
To make sure your profile is accurate, book a consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton and Calgary.
Family Connection and Primary Occupation in Demand
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will be conducting draws for an estimated 31% of the nominations available in the Alberta Express Entry Stream based on whether the principal applicant has a parent, child, or sibling living in Alberta (who is at least 18 years of age and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident) and that the primary occupation (regardless of where the applicant is currently living) is an occupation in demand in Alberta.
AAIP is basing ‘occupation in demand in Alberta’ using one or more of the following approaches to select individuals who have experience in:
- In-demand occupations with significant cumulative imbalance on Alberta’s Occupational Outlook or occupations in ‘High’ or ‘Moderately High’ demand in the Short-Term Employment Forecast
- Select occupations in the agriculture, construction, health care, or tourism and hospitality sectors
Priority may be given to candidates with a verifiable Alberta job offer from a legitimate, established and verifiable business in Alberta. As for family connections, only parents, children, or siblings over the age of 18 count (in-laws of the principal applicant are not eligible. The AAIP also reserves the right to request supporting documents that verify the residency and relationship of family connections.
Dedicated Healthcare Pathway
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will use about 2% of its Express Entry allocations towards category-based selections for people:
- Whose primary occupation is in an eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) code
- Have a valid, verifiable job offer from an Alberta employer in the health sector (based on valid Workers’ Compensation Board coverage) in an eligible health-care profession
- See the Assessment criteria section below for more details on a valid, verifiable job offer.
- Provide verifiable proof of meeting the minimal requirements prescribed by the applicable regulatory organization to be able to practice the eligible health-care profession in Alberta
Important Note:
Since NOC codes cover many different occupational titles, the AAIP will seek additional information from prospective applicants regarding the occupation identified in the job offer, and the regulatory organization’s proof of ability to practice the eligible health-care profession in Alberta, to ensure the individual is eligible under this pathway.
Eligible health-care professions under this pathway, and the applicable regulatory organization responsible for proof of ability to practice in Alberta, include:
- Physicians – College of Physicians and Surgeon of Alberta (CPSA)
- Registered Nurses (RNs) – College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) – College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs) – College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
- Physician Assistants – College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
- Occupational Therapist – Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT)
- Physiotherapist – College of Physiotherapist of Alberta (CPA)
- Clinical Social Worker – Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
- Psychologist – College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP)
To learn more, book a one-on-one consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton and Calgary.
Accelerated Tech Pathway
The Accelerated Tech Pathway is a very popular stream to apply for. In addition to the minimum requirements for the Alberta Express Entry Stream, the Accelerated Tech Pathway has specific invitation to apply requirements and assessment criteria. This program could be a great opportunity for you, so let’s see if you're eligible.
You may be invited to submit an application if:
- You meet the Minimum requirements of the Alberta Express Entry Stream
- You are working full-time in Alberta under an employment contract or have a job offer for full-time employment based in Alberta (full-time is a minimum 30 hours per week), signed by you and your employer that:
- meets job offer and current employment contract requirements identified in the Assessment criteria, and:
- is in an occupation on the list of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations
- is for an Alberta employer whose primary business activities belong to the Alberta tech industry, as defined by the AAIP list of eligible North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
- has a base monetary wage or salary that:
- meets provincial minimum wage, and
- meets or exceeds the requirements set out in your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or if you are LMIA exempt or do not have an LMIA, meets or exceeds the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta
- Note: Non-wage compensation, including but not limited to compensation from company ownership, is not considered as part of the applicant’s base monetary wage or salary.
- meets job offer and current employment contract requirements identified in the Assessment criteria, and:
- you have valid immigration status (work permit or implied status), if you are working in Alberta for your Alberta employer at the time of your AAIP application
- the primary occupation in your Express Entry profile is the same occupation as your current Alberta employment or job offer
The following individuals are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Accelerated Tech Pathway, even if they are working for an eligible Alberta employer in an eligible tech occupation or have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month or greater period:
- part-time, casual or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
- independent contractors or temporary agency workers
- employees who do not work in Alberta, such as those who work online from a location outside Alberta or who work at a premises outside of Alberta
Tip: You may be less likely to be asked to submit an application if your Express Entry profile expires in 3 months or less.
We recommended you keep your Express Entry profile up to date so that you remain eligible for consideration under the Accelerated Tech Pathway in the future.
To ensure that your Express Entry profile is up to date and accurate, book a consultation with our team of Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in Edmonton and Calgary.
Priority sectors
You may also have a higher chance of getting nominated if you work in one of the following priority sectors: agriculture, construction, tourism, or hospitality as the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will use an estimated 21% of its Express Entry allocations towards this category-based selection.
Priority may be given to candidates with a verifiable Alberta job offer from a legitimate, established and verifiable business in Alberta or whose primary occupation is in demand.
Ready to make sure your Express Entry profile is up to date and accurate?
Book a consultation with an immigration consultant in Alberta today.
Rural Renewal Stream
The Rural Renewal Stream is a unique program that empowers rural communities to recruit and retain foreign nationals to live, work and settle in their communities. The purpose of the program is to attract and retain newcomers to rural Alberta to support the local economic growth and the needs of communities.
Together, communities and employers can work on their own to recruit foreign workers or they can work with an approved non-governmental organization, also referred to as a Designated Referral Partner, to recruit and retain refugees under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP).
Designated referral partners assist in finding candidates abroad with the needed skills and experience, and who meet the EMPP program criteria, that match with local employers in designated rural Alberta communities.
Once nominated, temporary foreign workers can qualify to work while they wait for a decision on their permanent residence.
Does this stream sound exciting to you? Book a consultation with our team of immigration consultants in Calgary and Edmonton.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program for Entrepreneurs
If you’re an entrepreneur, there are also entrepreneurial streams that you may qualify for. The AAIP has 4 streams for entrepreneurs who plan to live in Alberta and buy or start a business in the province: The Rural Entrepreneur Stream, The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, The Farm Stream, and The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
If you’d like to learn more about these opportunities, please book a consultation with our team of immigration consultants in Edmonton and Calgary.
Contact Us
Please provide additonal information by filling the initial assessment form
Explore Your Opportunities
After learning about what the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has to offer, we hope that you’re feeling more hopeful and excited about these new opportunities that the province of Alberta is offering.
To discover which program best suits your profile, book a one-on-one call with our team of immigration consultants located in Alberta. We’ll be more than happy to help you in your goals of getting your permanent residency in Canada!
