5 Things to Know About the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is a popular pathway for individuals who want to immigrate to Alberta, Canada. This program offers various streams and pathways that cater to different occupations and categories of individuals.

In recent years, the AINP has undergone changes and improvements to serve better the needs of immigrants moving to Alberta. Five of these changes are important to prospective Albertan immigrants looking for easier access to the prairie Canadian province.

Ready to learn more about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)? Here are 5 things to know about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)!

Top 5 Things to Know About the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

Below are the top 5 things about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.

The AINP was Renamed the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has recently undergone a name change and is now known as the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Along with the name change was the renaming of three entrepreneur streams, as reflected below:

This rebranding reflects the province's commitment to attracting skilled immigrants who can contribute to the province's economic growth and development. The AAIP aims to provide a streamlined and efficient process for individuals who wish to immigrate to Alberta.

AAIP is Developing a New Tourism and Hospitality Immigration Stream

Recognizing the importance of the tourism and hospitality industry in Alberta, the AAIP is developing a new immigration stream specifically for individuals working in this sector. This stream will provide a dedicated, streamlined, and faster pathway for skilled workers in tourism and hospitality to immigrate to Alberta. 

The aim is to address labor shortages in this industry and ensure that Alberta remains a desirable destination for tourists and visitors. The new tourism and hospitality workers stream will complement the Alberta Express Entry Stream selections based on priority sectors.

It Has a Dedicated Healthcare Pathway Under the Alberta Express Entry Stream

The Alberta Express Entry Stream, part of the AAIP, will introduce a new dedicated pathway for healthcare professionals. This stream aims to attract skilled workers in the healthcare sector. Here are the healthcare occupations eligible for the stream.

The dedicated Healthcare Pathway will use up 30% of Express Entry Allocations in 2023.

Eligible healthcare professionals will be expected to have a job offer and meet the minimum requirements set by the applicable regulatory organization in Alberta. By creating a dedicated pathway, the AAIP recognizes the importance of healthcare professionals in the province and aims to address the growing demand for healthcare services.

AAIP Has Become a Participant of the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

The AAIP has further participated in the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilots (EMPP) to enhance immigrants' economic mobility opportunities. By participating in the EMPP, the AAIP aims to enable refugees with the skills and qualifications needed in Alberta to immigrate through existing economic programs.

Working with the federal government, The AAIP will implement the pilot and supplement its annual nominations through the opportunity provided by the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilots.

Find out more about the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.

Rural Entrepreneur Stream Minimum Invest Criteria has been Reduced

The AAIP's Rural Entrepreneur Stream is aimed at individuals who wish to start or acquire a business in rural Alberta. To make this stream more accessible to a broader pool of rural immigrant entrepreneurs, the AAIP has reduced the minimum investment criteria from 200,000 CAD to 100,000 CAD.

Reducing the minimum investment criteria will enable the AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Stream to better compete with other provincial entrepreneur streams with comparable minimum investment requirements by enabling more eligible applicants to apply.

What is the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway?

The AAIP’s Accelerated Tech Pathway is an Express Entry linked immigration pathway that provides streamlined and faster processing to foreign workers who presently have a job offer or are working in an eligible tech occupation for an Alberta-based tech industry employer.

This is a great immigration stream to use for foreign professionals in the IT and related occupations industry who have been urgently looking for an immigration pathway that can settle them in Alberta as fast as possible.

Find out more about the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway.

What Are The Benefits of Immigrating to Alberta Through The AAIP?

Using the AAIP to immigrate to Alberta provides benefits compared to other immigration pathways to Alberta. The benefits include:

Immigration Streams Aligned With Economic Opportunities in Alberta

One of the key features of the AAIP is its alignment with economic opportunities in Alberta. The program offers specific economic immigration stream options that cater to different occupations and industries. This is reflected by immigration streams such as the Farm Stream and Rural Renewal Stream.

New or in-development streams, such as the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway and Tourism and Hospitality Immigration Stream, will broaden the number of industry-aligned immigration streams. This will enable immigrants from those economic sectors to find an expedited immigration pathway to Alberta.

Find out more about economic opportunities in Alberta via its in-demand occupations list.

Express Entry Integration

The AAIP is integrated with the federal Express Entry system through the Alberta Express Entry Stream, which manages the selection of skilled immigrants for economic programs. This integration allows individuals who are eligible for Express Entry to also apply for the AAIP, providing them with additional opportunities to immigrate to Alberta.

The integration of these two programs streamlines the application process and ensures a more efficient and coordinated approach to immigration to Alberta. Receiving a provincial nomination via the AAIP will net you an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, increasing your chances of being drawn from your Express Entry pool if you have a registered Express Entry Profile.

Calculate your CRS points using our CRS calculator.

Offer of Entrepreneurship Opportunities

The AAIP has four streams for entrepreneurs interested in establishing or operating a business in the province. These four programs include the:

• Rural Entrepreneur Stream
• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
• Farm Stream
• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

These entrepreneurship streams cater to immigrant entrepreneurs by providing them with a streamlined immigration process aligned with existing sector-specific business opportunities in Alberta.

Dedicated Support From Immigration Consultants

Applying for the AAIP can be a complex process, and having the support of immigration consultants can be invaluable. The program provides dedicated support from immigration consultants knowledgeable about the AAIP and can guide applicants through the application process.

FAQs

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for the AAIP?

The cost of applying for the AAIP varies depending on the stream and category you are applying under. However, all online applications generally cost a flat fee of 500 CAD, according to alberta.ca.

Please Note

The application fee for the AAIP is non-refundable once the application has been submitted and accepted.

Can my Family Immigrate With me Through The AAIP?

Yes, the AAIP allows for family reunification. If approved under one of the AAIP streams, you may be eligible to include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children in your application. Reviewing the specific requirements for family members and ensuring that you meet the eligibility criteria is important.