Alberta PNP

Become a part of the growing numbers of immigrants moving to Alberta using the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The AAIP offers a strategic pathway for individuals and families seeking to establish roots in one of Canada's most dynamic provinces. Whether you're a skilled worker, entrepreneur, or investor, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program provides tailored streams to suit your unique immigration goals.

Gain a better understanding of how the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program offers a gateway to economic prosperity, vibrant communities, and a high quality of life for aspiring immigrants!

What Is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?

The AAIP lets the province hire skilled workers with the right work experience and training to fill in-demand jobs in Alberta.

Those who successfully apply to immigrate to Canada through the program can get permanent residence when they receive a Provincial Nomination (PN) from the province. To qualify for all PNPs, you will also need the following:

• Medical Certificate;
• Police Clearance;
• Biometrics;
• Security Checks, and
• Federal Checks.

If you get a provincial nomination, you, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children can apply for permanent residence in Alberta. The AAIP has eight major streams, explicitly covering the different kinds of skilled applicants needed in Alberta.

For Those With a Job Offer in Alberta:

The following AAIP streams are perfect for those who have landed jobs in Alberta. If you want to know how to land a job in Canada, here's a complete breakdown.

Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream

The AAIP will launch a new Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream on March 1, 2024. The new immigration stream will assist the province’s tourism and hospitality industry by attracting and retaining skilled foreign workers to address its labor gaps and challenges. Only a limited number of applications will be accepted for AAIP's new Tourism and Hospitality Stream.

Application processing for the new Tourism and Hospitality Stream will expedited within other priority processing initiatives. Using the AAIP, Alberta’s hospitality and tourism businesses will be able to attract and retain much-needed workers, strengthening and growing Alberta’s economy.

Eligibility Criteria

Existing eligibility criteria for Alberta’s new PNP stream include having a valid full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an approved Albertan employer operating in the tourism or hospitality industry. Further information about Alberta’s Tourism and Hospitality Stream eligibility criteria and how to apply will be released on March 1, 2024.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

This program allows the province of Alberta to nominate a limited number of candidates from the Express Entry system

Candidates with strong ties to the province or those who will add to the economy of Alberta will receive a notification of interest (NOI) inviting them to apply for a provincial nomination. International graduates who have graduated from Canadian institutions may also be nominated.

To immigrate to Canada through this stream, you must satisfy the following personal eligibility requirements.

The Accelerated Tech Pathway

This Express Entry-linked program is geared towards tech professionals looking to immigrate to the province through Express Entry. Thirty-eight eligible in-demand jobs in Alberta could make you eligible to apply for permanent residency under this program.

Find out if you're eligible for the Accelerated Tech pathway.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

The Alberta Opportunity Stream allows foreign workers to apply for permanent residence in Canada if they have a full-time offer of employment in Alberta and are already living and working in the province.

Suppose you want to apply to immigrate to Canada through this stream. In that case, you must satisfy the following personal eligibility requirements.

Please Note:

Intake for Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOP) applications has been paused until further notice. Alberta Opportunity Stream Applications submitted before the pause will continue to be assessed.

Draft applications in the AAIP portal submitted before the pause was implemented will not be accepted. This includes draft AAIP applications pending final fee payments. The pause on Alberta Opportunity Stream applications will enable the AAIP to address its current inventory of AOP applications and focus its limited immigration nominations on priority industries with labor shortages. This includes

• Healthcare,
• Technology,
• Construction,
• Agriculture, and
• Tourism, and Hospitality.

The AAIP will implement measures to manage future Alberta Opportunity Stream application volumes against program priorities. This will help to maintain reasonable service standards across AAIP’s various streams.

Your occupation must not feature on the ineligible occupations list for you to qualify to apply under this stream. Find out if your occupation is on the Alberta In-Demand Jobs.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Applicants

Suppose you have a Post Graduation Work Permit and want to apply for Canadian permanent residence under this stream. In that case, you will also need a job related to your previous tertiary qualification obtained outside of Canada if:

• Your Alberta credential program started on or after April 1, 2019, and
• Have completed an Advanced Education approved one-year post-diploma or post-baccalaureate certificate.

Find out how you can get a Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP)

Rural Renewal Stream

The Rural Renewal Stream helps to recruit and retain immigrants from all over the world and settle them in rural Alberta. It is a community-driven approach that meets local economic development requirements and contributes to community progress. This stream gives rural communities the tools to attract and retain foreign nationals who want to live, work, and settle in their communities.

The Rural Renewal Stream is a 3-step process:

1. The community must recruit newcomers to meet labor needs
2. The community must provide an Endorsement of the Candidate's letter.
3. You must apply for the AAIP.

You can apply for the Rural Renewal Stream using the AAIP portal. You can apply to the AAIP online, check your status, and change information for your online application. Make sure you meet the program requirements before applying:

For Those Wanting To Start a Business in Alberta:

If you have an innovative business idea that will set the Albertan economy on fire, then these streams may be the way to get your start!

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (GES) allows international foreign post-graduate work permit holders with at least six months of business work experience and a qualification from a college or university in Alberta to start or buy an existing business in Alberta, Canada. You must satisfy the following personal eligibility requirements to apply to this stream.

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (FGES) allows foreign graduates who want to launch their start-ups in Alberta to apply for permanent residency outside Canada. Applicants will have to work with a designated agency that will issue a letter of recommendation that they must submit with the Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province.

Approved Designated Agencies

• Empowered Start-ups
• Platform Calgary

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Eligibility Requirements

Farmer Stream

The Albertan provincial government created the Farmer Stream in Alberta to help foreign immigrants start their farms in Canada. This stream allows experienced agricultural entrepreneurs to immigrate to Canada and obtain permanent residence. The AAIP and the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation manage it. It will need to meet the requirements and regulations stipulated by both organizations.

The basic requirements to apply to the Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream are:

• Education;
• Experience;
• Funds; and
• Language skills.

If you want to start your own farming business in Alberta, you can do so with the Self-Employed Farmer Stream.

Those Who Cannot Apply for the AAIP Farm Stream

You cannot apply for this stream if you are:

• A refugee claimant;
• Being removed or in the process of being removed from Canada;
• Work as a caregiver in Canada;
• Work as a Temporary Foreign Worker who is not living in Alberta; or
• Study in Canada as an international student doing internships or co-op work placements.

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream brings immigrant entrepreneurs to rural Alberta communities to start businesses to help the economy recover and expand. Entrepreneurs interested in launching or buying a business in rural Alberta can visit the towns to see where they will live and operate their business, meet the entrepreneur, and evaluate the business plan.

Communities with approved applications, represented by an economic development or similar agency, will be allowed to begin working with employers and settlement providers to attract newcomers and assist them in settling permanently in the community.

Here are the requirements for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream

How Can I Apply For The AAIP?

Here's a breakdown of how to apply for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP):

Step 1: Choose Your AAIP Stream

Figure out which AAIP stream best fits your profile and goals. The main streams are highlighted above, with the addition of the new Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream.

Step 2: Check Your Streams Eligibility Criteria

Carefully review the eligibility requirements of your chosen stream. Ensure you meet criteria related to education, work experience, language proficiency, medical record, and other relevant factors.

Step 3: Create a Profile (If Necessary)

You'll need an active federal Express Entry System profile for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. Some streams may require creating a profile on the Alberta government's online portal.

Step 4: Gather Documentation

Collect essential documents like proof of identity, education transcripts, language test results, employment records, and possibly a job offer letter from an Alberta employer.

Step 5: Submit Your Application and Wait for Your Decision

Follow the instructions on the AAIP website for your chosen stream. Most applications are submitted online through the Alberta portal. Pay the associated application fee of 1,365.00 CAD for a single individual. If successful, you'll receive a Nomination Certificate from Alberta.

Step 6: Apply for Permanent Residence

Use your Nomination Certificate to apply for permanent residence with the federal government Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

FAQs

How Long Does it Take to Process an Application Under The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program?

The processing time depends on the specific stream you apply to. Alberta Opportunity Stream applications can be processed in several months. However, after obtaining a provincial nomination, the federal process to grant permanent residency typically takes 15-18 months..

Can I Bring my Family to Alberta Through The AAIP?

Yes! The AAIP allows you to apply for permanent residence simultaneously for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and any dependent children. This means your family can join you in building a new life in Alberta.

What Support Services Are Available to Immigrants Arriving in Alberta Through This Program?

Alberta offers newcomers a wide range of settlement services to ensure a smooth transition. These services include support in finding housing, language training to improve your English or French, help with finding employment, and resources to help you connect with and integrate into your new community.