Alberta, a province in western Canada, is primarily known for its oil and gas resources and agricultural production. Its landscape encompasses forests, magnificent Rocky Mountains, and picturesque prairies. In addition to the diverse economy and cultural background, it offers high living standard, outstanding healthcare, and excellent education systems.
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program is an economic immigration program that targets prospective immigrants with the desired skills and experience to meet skill shortage in Alberta or the ones intending to acquire or set up a business. The applicants, if nominated via the AINP program, can apply for permanent residence collectively with their spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children.
AINP Streams
Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
This stream is for temporary foreign workers who are already working full-time in Alberta and have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Candidates must have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or hold LMIA exempt work permits. To be eligible, the candidates must comply with the following requirements:
Residency and work permit requirements
Applicants must have a valid work permit, not implied status, or restoration status, when their application is either mailed to the AINP or submitted to AINP portal and assessed by AINP.
Occupation Requirements
Eligible occupations:Â An applicant ought to have an eligible occupation in Alberta when his/her application is either mailed to the AINP or submitted to AINP portal and assessed by AINP. Majority of the occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D qualify under the AINP.
Ineligible occupations:Â Individuals that work in the occupations as mentioned in the below list do not qualify to apply or be nominated under the AOS:
NOC Code | NOC Skill Level | Occupation |
0011 | 0 | Legislators |
0422 | 0 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
0423 | 0 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
0432 | 0 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
0651 | 0 | Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers |
4031 | A | Secondary school teachers |
4032 | A | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
4154 | A | Professional occupations in religion |
5121 | A | Authors and writers |
5133 | A | Musicians and singers |
5135 | A | Actors and comedians |
5136 | A | Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists |
1227 | B | Court officers and justices of the peace |
3223 | B | Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers |
4214 | B | Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children’s Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as child development assistant (formerly Level 1) |
4216 | B | Other instructors |
4217 | B | Other religious occupations |
5232 | B | Other performers, not elsewhere classified |
5244 | B | Artisans and craftsperson’s |
5251 | B | Athletes |
6232 | B | Real estate agents and salespersons |
4411 | C | Home childcare providers |
4412 | C | Home support workers, housekeepers, and related occupations |
4413 | C | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
6533 | C | Casino occupations |
6564 | C | Other personal service occupations |
7513 | C | Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs |
8442 | C | Trappers and hunters |
6623 | D | Other sales related occupations |
6722 | D | Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation, and sport |
6742 | D | Other service support occupations, not elsewhere classified |
8611 | D | Harvesting labourers |
8612 | D | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
8613 | D | Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers |
8614 | D | Mine labourers |
Post-Graduation Work Permit holders
An applicant’s occupation must be related to his/her field of study in Alberta if he/she has a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Language Requirements
An applicant should possess the following language test score in English or French, if his application is mailed to the AINP or presented in the AINP portal on or after January 1, 2020.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level/ Code | Canadian Benchmark (CLB) test score required for each English language skill | Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) test score required for each French language skill |
NOC 0, A or B occupation | Minimum CLB 5 | Minimum NCLC 5 |
NOC C or D occupation | Minimum CLB 4 | Minimum NCLC 4 |
NOC code 3413 (nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) | Minimum CLB 7 | Minimum NCLC 7 |
Education Requirements
Work Experience Requirements
Job Offer Requirements
Alberta Express Entry Stream
This stream selects candidates from the express entry pool and invites them to apply for nomination. To qualify for consideration, applicant must meet the following requirements at the time application is either mailed or submitted to AINP portal and assessed:
In addition to the above criteria, following are the factors that may improves your chances of being nominated or assessed:
International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
This Stream is for international students who have graduated from post-secondary institutions in Alberta and wish to immigrate to the province permanently by starting a new business or purchasing an existing business.
Program Requirements
Education
The candidate must have completed at least two years of full-time education in Alberta, resulting in a degree or diploma from a . Completion of program of study must result in a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Work Permit
The candidate must have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) valid for at least 2 years at the time of your Expression of Interest (EOI) submission.
Language
The candidate must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your EOI is submitted.
Business Establishment
Must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership. The proposed business type must not be on the list of .
Business Partners must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Work Experience
Have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalencies. Equivalencies include experience with a business incubator or business accelerator, or completion of entrepreneurship program courses.
Self-Employed Farmer Stream
This stream applies to experienced farmers who intend to purchase or establish a farm in Alberta. To apply under this stream, below 2 steps should be followed by the candidates:
Program Requirements
Farm management skills:Â Â Applicants should provide evidence that they possess farm management skills. The following can be considered as relevant proof:
Financial resources:Â Â Applicants must be able to:
Primary production investment:Â Â Applicants should:
Ineligible applicants:Â Â The following candidates do not qualify to apply under the AINP Self-Employed Farmer Stream: