ALBERTA AAIP
The Alberta immigration AAIP- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. Nominees must have skills to fill job shortages or be planning to buy or start a business in Alberta.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has been changed from AINP in 2022. Two new streams were added. The province has issued 6,500 nomination certificates last year. Streams for workers, AOS, Alberta EE, and Entrepreneurs are open in 2023.
Streams for workers
The Alberta immigration AAIP has 2 streams for foreign workers who are living and working in Alberta, or plan to live and work in Alberta. Qualified candidates who live and work in Alberta and have a job offer from an Alberta employer can apply for an AINP nomination.
Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) 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 one of the accepted LMIA exemption work permits. Candidates must also meet other minimum eligibility criteria for residency and work permit type, occupation, language, education, Alberta job offer and work experience.
– Valid worker status
At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada, that is, a temporary foreign worker permit.
– Eligible work experience
At the time your application is submitted you must have either:
- a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, or
- 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.
- Post-Graduation Work Permit holders require a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
– Ineligible occupations
You need to check the list of ineligible occupations before starting your application.
– Language requirements
If you are working in a NOC 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation:
- Minimum of 5 for each English language skill
- Minimum of 5 for each French language skill
If you are working in a NOC 4 or 5 occupation:
- Minimum of 4 for each English language skill
- Minimum of 4 for each French language skill
– Complete your application online
If you you are eligible for AOS, you can submit your application through AIPP portal.
Need to keep in mind that above mentioned criteria (language, work experience etc.) are eligibility minimums, and meeting program criteria does not guarantee that a candidate’s application will be assessed, processed, or granted. The AAIP may choose to assess applications with the most current criteria irrespective of the date of submission of an application.
**You may only have one AAIP application in process at any time across all AAIP streams. If you have an existing application and want to apply to the AOS, you may withdraw your existing application.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Alberta Express Entry Stream allows Alberta to nominate a limited number of qualified candidates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system. Candidates must have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System Score of 300. However, it is not guaranteed that you will receive a notification of interest when your score is higher than 300.
In 2023, the AAIP will send Notifications of Interest letters or consider an invitation to apply based on the following priorities:
- Family Connection and Primary Occupation in Demand: include the principal applicant having a parent, child or sibling living in Alberta (who is 18 years old or older and a Canadian citizen or PR) and that the primary occupation (regardless of where the applicant is currently living) is an occupation in demand in Alberta.
- Dedicated Healthcare Pathway: in clude the principal applicant who are in one of 9 eligible health-care professions WITH a valid job offer in Alberta
- Accelerated Tech Pathway: this pathway provides expedited processing to foreign workers who are currently working for, or have a job offer with, an Alberta-based tech industry employer in an eligible tech occupation.
- Priority Sectors: agriculture, construction, tourism and hospitality – 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.
AAIP is basing ‘occupation in demand in Alberta’ using one or more of the following approaches to select individuals who have experience in:
- Labour shortages are forecasted over the next 10 years in Construction trades and engineering occupations related to construction; Computer programmers and information systems analysts; Health occupations across education levels, clustered around nursing; and Educators in primary school and college.
2. Occupations in ‘High’ or ‘Moderately High’ demand in the Short-Term Employment Forecast:
High: 0631 Restaurant and food service managers; 2173 Software engineers and designers; 2175 Web designers and developers; 7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers; 7511 Transport truck drivers
Moderately High: 0112 Human resources managers; 0113 Purchasing managers; 0621 Retail and wholesale trade managers; 0632 Accommodation service managers; 0711 Construction managers; 1215 Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations; and more…
Alberta Rural Renewal Stream
Individuals who are interested in this stream under Alberta immigration AAIP must be selected by a designated community and receive an endorsement letter. Candidates need to contact the designated community directly.
Streams for entrepreneurs
The AAIP has 4 streams for entrepreneurs who plan to live in Alberta and buy or start a business in the province.
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
International graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Farm Stream
Experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta can apply for permanent residence.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Foreign graduates from outside of Canada can apply for permanent residence.
Rural Entrepreneur Stream
Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).