Alberta PNP

Alberta is one of Canada's most powerful provincial economies attracting newcomers from all over Canada and the rest of the world. It is known for its fossil energy, agriculture, forestry, education, tourism, hospitality, and manufacturing industry, providing jobs in Canada for thousands of people.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) (Formerly the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program) is Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). It has become one of Canada's most popular permanent residency programs in recent years.

This is due to a massively expanding job market, a strong economy, an influx of temporary foreign workers in the province, and increased tightening of federal immigration programs.

The AAIP also offers fast-tracked application processing times with its new online portal, which has decreased processing times to as little as six months! Let's look at the AAIP to find out if it's the right way for you to immigrate to Canada. 

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 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 here.

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:

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 here.

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) here.

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 labour 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:

If you are still trying to figure out which stream is right for you or have found the perfect stream and want to start your application process as soon as possible, you could massively benefit from the help of a certified immigration professional. Our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) have years of experience helping hundreds of prospective applicants find a bright new future in Canada. So see which of the AAIP streams is best for you with us.

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 Forestry 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

• 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

If you feel your business idea is precisely what Alberta needs, you should start your application process as soon as possible. Two huge factors in the speed of your application are your eligibility for your chosen program and the completeness of your application. An RCIC can evaluate both to ensure you can take your enterprise to the next level in Alberta.

FAQs

Why Should I Move to Alberta?

Alberta has many wonderful factors that make it one of the most livable places in Canada and, by extension, the world. While there are almost too many to count, here's a breakdown of life in Alberta to give you a taste of what awaits on Canada's sun-glazed prairies.

What if I Lose my Job During the Application Process?

Candidates who have lost their jobs or can no longer meet employment criteria after applying to the AAIP have up to 6 months (180 days) from the time their application is assessed to locate work that fits AAIP eligibility.

How do I Prove my Connection to the Province?

Suppose you have one or more of the connections listed below. In that case, you may have a better chance of getting assessed or nominated for the program:

• You have a job offer from Alberta and work experience in the province;
• You have a parent, child, brother or sister who is a permanent resident of Alberta or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta;
• You are a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution; or
• Your first language is French.

What Work Regulations Must be Followed?

The job offer must be a good faith, legitimate request, signed by 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
• Wages and benefits that meet or exceed the provincial minimum wage
• Work in a location in Alberta

Additionally, Suppose you are or will be working at a home-based business in Alberta. In that case, your employer must be authorized to operate that business location from a personal residence.

Why is Alberta an Accessible Province to Get Into?

Alberta is one of Canada's most straightforward provincial nominee systems for obtaining a nomination for Canada PR and the PR itself. The AAIP's Express Entry aligned Stream accepts candidates with CRS scores as low as 300. As a result, if your CRS point score is down, you can apply for permanent residency in Canada under the Alberta Provincial Nomination Program.

Start Your Future in Canada's Sunniest Province

With so many amazing options to find your way to Alberta, ensuring you know which one is right for you and following the correct process is paramount. The best way to ensure both is to utilize the services of an RCIC. An RCIC can fully evaluate you to find which program you're most eligible for, and curate your CV to help you land a job in Canada, create your online profiles, fill out your application forms, help you source and verify your documentation, represent you with certain immigration bodies and provide you with all of the help and guidance you need throughout your application process.