Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

Alberta, one of the three “Prairie provinces” of Canada, is the most populous of the three and is home to two of the country’s biggest cities, Calgary and Edmonton. It is also regarded as one of North America’s most picturesque regions, home to illustrious national parks like Banff and Jasper.

 

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program was replaced by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), which is run by the state. Prospective immigrants who fit the province’s requirements for skills and work experience may be eligible to obtain an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate through this program.

 

 

 

 

Alberta Immigration Streams

 

You presently have eight options if you want to immigrate to Alberta. You can use this page to determine which immigration stream is best for your circumstances.

 

 

 

Streams for Workers

• For skilled workers who are already employed in an eligible profession in Alberta, there is the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

• Candidates in the Express Entry (EE) system who are employed in an eligible profession and have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300 are eligible for the Alberta General Express Entry Stream.

• The province of Alberta has identified 38 occupations for the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway, which is available to applicants who are presently employed in the technology sector of Alberta or who have received a job offer from that sector.

• Candidates with a job offer from an Alberta employer for work in a rural Alberta town are eligible for the Rural Renewal Stream.

 

Streams for Entrepreneurs 

• For those who want to run a farming operation in Alberta, there is Farm Stream.

• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is available to foreign students who have graduated from a specific post-secondary school in Alberta and want to launch a business there.

• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is available to non-Canadian graduates who want to launch a company in Alberta.

• For entrepreneurs looking to buy a company or launch one in a rural Alberta community, there is a Rural Entrepreneur Stream.

 

Summary of AAIP Options

 

1. Category –                                  Alberta Opportunity Stream

    > Is a job required? –                  Yes

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                No

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –        Have work experience in

                                                          the province

 

2. Category –                                  Alberta Express Entry Stream

    > Is a job required? –                   No

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                Yes

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –        Have work experience in

                                                          the province or

                                                          Have a parent. child, bother or sister

                                                          who is a permanent resident or

                                                          Canadian citizen of Alberta

 

3. Category –                                  Accelerated Tech Pathway

    > Is a job required? –                  Yes

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                Yes

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –       Work full time in Alberta or

                                                          having a job offer for full-time

                                                          work in Alberta.

 

4. Category –                                  Rural renewal stream

    > Is a job required? –                  Yes

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                No

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –       Must intend to and be able 

                                                          to reside and work in the 

                                                          designated community in Alberta

 

5. Category –                                  Farm stream

    > Is a job required? –                  No

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                No

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –       N/A

 

6. Category –                                  Graduate Entrepreneur stream

    > Is a job required? –                  No

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                No

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –       Completed education in Alberta

 

7. Category –                                  Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur stream

    > Is a job required? –                  No

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                No

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –       N/A

 

8. Category –                                  Rural Entrepreneur stream

    > Is a job required? –                  No

    > Is the stream aligned 

       with Express Entry –                No

    > Is it currently receiving

       applications? –                         Yes

    > Connection to province –       Must have a community support 

                                                          letter from a participating rural Alberta

                                                                     community.
 

Alberta Opportunity Stream

 

The Alberta Opportunity Stream allows foreign nationals who are employed in Alberta and graduates from abroad who finished their studies at accredited post-secondary institutions in Alberta to apply for a provincial nomination.

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Minimum Requirements:

• a legitimate work permit is required;

• must be employed in an eligible occupation in Alberta that corresponds to your job experience;

• based on the occupation, a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of level 4 or 5

• at least a secondary school diploma

• a minimum of 24 months’ worth of work experience in Canada over the previous 30 months, or at least 12 months’ worth of work experience in Alberta over the previous 18 months.

 

Alberta Express Entry Stream

 

Alberta may propose people who have already registered in the federal Express Entry system through the express entry route. The state may extend an invitation to apply to people who have shown ties to Alberta and who possess the qualifications to support the expansion of the province’s economy.

 

Candidates for Express Entry who are nominated by Alberta are given an extra 600 CRS points. This virtually ensures that you will be invited to submit an application for permanent residence during the upcoming Express Entry draw. 

 

Minimum Requirements:

 

• Must be an applicant of Express Entry;

• Must have indicated a desire to settle permanently in Alberta;

• Must be employed in a profession that promotes the growth and diversity of Alberta’s economy;

• A CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) number of at least 300.

 

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

 

For tech workers who are qualified for the Alberta Express Entry Stream and have a profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system, there is a fast-track immigration program called the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway. Anyone who believes they fulfill the stream’s eligibility requirements is invited to submit an online form on the AAIP portal to be evaluated for this stream.  The AINP asks the candidate to submit an application for a provincial nomination after the AAIP confirms that the candidate satisfies the minimal eligibility requirements. 

 

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be an applicant of Express Entry;

• Must have indicated a desire to settle permanently in Alberta;

• A CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) number of at least 300.

• Must have received a job offer or been working in an eligible tech occupation in Alberta. 

 

Rural Renewal Stream

Candidates who have a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in rural areas in Alberta are eligible for the Rural Renewal Stream.  

 

Minimum Requirements:

• To work in a qualified occupation in a designated community, you must have a current full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer;

• In the 18 months prior to applying, you must have at least 12 months of full-time job experience in a profession that is eligible. This work experience may include time spent in Alberta, other parts of Canada, or overseas;

• Must adhere to minimum language requirements;

• A minimum of a high school certificate meeting Canadian educational requirements;

• Must show they have the means to sustain themselves and every member of their family who will be relocating to the designated community;

 

Farm Stream

 

Candidates interested in immigrating to Alberta to buy or start a farming business should apply through the Self-Employed Farmer Stream.

​

 

Minimum Requirements:

• Skills in farm administration;

• Adequate financial means (minimum CAD $500,000 investment);

• In a proposed business plan, investment plans are outlined.

 

 

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

 

For international graduates of recognized Alberta post-secondary schools who are interested in starting or running a business in Alberta, there is the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream.

 

​

Minimum Requirements:

• Two years minimum of full-time study in Alberta;

• A current Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) when applying;

• A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7;

• Must launch a new company or run an established one under at least 34% ownership;

 

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

 

Foreign-educated international graduates who desire to establish a start-up company in Alberta and obtain permanent residency in Canada are eligible for Alberta’s Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa.

 

What are the designated agencies?

1. Empowered Startups

2. Platform Calgary

 

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Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of six months of full-time company ownership or management experience;

• A business plan with anticipated financials is required;

• Must possess an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) and post-secondary training from a foreign institution. The degree has to be recent—within the past ten years;

• A 10-minute slides-only talk outlining the business’s operations and what investors would want to see;

• A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 5;

• Must own at least 34% of the company if it is based in a city, or at least 51% if it is outside of Calgary or Edmonton;

• Must put down a minimum of $50,000 for a regional location or $100,000 for an urban center. Higher investments result in higher scores being given. These can be funded by your own equity, by a reputable Canadian financial organization, by venture capitalists, or by angel investment firms;

• A statement of recommendation from an organization recognized by the AAIP;

• You must have sufficient funds to launch your business in Canada and support your family.

 

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

 

Candidates who want to launch a business in Alberta’s rural communities should apply to the Rural Entrepreneur Stream. 

 

Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of 4 years of experience as a senior manager within the last 10 years, or a minimum of 3 years of experience as an active company owner/manager;

• A minimum of a Canadian-required secondary school certificate with an Education Credential Assessment (ECA);

• Have a minimum Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level of 4 for each French language ability or a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English language skill;

• Must be at least $300,000 in net wealth.

• A minimum of $200,000 in stock from the candidate’s own (or their spouse’s or common-law partner’s) hands;

• A letter of support from a participating rural Alberta town is required.

 

Want to know about Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)? Click Here!

 

If you want to apply for AAIP program or to learn more: