Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

Overview of AAIP

• Purpose: Nominates individuals with skills to fill labor shortages or those planning to start or buy businesses in Alberta.

• Streams: Divided into worker streams (for employees) and entrepreneur streams (for business owners or investors).

• Application Process: Candidates apply for provincial nomination through the AAIP online portal. If nominated, they can apply for permanent residence with IRCC.

• Nomination Limits: Alberta receives a limited number of nominations annually (e.g., 9,942 nominations issued in 2024, with 85% for temporary foreign workers).

• Fees: As of April 1, 2025, worker stream application fees are $1,500 to align with service delivery costs.

• Language Tests: Starting April 1, 2025, AAIP accepts the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core alongside other approved English and French tests.

Worker Streams

The AAIP has four worker streams for foreign workers living and working in Alberta or planning to do so. These streams target individuals with job offers or specific skills aligned with Alberta’s economic priorities.

1. Alberta Opportunity Stream

• Purpose: For skilled workers living and working in Alberta with a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer.

• Eligibility Requirements (at application submission and assessment):

• Residency and Work Permit:

• Must have valid temporary resident status in Canada (e.g., temporary foreign worker permit).

• Must reside and work in Alberta in an eligible occupation.

• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders must have an occupation related to their field of study in Alberta.

• Work Experience:

• Minimum 12 months of full-time work experience in the current Alberta occupation within the last 18 months, OR

• 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months (can include current occupation or a related one).

• PGWP holders need 6 months of full-time work experience in Alberta related to their field of study.

• Job Offer:

• Full-time (minimum 30 hours/week), continuous, paid work for at least 12 months.

• Must be in an eligible occupation (most NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, but a list of ineligible occupations exists, e.g., legislators, some supervisors).

• Signed by the applicant and employer, meeting provincial minimum wage and any Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements.

• Language Proficiency:

• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

• For NOC 3413 (nurse aids, orderlies, patient service associates), CLB 7 is required.

• Education:

• Minimum high school education equivalent to Canadian standards, verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

• PGWP holders need an approved Alberta credential (e.g., degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible institution).

• For programs started on or after April 1, 2019, with a one-year post-diploma or post-baccalaureate certificate, the occupation must relate to a previous post-secondary field of study outside Canada.

• Ineligible Applicants:

• Refugee claimants, temporary residents outside Alberta, or those without valid temporary resident status.

• Those working in ineligible occupations (see Table 1 on Alberta.ca for the full list).

• Additional Notes:

• Application cap: 430 applications accepted monthly starting June 11, 2024.

• Processing time: Approximately 4 months.

• Work permits must remain valid at submission and assessment. Maintained status (implied status) is not accepted.

2. Alberta Express Entry Stream

• Purpose: Invites candidates from the federal Express Entry pool to apply for nomination based on Alberta’s economic, sector, and occupational priorities.

• Pathways:

• General Express Entry: For candidates with strong ties to Alberta or in-demand occupations.

• Dedicated Health Care Pathway: For healthcare professionals with Alberta job offers.

• Accelerated Tech Pathway: For tech professionals with job offers or current employment in eligible tech occupations.

• Priority Sector Draws: Targets construction, agriculture, aviation, hospitality, and tourism occupations (21% of Express Entry allocations).

• Eligibility Requirements (for all pathways):

• Express Entry Profile:

• Active profile in the federal Express Entry pool (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades).

• Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.

• Occupation:

• Primary occupation in the Express Entry profile must align with a specific pathway or provincial economic priorities.

• Intent:

• Must intend to live and work permanently in Alberta.

• Ineligible Applicants:

• Those with Express Entry profiles expiring in less than 5 months.

• Those in ineligible occupations or with active nominations in other AAIP streams.

• Pathway-Specific Requirements:

• Dedicated Health Care Pathway:

• Eligible occupations: Physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, clinical social workers.

• Must have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in the healthcare sector.

• Must meet minimum licensing requirements of the applicable regulatory body.

• Expedited processing (approximately 1 month).

• Accelerated Tech Pathway:

• Must work full-time in Alberta or have a full-time job offer (30 hours/week, minimum 12 months) in one of 38 eligible tech occupations (e.g., software engineers, IT specialists; see Alberta.ca for the full list).

• Employer must be in an eligible tech industry (based on North American Industry Classification System codes).

• Job offer must meet provincial minimum wage and LMIA requirements (if applicable).

• Primary occupation in the Express Entry profile must match the job offer or current employment.

• Candidates submit an initial web form, followed by an invitation to apply if eligible.

• Expedited processing (approximately 1 month).

• Application cap: 30 applications accepted monthly starting June 11, 2024.

• Priority Sector Draws:

• Occupations in construction, agriculture, aviation, hospitality, or tourism.

• Job offer (if applicable) must be in an eligible occupation.

• Selection Process:

• Invitation-only: Candidates receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) via the federal Express Entry system.

• Selection factors include ties to Alberta (e.g., family, previous work, or study), job offers, or in-demand occupations.

• Draws are conducted as needed, not on a fixed schedule.

• Additional Notes:

• Nomination adds 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

• Processing time: Varies; expedited for Tech and Health Care pathways (1 month), others around 2 months for priority sectors.

• Maintained status (implied status) is accepted, unlike the Opportunity Stream.

• In 2025, the Express Entry Stream has an allocation of 1,071 nominations.

3. Rural Renewal Stream

• Purpose: Addresses labor shortages in rural Alberta communities (population <100,000) by recruiting temporary foreign workers or refugees with community endorsement.

• Eligibility Requirements:

• Job Offer:

• Full-time (30 hours/week), permanent or at least 12 months, from an Alberta employer in a designated rural community.

• Must meet provincial minimum wage and LMIA requirements (if applicable).

• Occupation must align with the community’s economic growth needs.

• Endorsement:

• Valid Endorsement of Candidate Letter from the Economic Development Organization (EDO) of the designated community.

• The letter must detail how the position supports economic growth and confirm the employer’s efforts to hire locally.

• Work Experience:

• 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months (in Alberta, Canada, or abroad).

• Language Proficiency:

• Minimum CLB 4 for NOC TEER 4 or 5; CLB 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

• Education:

• Minimum high school education (Canadian equivalent, verified by ECA).

• Settlement Funds:

• Proof of sufficient funds to support the applicant and family (unless already working in Canada with a valid work permit).

• Intent:

• Must intend to reside and work in the designated community.

• Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP):

• Refugees outside Canada with a referral letter from an EMPP Referral Partner can apply.

• Same job offer and endorsement requirements apply.

• Ineligible Applicants:

• Refugee claimants in Canada.

• Those without a valid Endorsement of Candidate Letter.

• Community Designation:

• Rural communities must apply to AAIP for designation, verifying labor market needs and settlement capacity.

• Designated communities recruit workers and issue endorsement letters.

 Additional Notes:

• Processing time: Not specified but generally aligns with worker streams (2–4 months).

• Maintained status is accepted.

• Temporary foreign workers may qualify for work permits while awaiting permanent residence decisions.

4. Tourism and Hospitality Stream

• Purpose: Supports skilled workers in Alberta’s tourism and hospitality sector, addressing labor shortages.

• Eligibility Requirements:

• Residency and Work Permit:

• Must live and work in Alberta with valid temporary resident status (e.g., temporary foreign worker permit).

• Job Offer:

• Full-time (30 hours/week), permanent or at least 12 months, from an approved employer in Alberta’s tourism and hospitality sector.

• Must meet provincial minimum wage and LMIA requirements (if applicable).

• Work Experience:

• 6 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation with the same employer offering the job.

• Language Proficiency:

• Minimum CLB 4 for NOC TEER 4 or 5; CLB 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

• Education:

• Minimum high school education (Canadian equivalent, verified by ECA).

• Ineligible Applicants:

• Those not working for an approved tourism and hospitality employer.

• Refugee claimants or those outside Alberta.

• Additional Notes:

• Launched March 1, 2024, to address labor gaps in the sector post-COVID-19.

• Limited application intake (specific caps not detailed).

• Processing time: Approximately 2 months for priority sectors.

• Work permits must remain valid at submission and assessment.

Entrepreneur Streams

The AAIP has four streams for entrepreneurs planning to live in Alberta and start or buy a business. These streams require Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and detailed business applications.

1. Rural Entrepreneur Stream

• Purpose: For entrepreneurs starting or buying a business in rural Alberta communities (population <100,000).

• Eligibility Requirements:

• Business Plan:

• Must propose starting a new business or buying an existing one in a designated rural community.

• Minimum investment of $100,000 (excluding working capital).

• Work Experience:

• 3 years of business ownership or 4 years of senior management experience within the last 10 years.

• Net Worth:

• Minimum personal net worth of $500,000.

• Language Proficiency:

• Minimum CLB 4 in English or French.

• Education:

• Minimum high school education (Canadian equivalent, verified by ECA).

• Community Support:

• Letter of support from the rural community’s EDO, confirming economic benefit.

• Process:

• Submit an EOI through the AAIP portal.

• Highest-ranking EOIs are invited to submit a detailed business application.

• Processing time: Up to 4 months for EOI and business application assessment.

• Additional Notes:

• Must create or maintain at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

2. Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

• Purpose: For international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions starting or operating a business.

• Eligibility Requirements:

• Education:

• Degree, diploma, or certificate from an Alberta Advanced Education-approved institution.

• Business Plan:

• Must start a new business or buy an existing one in Alberta.

• Minimum investment of $100,000.

• Work Experience:

• 6 months of full-time work experience managing or owning a business, or equivalent experience through incubators/accelerators.

• Language Proficiency:

• Minimum CLB 7 in English or French.

• Net Worth:

• No minimum specified but must demonstrate financial capacity.

• Process:

• Submit an EOI through the AAIP portal.

• Work with a designated agency (e.g., business incubator) for recommendation.

• Submit a business application if invited.

• Additional Notes:

• Launched October 26, 2020, to support Alberta’s economic diversification.

• Processing time: Up to 4 months.

3. Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

• Purpose: For foreign-educated graduates launching start-ups or innovative businesses in Alberta.

• Eligibility Requirements:

• Education:

• Degree from a post-secondary institution outside Canada (verified by ECA).

• Business Plan:

• Must propose a start-up or innovative business with high growth potential.

• Minimum investment of $100,000.

• Work Experience:

• 6 months of full-time work experience managing or owning a business, or equivalent through incubators/accelerators.

• Language Proficiency:

• Minimum CLB 7 in English or French.

• Net Worth:

• No minimum specified but must show financial capacity.

• Designated Agency:

• Letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency (e.g., business incubator or accelerator).

• Process:

• Submit an EOI through the AAIP portal.

• Obtain a recommendation from a designated agency.

• Submit a business application if invited.

• Additional Notes:

• launched in January 2021 to attract global talent.

• Processing time: Up to 4 months.

4. Farm Stream

• Purpose: For experienced farmers with financial resources to start or buy a farming business in Alberta.

• Eligibility Requirements:

• Business Plan:

• Detailed proposal for a primary production farming business (e.g., crops, livestock).

• Minimum investment of $500,000 in equity.

• Financial Resources:

• Minimum net worth $500,000 or proof of access to funds.

• Work Experience:

• Proven farm management experience comparable to Alberta’s agricultural standards.

• Language Proficiency:

• No specific CLB requirement but must demonstrate ability to communicate effectively.

• Education:

• No specific requirement, but relevant training strengthens the application.

• Process:

• Submit a business plan to AAIP, reviewed in collaboration with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

• If approved, submit a full application for nomination.

• Additional Notes:

• Processing time: Not specified but involves comprehensive verification.

• Must align with Alberta’s agricultural sector needs.

General Requirements

• Ineligible Occupations: AAIP maintains a list of ineligible occupations for worker streams (e.g., legislators, some retail supervisors). Candidates must confirm their occupation’s eligibility via the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system.

• Job Offer Requirements:

• Employers cannot charge fees for job offers. Contact Alberta’s Employment Standards or Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office (310-0000) if charged.

• Job offers must be full-time, meet minimum wage, and comply with LMIA requirements (if applicable).

• Medical Inadmissibility: Applicants with conditions causing excessive demand on health or social services may be deemed medically inadmissible. Exemptions may apply for certain streams; consult an immigration lawyer.

• Expression of Interest (EOI) System:

• Launched September 30, 2024, for worker streams. Candidates submit EOIs, ranked based on labor market needs, with no fee.

• Entrepreneur streams also use EOIs, with rankings based on business viability and economic impact.

• Processing Times (estimated, subject to change):

• Alberta Opportunity Stream: 4 months.

• Accelerated Tech Pathway: 1 month.

• Dedicated Health Care Pathway: 1 month.

• Priority Sectors (e.g., Tourism and Hospitality): 2 months.

• Entrepreneur Streams: Up to 4 months.

• Draws and Allocations:

• Draws are conducted as needed, targeting specific sectors or priorities.

• 2024 nominations: 9,942, with an Express Entry overage allowed by IRCC.

• 2025 Express Entry allocation: 1,071 nominations.

Additional Details

• Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP):

• Part of the Rural Renewal Stream, targeting refugees outside Canada with skills needed in Alberta.

• Requires a referral letter from an EMPP Referral Partner and a job offer in a designated community.

• Alberta’s Appeal:

• Welcomes over 40,000 immigrants annually, with 178,754 non-resident foreign settlers as of October 2023.

• Offers job opportunities, a high quality of life, and natural landscapes (e.g., Rocky Mountains, prairies).

• Support for Applicants:

• AAIP provides FAQs and contact options for clarification.

• Recent Updates:

• Religious workers and clergy with Alberta job offers became eligible for worker streams as of September 28, 2022.

• Application caps and EOI system introduced in 2024 to manage volumes.

• Tourism and Hospitality Stream launched to address post-COVID-19 labor shortage.

Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) - Old

Residencey Status and work Permit requirements

When you submit your application and at the time the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) assesses your application, you must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada (i.e., temporary foreign worker).

Eligible applicants

When AINP assesses your application, you must have a valid work permit (not implied status or restoration status) for an eligible occupation. Valid work permits are based on one of the following:

• a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

• a LMIA exemption for workers based on one of the following exemptions as determine by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

  • international trade agreements

  • workers transferred within a company

  • International Experience Canada

  • Mobilité Francophone

  • an open work permit issued by IRCC to

    • vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or

    • the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption

• a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution

  • PGWP holders must also meet specific occupation, education and work experience requirements as set out below.

Occupation requirements

Eligible occupations

At the time your application is postmarked and at the time the AINP assesses your application, you must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta. Occupation requirements also apply to your work experience and job offer. You must review the Work Experience criteria and Eligible Job Offer criteria sections for details.

The occupation you are working in at the time your application is postmarked to the AINP is your “current occupation.”

Most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AINP.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders

If you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder your occupation must also be related to your field of study in Alberta. You must review the Education criteria section for details on eligible Alberta credentials and approved Alberta institutions.

Language requirements

If your application is postmarked on or after January 1, 2020 you must demonstrate you meet the following language test score in English or French:

If you apply to the AINP under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), the AINP requires a minimum language test score of CLB of 7 for each English language skill, or NCLC of 7 for each French language skill.

Education requirements

Eligible applicants

At the time your application is postmarked you must have completed a minimum of high school education in your country of origin.

Starting January 1, 2021, all candidates except Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must have completed a minimum of high school equivalent to Alberta standards.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders

Your credential must be issued by an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.

Work experience requirements

Your “current occupation” is the occupation you are working in at the time your application is postmarked to the AINP.

Your current occupation must also match your work experience at the time your application is postmarked and at the time the AINP assesses your application.

Qualifying work experience

• At the time your application is postmarked 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 and/or abroad within the last 30 months

This work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) and/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.

Eligible job offers

For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, at the time your application is postmarked and at the time the AINP assesses your application for nomination, you must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta.

Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.

Your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:

• continuous, paid work

• full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours/week

• employment for 12 months or more

• work in your current occupation

• wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:

  • meet or exceed the requirements set out in your LMIA, or

  • if you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta as set out on the Alis website

• work for an eligible AINP occupation for which you have a work permit that meets AINP work permit requirements

You must meet the terms agreed to in your job offer or employment contract at the time of application and assessment.

Alberta Express Entry Stream - OLD (Refer to above for latest update)

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 who have demonstrated strong ties to Alberta or who can help support the government’s economic development and diversification priorities may be asked to submit an application.

International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions may also be asked to submit an application under this stream.

Only candidates who are asked to submit an application to the Alberta Express Entry Stream will be considered.

Selection from Express Entry pool and Notification of Interest process

Based on available profile information in the Express Entry portal, Alberta may select candidates and send them a Notification of Interest letter in their federal Express Entry profile. This information is self-declared by candidates in the Express Entry pool.

You may receive a Notification of Interest letter if you:

• Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool

• Have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta

• Are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification, and

• Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300.

If you have one or more of the following adaptability factors, this may increase your likelihood of receiving a Notification of Interest letter:

• Alberta job offer and/or work experience

• A graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution

• A relative that is living in Alberta: parent, child, brother and/or sister

Alberta Express Entry Stream assessment criteria

If you have received a request from AINP to submit an application to the Alberta Express Entry Stream, you must determine if you meet the assessment criteria before you submit an application. You may only submit an application if you can demonstrate you meet the following criteria.

You will be assessed against this criteria at the time your package is postmarked and at the time your application is assessed.

To be considered for nomination you must:

• Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool

• Meet the criteria of at least one of the federal immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Federal Skilled Worker Program

• Intend to and be able to live and work in Alberta

• Be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification

• Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300.

If you have one or more of the following adaptability factors, this may increase your likelihood of being nominated:

• Valid Alberta job offer and/or work experience

• A graduate of an Alberta post-secondary institution with a valid Alberta job offer, or

• Parent, child, brother and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream application form is not available online. The AINP provides these documents by email to candidates.

Self-Employed Farmer Stream - old (REFER TO ABOVE FOR LATEST UPDATE)

Requirements

Applicants to the Self-Employed Farmer stream must meet the following criteria. Meeting this criteria does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Farm management skills

Applicants must prove that they have farm management skills.

• Proof of this may include, but is not limited to:

• financial documentation of an existing farm business

• documentation of education, training and work experience

• a proposed business plan for the farming enterprise you are considering in Alberta

• proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance your proposed farming business

Sufficient financial resources

Applicants must be able to invest a minimum of CDN $500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business in Alberta.

Documents must be provided that show a minimum net worth of CDN $500,000 or confirmation of the ability to access to a similar amount of funds from other sources.

Applicants may be required to show the ability to invest more than the minimum.

Primary production investment

Applicants must document their investment plans in a proposed business plan.

Applications representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta's agri-food targets will be given priority.

Eligibility

The following individuals are not eligible under the AINP Self-Employed Farmer Stream:

• refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process. It is not the mandate of the AINP to intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process.

• live-in caregivers currently living in Canada

• temporary foreign workers working and residing in a province other than Alberta

• international students studying in Canada, including students doing co-op work placements or internships as part of their study program