Alberta

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Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) – Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)

This is how to apply for permanent residence in Alberta/Canada if you are an international student with a job offer in Alberta.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) does not have an immigration category/stream dedicated specifically to international students with a job offer.

International students (who have graduated from at least one year program in Alberta and currently work on Post-graduation Work Permit) and have a job offer from an employer in Alberta can apply for provincial nomination and later for permanent status in Canada using Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS).

For students entrepreneurs please see AINP International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream rules.

WHO CAN APPLY:

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.

At the time of your application 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 Education criteria section for details on eligible Alberta credentials and approved Alberta institutions.

PLEASE NOTE: If you started attending your Alberta credential program on or after April 1, 2019 and you have completed an Advanced Education-approved one year post-diploma certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate, your occupation must also be related to your previous post-secondary field of study outside Canada.

Post-Graduation Work Permit holders are not eligible to apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream if they have a job offer for an occupation which is on the list of INELIGIBLE occupations on the list on the AINP web site.

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 are working in a NOC 0, A or B occupation – CLB5 for English and NCLC5 for French
If you are working in a NOC C or D occupation – CLB4 for English and NCLC4 for French

Official test results from IELTS, CELPIP, TEF and TCF are acceptable.

Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your application was postmarked.

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.

Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must meet the following additional education requirements:

Approved Alberta institution

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

Eligible Alberta credential

If you started attending your Alberta credential program before April 1, 2019, your credential must be one of the following Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials:

  • certificate or post-diploma certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate (minimum one year in length)
  • diploma program (minimum 2 years in length)
  • undergraduate bachelor’s degree
  • graduate level degree
  • graduate level certificate
  • graduate level diploma

If you started attending your Alberta credential program on or after April 1, 2019, your credential must be one of the following Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials:

  • post-diploma certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate (minimum one year in length)
  • diploma program (minimum 2 years in length)
  • undergraduate bachelor’s degree
  • graduate level degree
  • graduate level certificate
  • graduate level diploma

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.

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.

For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, work experience in the qualifying period:

  • must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours a week
  • must be for the same occupation as your current occupation
  • must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada
  • cannot have been gained while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program, unless you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder who completed during paid co-op work terms as a part of your program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution.

To qualify, the work terms must have been:

  • paid and full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
  • for work experience directly related to your current occupation, and
  • for work experience all gained in Alberta

All applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, must meet the following licensing, registration and certification requirements:

  • You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta at the time your application is postmarked and at the time the AINP assesses your application for nomination.
  • If you are working in a compulsory trade in Alberta you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate.
  • If you are working as childcare worker, you must have valid certification as a child development worker (formerly Level 2) or child development supervisor (formerly Level 3).

The following individuals cannot apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream:

  • refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process. The AINP does not intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process
  • temporary residents living or working in a province or territory of Canada other than Alberta, or
  • foreign nationals living or working in Canada who do not have valid temporary resident status

JOB OFFER:

At the time of your application and at the time the 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

  • 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.

At the time of your application 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.

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

Individuals working in INELIGIBLE occupations at the time of application and assessment are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Please check the list of INELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS on AINP web site.

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.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Online application using AINP portal.
NO POINT SYSTEM

Once you have been granted provincial nomination you will have to send a separate application for permanent residence in Canada.

APPLICATION FEE:
$500 for application for provincial nomination.

When you apply for permanent resident status in Canada you will have to pay a separate processing fee charged by the federal government.

APPLICATION PROCESSING TIME

CONTACT:
immigration.info@gov.ab.ca
1-877-427-6419

Problems with online account:
Phone: 1-844-643-2788
Email: myalberta.eservices@gov.ab.ca

Temporary foreign worker helpline
Toll free: 1‑877‑944‑9955 (in Alberta)
Edmonton: 780‑644‑9955

Questions about living and working in Alberta temporarily or permanently, can be submitted through the Opportunity Alberta contact form.

For complete and up to date information and detailed program requirements always check the official web page of the program.

Page last updated on February 03, 2022.