Alberta Immigration Program

1. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is basically a program that economically helps the country with the revenue.
2. This program nominates the eligible candidates/individuals for permanent residence in Alberta based on the Profile and the requirements of the province.
3. The program is carried by the Governments of Alberta and Canada. So, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) manages applications for permanent residence. The Central government can also make final decisions on these applications.
4. Any individuals who get eligible under this program can apply to get nominated by the government for the work purpose and also, they can live in Alberta permanently.
5. If you are nominated through the program, you may apply for permanent residence status together with your spouse/Common-law partner & children. So, he/she must also be able to provide for their families.
6. Eligible applicants must have skills to fill job shortages available in the province to get the nomination or be planning to buy/start a business or any other work in Alberta.
7. There are five streams under this program and they are as follow:
   • Alberta Opportunity Stream
   • Alberta Express Entry Stream
   • Self-Employed Farmer Stream
   • International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
   • Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream

• This Stream is introduced and mainly beneficial for the temporary foreign workers who are already working full-time in Alberta and have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer.
• There are few requirements to be fulfilled by the applicants to fall under this stream.
• To get eligible in AOS one must have/fulfill certain requirements:
  1. Residency and Work Permit requirement
  2. Occupation requirement
  3. Language requirement
  4. Education requirement
  5. Work experience requirement
  6. Job offer requirement

Residency And Work Permit Requirement

• Applicants must have valid status as a temporary resident in Canada which authorizes them to work.
• The candidate must be residing and working in the province of Alberta
• Residency status considered ineligible under the AOS includes:
  1. Refugee claimants or individuals involved in the federal process.
  2. Temporary residents residing or working in other Canadian provinces.
  3. Foreign nationals residing or working in Canada without a valid temporary resident status.
• Applicant must have a valid work permit for an eligible occupation based on
  1. Positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
  2. Other workers covered under international trade agreements, Transferees or people taking part in International Experience Canada as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  3. The applicant can be a post-graduation work permit holder with an occupation related to his/her field of study in Alberta.

Occupation Requirement

1. An Applicant must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta at the time of application, and that should also match with the previous work experience.
2. If an individual completed an Alberta approved one year post-graduate certificate,he/she must be employed in an occupation related to your previous undergraduate or graduate field of study outside Canada.

Language Requirement:

1. An Applicant shall have a minimum CLB score of 4 in English or French in each language skill that is Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing in English or French.
2. If the Applicants code comes under Nurse’s aide or any patient service basis, they must have a minimum of CLB 7 in English or French.
3. CLB 5 in each skill is a must if he/she is applying under NOC Level O, A, B job.
4. TRF must be less than 2 years old at the time of your application submission.

Education Requirement:

1. Applicant must have completed High school diploma in their origin country which must be at least equivalent to Canadian high school diploma.
2. The level of foreign education must be verified through ECA from an IRCC-recognized organization that confirms the education requirements are met.
3. ECAs are not required if the applicant has a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution.
4. If a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder is applying for the AOS, they must meet the requirements for graduation for an Alberta Advanced Education approved credential in the province.

Work Experience Requirement:

Current occupation’ means the occupation in which an individual is working at the time of the application.

1. Applicant must currently be employed in the occupation listed as same current occupation at the time of submitting the application.
2. Current occupation must match the work experience and the occupation at the time of applying for the application.
3. Applicant must have a minimum of 12 months maximum 24 months of full-time work experience in the 'current occupation' in Alberta or in Canada or outside Canada within the last 30 months.
4. Work experience can be a combination of experience gained in the province of Alberta, in Canada and also outside Canada.
5. A Post Graduate work permit holder must have a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months and must currently be in an occupation related to his/her field of study in Alberta.
6. One year post graduate’s occupation must also be related to their previous undergraduate or graduate field of study Canada.

Job Offer Requirement:

Current occupation’ means the occupation in which an individual is working at the time of the application.

1. Applicant must currently be employed in the occupation listed as same current occupation at the time of submitting the application.
2. Current occupation must match the work experience and the occupation at the time of applying for the application.
3. Applicant must have a minimum of 12 months maximum 24 months of full-time work experience in the 'current occupation' in Alberta or in Canada or outside Canada within the last 30 months.
4. Work experience can be a combination of experience gained in the province of Alberta, in Canada and also outside Canada.
5. A Post Graduate work permit holder must have a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months and must currently be in an occupation related to his/her field of study in Alberta.
6. One year post graduate’s occupation must also be related to their previous undergraduate or graduate field of study Canada.

How To Apply:

1. Read the terms and conditions
2. Review the eligibility criteria
3. Complete the application online
4. Pay the application fee
5. Wait For Nomination

After Getting Nominated:

1. Review the nomination package
2. Get the PR Application ready
3. Submit the Application
4. Medical and criminal security checks
5. Change of information
6. Extend the work permit
7. Extend the nomination

• Alberta Express Entry is one of the streams of Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program operated by the province of Alberta.
• The Alberta Express Entry stream selects a limited number of candidates from IRCC’s Express Entry pool and invites them to apply for nomination by the province.
• Not All the candidates under Express Entry will be considered eligible, So Candidates cannot apply directly to the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
• Candidates who can strongly help & support the government’s economic development may be asked to submit an application.
• International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions may also apply under this stream.
• You cannot use a nomination under a different AINP stream to apply under the Alberta Express Entry Stream. So, this stream nominees cannot extend their nomination.
• Candidates may be banned for up to 5 years from reapplying to the AINP if they find any Fraudulent Activity.
• Alberta Express Entry Stream nominees cannot extend their nomination.
• A candidate must have an active profile in one of the following three Express Entry programs (FSW, FSTP, CEC).
• Candidates who are successfully nominated through this stream will be invited to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
• To get eligible in AEES one must have/fulfill certain requirements:
  1. Express Entry profile and Language proficiency
  2. Selection and Application process
  3. Selection Draws
  4. Application Procedure

Express Entry Profile & language Proficiency:

• Alberta Express Entry is to be considered when the candidates have an active Express Entry profile in FSW, CEC, FSTP programs.
• In FSW requires candidates to have, at minimum, a high school diploma, as well as at least one year of continuous full-time, skilled work experience. Work experience is considered skilled if obtained in a position at NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B
• Candidates must also obtain CLB Level 7 language proficiency in English or French consistently.
• In CEC, no minimum education is required. Candidates must have a minimum of 1 year of full-time Canadian skilled work experience. It does not have to be continuous, but it must be within 3 years prior to application. Work experience is considered skilled if obtained in a position at NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B.
• Candidates must obtain CLB Level 7 language proficiency in English or French consistent with CLB level 7 for NOC Skill Level 0 or A & CLB 5 for work experience at NOC Skill Level B.
• Federal Skilled Trade Program requires candidates to have licensing or certification to practice their trade in a province or territory in Canada or an offer for full-time employment in a position lasting at least 12-months.
• As well, All FSTP candidates must obtain language proficiency equal to at least CLB 4 in English or French.

Selection & Application Process:

• Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility requirements must create an Express Entry profile to apply. They must wait to get issued a Notification from Alberta.
• There is No Guarantee that a candidate with the eligible criteria will get an invitation, only those candidates will be nominated in which the province may be interested.
• Once a candidate receives an NOI, they will be given a deadline for submitting a complete application to the program.
• Medical and criminal security checks
• Change of information
• Extend the work permit
• Extend the nomination

Selection Draw:

Information on draws will typically be posted approximately one month after from the date when the draw is conducted

Assessment Criteria:

To be considered for nomination they meet the criteria at the time.They are as follows:

1. He/she must have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
2. Profile must meet the criteria of at least one of the immigration programs CEC,FSTP,FSW.
3. He /she must be able to live and work in Alberta
4. They are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development
5. They must have a minimum CRS score of 300

One must not be invited to apply if:

1. They have an active nomination which has not expired because Candidates are only eligible for one AINP nomination certificate.
2. They have been issued a letter on a previous application that stated you are not eligible to re-apply to the same program for a specified period of time.

How To Apply:

1. Respond to the Notification of Interest (NOI) letter
2. Receive a request from the AINP to apply to this stream
3. Read the terms and conditions
4. Complete your application online and pay your application fee

After Getting Nominated:

1. Accept your AINP nomination
2. Review your nomination certificate
3. Receive an invitation to apply
4. Apply online for permanent residence
5. Submit the Application
6. Medical and criminal security checks
7. Change of information
8. Extend the work permit
9. Extend the nomination

• The name itself says that their motive for this stream is for only farmers.
• Any experienced farm owners and operators who wish to own and operate a farm in Alberta can apply through this stream.
• To apply, one must have intention to set up a farming business in Alberta and must have farm management skills
• He/she must also have sufficient financial resources to invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta.

Eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. They may prove by including their financial status of their existing farm business
2. Documentation based on agriculture related education, training and work experience
3. Proper business plan for the farming what the person is planning to do in Alberta
4. Proof that any Canadian financial institution who is willing to finance the farming.
5. Enough financial source.
6. Applicants must be able to invest a minimum of $500,000 of equity in a primary farming business in Alberta

Eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. Candidates must prove that they have financial resources whatever is required to develop a farming operation.
2. Minimum investment of $500,000 CAD of equity in a primary farming business is required in Alberta
3. The province will give preference to applications representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta’s agri-food needs

Eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. Eligible candidates can submit an application at any time and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. Whoever is interested in applying in the stream must first contact Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF) for preparing their application.
3. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development examine the applicants before they can submit an application.
4. Candidates may wish to arrange an exploratory visit to Alberta prior to submitting an application.
5. Interested candidates must prepare a complete paper-based application.
6. All documents must be prepared in hard copy and submitted to (AAF) office.

After Getting Nominated:

1. After nomination, Applicants have 6 month’s time to submit the application.
2. Applicants in this program must submit a paper-based application for PR.
3. This Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence takes time within 15-18 months.

• International Graduates from Alberta can mainly aim for International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
• This stream is mainly for applicants who want to establish or operate a business in the province.
• Before getting nomination by the AINP for PR, Candidates must operate their business for at least 12 months while in Alberta on a work permit.

Selection & Application Process

1. An AINP official will contact the applicant for more information, once after the AINP receives their Business Application,
2. EOI points will be verified.
3. The AINP does not guarantee that all complete Business Applications received will be assessed or that all candidates who meet the assessment criteria will be issued a nomination.
4. Submission of a Business Application or nomination by the AINP does not guarantee that he/she will be issued a permanent resident visa.
5. Alberta may select candidates with the highest-ranking points and invite them to submit a Business Application.

Education

Candidates must have completed at least two years of full-time study in Alberta, resulting in a post-secondary educational credential from an Alberta educational institution. This program must have resulted in a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Post Graduate Work Permit

Candidates must have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) which is valid for at least two years at the time of EOI submission.

Language Proficiency

Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in either English or French by completing an approved language test. Candidates must score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7) in all four components of the language test.

Business Establishment

Candidates must buy or establish a new business in Alberta. They must own at least 34% of the business. The proposed business must not be on the ineligible businesses list.

• International graduates who are from outside Canada and want to start businesses and settle in Alberta can reach up to this stream.
• This stream is freshly launched in 2021.
• The Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa Stream is an immigration pathway included in the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).
• To manage the stream, the AINP is collaborating with two approved designated agencies.
• Foreign graduates who wish to use the FGSVS to immigrate to Alberta must first work with one of the approved designated agencies.
• The designated agency will review the graduate’s business plans and, if they deem the plan worthy, the agency will issue a letter of recommendation.
• Receiving a letter of recommendation from an approved designated agency is one of the mandatory requirements for the FGSVS, but it is only one of many steps involved in the process.
• The minimum eligibility criteria for the FGSVS are as follows:

Work Experience

Must have at least 6 months of experience owning or managing the business (working with a business accelerator or incubator may qualify).

Education

Must have completed a degree from a post-secondary institution outside Canada with the two years prior to applying and hold an ECA showing the credential is equivalent to a Canadian degree.

Language Ability

Must have completed an approved language test in either English or French an achieve a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7) in all four abilities.

Letter Of Recommendation

Must submit a letter of recommendation from an approved designated agency for the FGSVS.

Business Plan

1. Must submit a business plan with projected financials.
2. Must have a minimum of 34% ownership if the business is located in an urban centre or a minimum of 51% ownership if located in a regional area outside Calgary and Edmonton.

Business Investment

Must have a minimum level of investment from the candidate’s own equity, or from a Canadian financial institution, venture capital or investing firm prior to coming to Canada. Minimum investment requirement is CAD$100,000 for businesses located in urban centers and $50,000 for those located outside urban centers.

Settlement Funds

Must have enough settlement funds to support themselves and accompanying family members upon arrival in Canada. Settlement funds are based on family size and the population size of the community where the applicant intends to settle.