Alberta is a wealthy, beautiful, and resource-rich state. Alberta is the most populous of Canada's three "Prairie provinces." It is in Western Canada and has two of the country's biggest cities, Calgary and Edmonton. It is also known as one of the most beautiful places in North America, with national parks like Banff and Jasper.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), which used to be called the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, is run by the state. Through this program, a person who wants to move to Alberta and has the skills and work experience the province needs can get an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate.

Alberta's Immigration Streams

If you want to move to Alberta, you can choose from eight different choices right now. This page will help you figure out which way to get into the country is best for you.

Streams for workers to use

• Alberta Opportunity Stream is for skilled workers in Alberta who are already working in a job that qualifies.

• Alberta General Express Entry Stream is for people in the Express Entry (EE) system who are working in a qualified job and have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300.

• Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is part of the Express Entry stream and is open to people who are currently working in Alberta's technology industry or who have been offered a job in one of 38 categories in that industry.

• Rural Renewal Stream is for people who have been hired by an Alberta company to work in a rural area of Alberta.

Streams for Entrepreneurs 

• Farm Stream is for people in Alberta who want to run a farming business.

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

• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for people who went to college or university outside of Canada and want to start a business in Alberta.

• Rural Entrepreneur Stream is for people who want to buy or start a business in a rural area of Alberta.

The Alberta Opportunity Stream

Under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, foreign nationals who work in Alberta and overseas graduates who studied at a post-secondary school in Alberta that is approved can apply for a provincial nomination.

The fee to apply is $500 CAD.

How it works:

Those who want to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream must do so through the AAIP online site. After that, candidates will be asked to send in specific papers based on their own situations and pay the online application fee.

Requirements at a minimum:

• Must have a legal permit to work;

• Must be working in Alberta in a job that qualifies based on your work experience;

• A minimum level of 4 or 5, based on the job, on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).

• No less than a high school diploma;

• At least 12 months of work experience in Alberta in the last 18 months, or at least 24 months of work experience in Canada in the last 30 months.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream

Alberta can suggest people who already have a profile in the federal Express Entry system through the Express Entry stream. The government may ask people to apply who have ties to Alberta and have the skills to help the province's economy grow.

Those who use Express Entry and get a regional nomination from Alberta get an extra 600 CRS points. This makes it almost certain that you will be invited to apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

The fee to apply is $500 CAD.

How it works:

The only way to use the Alberta Express Entry Stream is to be invited. Candidates with Express Entry profiles may get a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the Alberta government straight in the federal system. Then, the invited candidates have a short amount of time to let the province know if they want to be considered for selection under this stream.

If chosen, the AAIP will ask the candidate to apply for provincial nomination by sending all the necessary papers through the AAIP online portal.

Requirements at a minimum:

• Must be in the pool for Express Entry;

• Must have said they wanted to live in Alberta permanently;

• Must be working in a job that helps Alberta's economy grow and become more diverse;

• A score of at least 300 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is a fast-track immigration program for tech workers who have a profile in the federal government's Express Entry system and are qualified for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. People who think they meet the standards for this stream are encouraged to fill out an online form on the AAIP portal so they can be evaluated under this stream.  The AAIP checks to see if the candidate meets the minimum requirements for eligibility. If they do, the AINP asks the candidate to apply for a provincial nomination. 

The fee to apply is $500 CAD.

How it works is as follows:

Candidates can start the application process through the fast track if they are working or have been offered a job in an eligible tech job with an Alberta technology industry employer and meet the standards of the Alberta Express Entry stream. To do this, they must fill out a form on the AAIP website and send it in. If candidates meet the criteria for their stream, the AAIP will invite them to apply for provincial nomination by sending all of the necessary documents through the AAIP online portal.

Requirements at a minimum:

• Have a profile in the Express Entry system;

• Must have said they wanted to live in Alberta permanently;

• A score of at least 300 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS);

• Must be working in a qualified tech job in Alberta or have a job offer in one. 

The Rural Renewal Stream

The Rural Renewal Stream is for people who have been hired by an Alberta company to work in rural areas of Alberta.  

The fee to apply is $500 CAD.

How it works is as follows:

The community drives this stream, so candidates must first get the backing of a community in Alberta that is taking part. Employers make job offers to foreign nationals in designated communities, and it is up to the community to make sure that the candidate meets the requirements for the stream. The foreign person is then given a letter of support. After getting the recommendation, the foreigner sends their application to the AAIP.

Requirements at a minimum:

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

• You must have worked full-time in a qualified job for at least 12 months in the 18 months before you apply. This work experience can be a mix of jobs in Alberta, other parts of Canada, or outside of the country;

• Must meet a minimum level of language;

• A high school education that is at least as good as the Canadian standard;

• Must show that they have enough money to support themselves and everyone else in their family who will be moving to the chosen community;

The Farm Stream

The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is for people who want to move to Alberta to buy or start their own farming business.

The fee to apply is $500 CAD.

How it works is as follows:

Those who are interested must first send the Alberta government their business plan and wait for a decision. The AAIP talks with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry before making a choice. This is to make sure that the business plan is doable and that the project meets the needs of Alberta's agricultural industry. If you get a good answer, you must then get the required documents and fill out the forms for both the Alberta government and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Requirements at a minimum:

• Skills for running a farm;

• Have enough money (a minimum investment of $500,000 CAD);

• A proposed business plan shows the ideas for investments.

The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream in Alberta is for foreign graduates of post-secondary schools in Alberta that are approved and who want to start or run a business in Alberta.

The fee to apply is $3,500 CAD.

How it works is as follows:

Candidates who are interested must first send an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP online portal. Within 30 days, you'll get your EOI score, and the top candidates will be asked to fill out a Business Application.

When you get an email telling you to submit a Business Application, you have 90 days to do so. You must also send in all the necessary paperwork.

Requirements at a minimum:

• Alberta schooling for at least two years full-time;

• At the time of filing, you must have a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP);

• A score of 7 or higher on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB);

• Must start a new business or run an existing one in which they own at least 34%;

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Alberta's Start-Up for Foreign Graduates This visa is for overseas college graduates who want to start a new business in Alberta and move to Canada permanently.

The fee to apply is $3,500 CAD.

How it works is as follows:

If you want to take part in this program, you have to work with a service that has been chosen. If you meet the standards, this group will give you a letter of recommendation.

Then, you will have to send your letter of reference through the AAIP Portal along with their Expression of Interest (EOI).

The firm will also give you a written report about how they think your business plan will work. This report must be sent in with your application.

What are the organizations that have been picked?

• Empowered Startups

• Platform Calgary

Requirements at a minimum:

• A minimum of six months of full-time work experience managing and/or running the business;

• Needs a business plan with cash projections;

• Must have a post-secondary degree from a school outside of the U.S. and an ECA, which stands for Educational Credential Assessment. The degree must have been earned in the last ten years;

• A 10-minute talk with only slides that describes the business and shows what an investor might want to see;

• A score of 5 or higher on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB);

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

• Must put at least $100,000 in a city or town centre or $50,000 in a rural area. For bigger investments, you get more points. You can do this with your own money or with money from a recognized Canadian bank, venture capital company, or angel investment firm.

• Must have a recommendation letter from a body approved by the AAIP;

• Must have enough money to set up a business in Canada and support themselves and their families there.

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream

Candidates who want to start a business in a rural area of Alberta can use the Rural Entrepreneur Stream.  

The fee to apply is $3,500 CAD.

How it works is as follows:

The community runs this stream, so entrepreneurs who want to start a business in a rural part of Alberta must first get in touch with a community that is taking part and plan a trip to check it out. After the exploratory visit, the entrepreneur must give a business plan with information about the business and how it will help the community. The business owner is then given a letter of support. After getting backing from the community, the foreign national sends an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP.

Requirements at a minimum:

• Minimum of three years as a business owner or manager, or at least four years as a top manager in the last ten years;

• Minimum of high school education equal to the Canadian standard with an Education Credential Assessment (ECA);

• Have a minimum of a CLB 4 in English or an NCLC 4 in French on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Canadian Language Competency (NCLC) scale;

• Must have at least $300,000 in cash.

• Minimum of $200,000 in stock from the candidate (and/or spouse or common-law partner);

• Must have a letter of support from a rural Alberta town that is taking part.

FAQS

1. What is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, formerly known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), is a provincial immigration program in Canada. It allows the province of Alberta to nominate individuals who have the skills and work experience needed to contribute to Alberta's economy and communities for permanent residency in Canada.

2. How many immigration streams are available under the AAIP?

There are eight different immigration streams under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. These streams cater to various categories of applicants, including skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals.

3. What are the streams available for skilled workers in Alberta?

For skilled workers, the available streams include the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta General Express Entry Stream, Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway, and the Rural Renewal Stream.

4. What streams are available for entrepreneurs and business owners?

Entrepreneurs and business owners can choose from the Farm Stream, Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, and Rural Entrepreneur Stream.

5. What are the basic eligibility criteria for the Alberta Opportunity Stream?

To be eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, applicants must have a legal permit to work in Alberta, work in a qualifying job, meet language requirements, have at least a high school diploma, and possess specific work experience in Alberta or Canada.

6. How does the Alberta Express Entry Stream work?

The Alberta Express Entry Stream is for candidates with Express Entry profiles who want to live and work in Alberta. Applicants must have a job that contributes to Alberta's economic growth, a minimum CRS score, and an intention to live in Alberta permanently. The Alberta government issues invitations to apply.

7. What is the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway for tech professionals?

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is designed for tech workers with Express Entry profiles who meet the criteria for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. It provides a fast-track option for individuals working in eligible tech jobs in Alberta.

8. How can candidates apply through the Rural Renewal Stream?

Candidates for the Rural Renewal Stream must first secure a job offer from an Alberta employer in a designated rural community. The community must support the candidate's application, and once the candidate has a letter of support, they can apply through the AAIP.

9. What are the requirements for the Farm Stream for self-employed farmers?

To apply through the Farm Stream, individuals must demonstrate skills for running a farm, make a minimum investment in their farming business, and provide a proposed business plan that aligns with Alberta's agricultural industry needs.

10. How does the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream work for foreign graduates in Alberta?

Foreign graduates of approved post-secondary schools in Alberta can apply for the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream. They need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), meet language requirements, hold a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), and have a business plan to start or run a business in Alberta.

11. What is the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream and how does it work?

This stream is for overseas college graduates who want to start a business in Alberta. Candidates must work with an approved organization, obtain a recommendation letter, submit their application through the AAIP Portal, and meet specific requirements, including financial investment and language proficiency.

12. What are the organizations chosen for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream?

The organizations chosen for this stream include Empowered Startups and Platform Calgary.

13. How does the Rural Entrepreneur Stream for starting a business in rural Alberta work?

Candidates interested in starting a business in a rural area of Alberta must connect with a participating community, conduct an exploratory visit, obtain community support, and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP.

14. What are the financial requirements for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream?

Applicants must have a minimum of $300,000 in cash and a minimum of $200,000 in stock. Additionally, they should have a letter of support from a participating rural Alberta town.

15. What is the application fee for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?

The application fee for most streams under the AAIP is $3,500 CAD. However, the fee for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta General Express Entry Stream, Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway, Rural Renewal Stream, and Farm Stream is $500 CAD.