Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (Formerly known as the AINP)
Alberta, located in Western Canada, is home to two of the country’s major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, and is the most populated of the three ‘Prairie provinces’. It is also known as one of the most beautiful sections of North America, featuring well-known national parks like Banff and Jasper.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, is operated by the government. Prospective immigrants with the necessary skills and work experience may be eligible for an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate under this program.
Alberta Immigration Streams
If you want to immigrate to Alberta, you have eight different options. We at the company name will assist you in determining which immigration stream is most suited to your situation.
Alberta Streams for workers
- Alberta Opportunity Stream is for skilled people who are currently employed in an eligible occupation in Alberta.
- Alberta General Express Entry Stream is for Express Entry (EE) candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300 and current employment in a qualifying occupation.
- The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is part of the Express Entry stream and is accessible to candidates who are presently employed in Alberta’s technology industry or have received a job offer from that business in one of the province’s 38 recognized jobs.
- Rural Renewal Stream is for individuals who have received a job offer from an Alberta company to work in a rural Alberta community.
Alberta Streams for Entrepreneurs
- Farm Stream is for people who want to run a farming business in Alberta.
- The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for international graduates of a certified post-secondary institution in Alberta who want to establish a business in Alberta.
- The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for foreign nationals who have graduated from outside of Canada and want to start a business in Alberta.
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream is for entrepreneurs looking to buy or start a business in a rural Alberta community.
Summary of AAIP Options
Category | Is a job required? | Is the stream aligned with Express Entry? | Is it currently receiving applications? | Connection to province |
Alberta Opportunity Stream | Yes | No | Yes | Have work experience in the province |
Alberta Express Entry Stream | No | Yes | Yes | Have work experience in the province OR Have a parent, child, brother or sister who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen of Alberta |
Accelerated Tech Pathway | Yes | Yes | Yes | Work full-time in Alberta or having a job offer for full-time work in Alberta |
Rural Renewal Stream | Yes | No | Yes | Must intend to and be able to reside and work in the designated community in Alberta |
Farm Stream | No | No | Yes | N/A |
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | No | No | Yes | Completed education in Alberta |
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | No | No | Yes | N/A |
Rural Entrepreneur Stream | No | No | Yes | Must have a community support letter from a participating rural Alberta community |
Alberta Opportunity Stream
Foreign nationals working in Alberta, as well as foreign graduates who finished their studies at an authorized Alberta postsecondary school, are eligible to apply for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
How It Works:
Candidates interested in the Alberta Opportunity Stream must submit their applications online through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Official site. Following that, candidates will be requested to provide certain papers based on their requirements, as well as pay the online application cost.
Application Fee:
CAD $500.
Minimum requirements:
- Must hold a valid work visa.
- You must work in an approved occupation in Alberta that matches your job experience.
- A minimal Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 or 5, depending on the occupation.
- A minimum of a high school diploma.
- A minimum of 12 months of job experience in Alberta in the last 18 months, or a minimum of 24 months of work experience in Canada in the previous 30 months.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Express Entry stream enables Alberta to nominate people who already have a profile in the federal Express Entry system. Individuals with demonstrable links to Alberta and the ability to contribute to the province’s economic growth may be encouraged to apply.
Express Entry applicants who earn a provincial nomination from Alberta will be granted an additional 600 CRS points. This almost assures an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry round.
How It Works:
The Alberta Express Entry Stream accepts only invitations. Candidates with Express Entry profiles may get a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the Alberta government through the federal system. Invited candidates then have a limited amount of time to notify the province that they wish to be considered for selection under this stream.
If selected, the AAIP will suggest candidates file for a provincial nomination by providing all relevant documentation through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program online portal.
Application Fee:
CAD $500
Minimum requirements:
- Must be in the Express Entry pool.
- Must have shown interest in permanently relocating to Alberta.
- Must work in an occupation that promotes Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
- A Minimum CRS score of 300.
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is a fast-track immigration program for technology professionals who have a profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system and qualify for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. Individuals who have decided that they match the stream’s eligibility requirements are invited to submit an online form via the AAIP portal to be assessed under this stream. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program confirms that the candidate fits the minimal qualifying requirements, and if so, the AINP invites them to seek a provincial nomination.
How It Works:
Candidates can begin the application process under the accelerated route if they are presently employed or have a job offer from an Alberta technology industry employer in an approved tech vocation and fulfill the Alberta Express Entry standards. To do so, they must complete an online form on the AAIP website. If they match the stream criteria, applicants will be invited by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program to apply for provincial nomination by providing all relevant documentation via the AAIP online portal.
Application Fee:
CAD $500
Minimum requirements:
- Applicants must have an Express Entry profile.
- Must have shown interest in permanently relocating to Alberta.
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.
- Must work or have received a job offer in an appropriate tech occupation in Alberta.
Rural Renewal Stream
The Rural Renewal Stream is open to individuals who have received a job offer from an Alberta company to work in rural areas.
How It Works:
This stream is community-driven, which means applicants must first get the endorsement of a participating community in Alberta. Designated communities aim to recruit and retain foreign nationals; firms make employment offers, and the community is responsible for verifying that the individual satisfies the stream requirements. A letter of support is then sent to the foreign national. After receiving the endorsement, the foreign national submits their application to the AAIP.
Application Fee:
CAD $500
Minimum Requirements:
- A valid full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer for a qualifying occupation in a designated locality.
- You must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in an approved occupation during the 18 months before your application. This job experience might be a combination of experiences in Alberta, other parts of Canada, or abroad.
- Must fulfill the basic language standards.
- Minimum high school education equal to the Canadian education norm;
- Must demonstrate that they have adequate means to maintain themselves and other family members who will be moving into the approved neighborhood.
Farmer Stream
The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is for people who want to immigrate to Alberta to buy or develop an agricultural enterprise.
How It Works:
Interested candidates must first submit their business plans to the Alberta government and await a decision. The AAIP makes its decisions after consulting with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to verify that the business plan is practical and that the project fulfills the needs of Alberta’s agricultural industry. If you make a good decision, you must gather the necessary documentation and complete the applicable paperwork for both the Alberta government and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Application Fee:
CAD $500
Minimum requirements
- include farm management abilities,
- sufficient financial resources (minimum investment of CAD $500,000), and
- proven investment plans in a proposal business plan.
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Alberta’s Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream is for foreign graduates of authorized Alberta post-secondary schools who want to start or run a business in Alberta.
How It Works:
Interested applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the AAIP’s online portal. You will get an EOI score within 30 days, and the top candidates will be invited to submit a Business Application.
A Business Application must be completed within 90 days after receiving an email request to submit one. You must also provide all the needed documentation.
Application fees:
CAD $3,500
Minimum requirements:
- At least two years of full-time schooling in Alberta.
- A valid Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) at the time of application.
- A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of seven;
- Must start a new firm or run an existing one with at least 34% ownership.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Alberta’s Foreign Graduate Start-Up The visa is for foreign-educated international graduates who want to start a business in Alberta and become permanent citizens of Canada.
How It Works:
If you are interested in this program, you must collaborate with a specific agency. If you satisfy the qualifications, this agency will provide you with a letter of reference.
Next, You must submit your letter of reference and your Expression of Interest (EOI) via the AAIP portal.
The agency will also produce a written report on their findings about your suggested company strategy. You must submit this report together with your application.
What are the designated agencies?
- Empowered Startups
- Platform Calgary
Application fees:
CAD $3,500.
Minimum requirements:
- A minimum of six months of full-time job experience in company management and/or ownership;
- Must have a business strategy with expected financials.
- Must have a postsecondary education from a foreign institution and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The degree must have been completed in the last 10 years.
- A 10-minute slides-only presentation that discusses the business and specifies what an investor would like to see.
- A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5;
- Must have at least 34% ownership if the firm is situated in an urban area, or at least 51% ownership if located outside of Calgary or Edmonton.
- A minimum investment of $100,000 is required for a metropolitan center, and $50,000 for a regional location. More points are provided for larger investments.
- To apply, you must have a letter of reference from an AAIP-approved agency, have enough money to start your business, and be able to sustain yourself and your family in Canada. The funding can come from your equity or a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm.
Rural Entrepreneur Stream
The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is for candidates interested in starting a business in Alberta’s rural regions.
How It Works:
This stream is community-driven, which means that entrepreneurs looking to start a company in rural Alberta must first contact a participating community and schedule an exploratory visit. Following the exploratory visit, the entrepreneur must submit a business plan that includes information on the business and its value to the community. A supporting letter is then delivered to the entrepreneur. Once the foreign national has gained the support of the community, they submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP.
Application fees:
CAD $3,500
Minimum requirements:
- Minimum 3 years of active business ownership/management experience, or a minimum of 4 years of senior management experience within the last 10 years;
- A minimum of high school comparable to the Canadian standard and an Education Credential Assessment (ECA);
- Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadienne (NCLC) of 4 for each French language skill;
- Must have a net worth of at least $300,000.
- A minimum investment of $200,000 from the candidate’s own (and/or spouse/common-law partner) equity;
- A letter of community support from a participating rural Alberta community is required.
