Alberta is one the most prosperous places/ provinces, rich in natural beauty and resources. It is located in Western Canada and is home to two of Canada’s biggest cities, i.e., Edmonton and Calgary. In addition, it is the most populous of the country’s three ‘prairie provinces’. 

Moreover, it is also renowned as one of North America’s most beautiful & serene parts, with famous national parks like Jasper & Banff. 

The province operates the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. Through this provincial nominee program, forthcoming immigrants having the right mix of skills and work experience can acquire the Alberta Provincial Nominee Certificate. 

Today, in this blog, we will discuss all about the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. So, hang on for some deep insights!     

 

Alberta Provincial Nominee Program: The Immigration Streams 

If you want to immigrate to Alberta, you presently have eight options to choose from. Let’s have a look at these options: 

 

Immigration Stream For Workers 

• Alberta Opportunity Stream 

This stream is for skilled workers in an eligible Alberta profession. 

• Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway 

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway falls under the Express Entry stream & is open to candidates presently working in Alberta’s technology industry. In addition, the stream is also available for applicants who have obtained a job offer from that industry in over 38 occupations identified by the province. 

• Alberta General Express Entry Stream 

This stream is for applicants in the Express Entry system with a CRS, i.e., Comprehensive Ranking System score of at least 300 and presently working in an eligible profession. 

• Rural Renewal Stream 

This stream is for applicants having a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in a rural Alberta Community! 

 

Stream For Entrepreneurs 

• Farm Stream 

Farm Stream is for applicants who want to operate a farming business in the province. 

• Rural Entrepreneur Stream 

This stream is specifically for entrepreneurs who want to acquire a business or begin one in the rural community of Alberta. 

• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream 

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for international/ foreign graduates of a designated post-secondary institution/ university in the province who wish to begin a business in Alberta. 

• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream  

This stream is for foreign nationals who graduated outside Canada and now wish to begin a business in Alberta. 

 

Let us simplify this for you by summarizing all the streams in the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. 

 

Category	Is The Job Required	Is The Stream Aligned With Express Entry	Is It Presently Receiving Any Applications?	Connection To Province
Alberta Opportunity   Stream	Yes	No	Yes	Must have work experience in the province/   area
Alberta Express Entry   Stream	No	Yes	Yes	Must have work experience in the province/   area   Or   Have a parent, child, or sibling who is a   Canadian citizen
Accelerated Tech Pathway	Yes	Yes	Yes	Have full-time work experience in Alberta   Or   Have a full-time job offer in Alberta
Rural Renewal Stream	Yes	No	Yes	Must live & work in Alberta’s designated   community
Farm Stream	No	No	Yes	N/A
Graduate Entrepreneur   Stream	No	No	Yes	Completed education in the province
Foreign Graduate   Entrepreneur Stream	No	No	Yes	N/A
Rural Entrepreneur Stream	No	No	Yes	Should have a community support letter from a   participating Alberta community

 

Now that you have an overview of the immigration streams in the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program let’s discuss each stream in detail. 

Alberta Opportunity Stream 

International graduates who have finished their studies at an approved Alberta Post-Secondary institution, along with Foreign nationals working in Alberta, are eligible to apply for a regional/ provincial nomination under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. 

Application Fee: CAD 500

 

How It Works: 

Applicants who are interested in this stream must conclude their application via the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program online portal. After that, applicants will be asked to submit certain documents depending on their situation, further paying the online application fee and enrolling in the stream. 

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Applicants must have a valid work permit. 
• In addition, they should be working in an eligible profession in Alberta that matches their work experience.
• Applicants need a minimum CLB, i.e., Canadian Language Benchmark Level of 4 or 5, depending upon which occupation they are in.
• A minimum of a high-school degree 
• A minimum of 12 months of work experience in the province in the past 18 months or a minimum of 24 months of experience in Canada in the last 30 months. 

 

Alberta Express Entry Stream

The Express Entry Stream is the second stream in the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. 

The Express Entry System allows Alberta to nominate individuals with a profile in the federal Express Entry system. Moreover, applicants who have demonstrated ties to Alberta and have the required skills to contribute to the economic growth of the province might be invited to submit an application. 

In addition, the Express Entry applicants who have received a provincial nomination from Alberta are awarded extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System points. As a result, this guarantees to receive an invitation to apply for permanent accommodation in the forthcoming Express Entry draw. 

Application Fee: CAD 500

 

How It Works: 

The Alberta Express Entry Stream works just via the invitation. Candidates with an Express Entry profile can receive a Notification Of Interest, i.e., NOI, from the Alberta Government directly in the Federal System. Further, invited applicants have limited time to indicate their interest in being selected under this stream. 

If an applicant is selected, they will obtain a request from the AAIP to apply for a provincial nomination by offering all the documents through the AAIP online portal.    

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Applicants must be in Express Entry Pool 
• They must have expressed their interest in immigrating to the province
• They must be working in a profession that supports Alberta’s Economic diversification as well as development 
• Finally, applicants must have a minimum CRS score of 300. 

 

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway 

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is a fast-track immigration program for tech professionals with a profile in the Express Entry System of the federal government, thus being eligible for Alberta Express Entry Stream. Applicants who have determined to meet the stream’s eligibility criteria are invited to submit an online form on the AAIP portal to be accessed under this stream. 

The portal further verifies that the applicants meet the minimum eligibility criteria, thus inviting the applicants to apply for a provincial nomination. 

Application Fee: CAD 500

 

How It Works: 

Applicants can initiate the application process if they are working or have an offer letter from an Alberta technology industry employer in an eligible tech occupation. To do so, the applicants must submit an online form via the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program website. If the applicants meet the criteria, they will get an invitation from the AAIP to apply for provincial nomination. 

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Candidates must be having a profile in the Express Entry Pool 
• Must express interest in immigrating to Alberta on a permanent basis 
• A minimum CRS score of 300
• Finally, applicants must be working or get an offer letter in an eligible tech profession in the province 

 

Rural Renewal Stream

This Alberta Provincial Nominee Program stream is for applicants with a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in rural communities. 

Application Fee: CAD 500

 

How It Works: 

Rural Renewal Stream is community-driven, implying that applicants must first obtain the support of participating communities in the province. Well, there are specific designated communities that work to entice & retain foreign nationals. Employers further make their job offers, and the community is responsible for ensuring the applicants meet the criteria. 

In addition, a letter of support is then provided to the foreign nationals. Once the foreign nationals receive the endorsement, they submit their application to the AAIP. 

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Candidates must have a full-time job offer from an employer in Alberta to work in an eligible occupation in a designated community.
• They must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible profession in the last 18 months. However, this experience can be a mix of working in Alberta or any other province in Canada or abroad. 
• They must meet minimum language requirements.    
• Applicants must have a minimum of a high school education equivalent to the standards of Canadian education.
• Finally, they must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves & all family members who will be residing in the community. 

 

Farm Stream 

The farm stream is for applicants interested in immigrating to Alberta to buy or start a farming business. 

Application Fee: $500

 

How It Works: 

Interested candidates should first submit their business plan to the Alberta Government & then wait to obtain a decision. The AAIP bases its decisions upon consulting with Alberta Forestry & Agriculture to ensure the business plan is feasible. If you get a favorable decision, then you must gather the essential documents & fill in the required forms for both IRCC & Alberta Government.

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Farm management skills 
• Enough funds 
• Investment plans documented as a business plan 

 

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream 

Alberta’s International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream is for foreign graduates of approved post-secondary universities & institutions interested in operating a business in Alberta. 

Application Fee: CAD 3,500

 

How It Works: 

Interested applicants must first submit an EOI, i.e., an Expression of Interest, through the online portal of AAIP. Further, the applicants will receive an EOI score within 30 days & the highest-ranking applicants will be asked to offer a business application. 

 

A business application should be completed within 90 days of getting an email asking you to submit one. Further, you must submit all the necessary documents. 

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Applicants require at least two years of full-time education in the province 
• A valid PGWP is needed at the time of application.
• Applicants must establish a new business or operate an existing one with at least 34% ownership.
• A minimum CLB, i.e., Canadian Language Benchmark level of 7.

 

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream 

This Alberta Provincial Nominee Program stream is for foreign-educated international applicants who want to begin a startup in Alberta & become permanent inhabitants in Canada. 

Application Fee: CAD 3,500

 

How It Works: 

If you wish to enroll in this program, then you must work with a reputed/ designated agency. If you meet all the requirements, this agency will issue you a LOR, i.e., a letter of recommendation. 

Further, you can submit your letter of recommendation with an EOI via the AAIP portal. 

In addition, the agency will also provide a written report in their assessment of your proposed business plan. You must submit this report with the application. 

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• At least six months of complete work experience in owning/ managing a business.   
• Must have a post-secondary education from an international institution & have an ECA. Ensure that the degree you provide is completed within the last ten years. 
• A ten-minute PPT that explains the business & the details of what an investor desires to see. 
• A minimum CLB level of 5.
• There should be at least 34% ownership if the business is in an urban center. In addition, more points are offered for significant investments. These can be made from your own equity or a reputed Canadian institution, angel investment firm, venture capital, etc. 
• Should have a LOR, i.e., a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved agency. 
• You should have sufficient money to set up your business & support yourself & your family in Canada.          

 

Rural Entrepreneur Stream 

The final Alberta Provincial Nominee Program stream is the Rural Entrepreneur Stream. It is for applicants who wish to start a business in the rural communities of Alberta. 

Application Fee: CAD 3,500

 

How It Works: 

This stream is community-driven, implying that entrepreneurs who wish to establish a business in rural places in Alberta must primarily make contact with the community and visit them. 

After the visit, the entrepreneur must provide a business proposal containing information regarding the business and benefits offered to the community. 

Finally, a supporting letter is provided to the entrepreneur. Once the foreign national has the community’s support, they submit an EOI to AAIP. 

 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Must have a community support letter from a participating Alberta community. 
• A minimum investment of $200,000 is made by applicants from their own equity. 
• They must have a minimum CLB level of 4 for every English language skill. 
• Applicants must have at least a net worth of $300,000. 
• They must have a minimum high school equivalent to the standards of Canadian education with an ECA. 
• Finally, a minimum of three years of experience as an active business owner or a minimum of four years of experience as a senior manager in the last ten years is needed. 

 

Conclusion 

So, this was all about the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. As we discussed, this is an economic immigration program that focussed on nominating people for gaining permanent resident status in Canada. Nominees must have relevant skills in order to buy or begin a business in the province. In addition, they must also be able to provide for themselves & their families. 

The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program is run by Alberta & Canadian Governments. 

 

FAQs  

• What professions are in demand in Alberta? 

The high-in-demand professions in Alberta include:  

• Translators 
• Optometrists 
• Dental Hygienists
• Dietitians 
• Nutritionists 
• Cabinetmakers 

 

• Is Alberta diverse? 

According to Canada’s last census conducted in 2016, minority communities, like Chinese, South Asian, Latin American, Arab, West Asian, Japanese, etc., made it to over 23% of Alberta’s population. 

The indigenous population made up another 6.5%. So, yes! Alberta is quite diverse in its nature!  

 

• Are salaries higher in Alberta? 

Alberta has a higher family income as compared to the rest of the Canadian provinces. 

As per the 2018 Canadian Income Survey, families in Alberta earned around $98,400 after tax, which is relatively high! 

 

• How many immigrants come to Alberta every year? 

Alberta welcomes over 40,000 new immigrants every year, according to the data offered by IRCC.