Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
What is AAIP ?
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), aims to support the economic growth of the province by attracting skilled individuals who are ready to contribute to its workforce. Alberta is a sought-after destination for immigration, offering a cost-effective standard of living compared to other provinces. Additionally, with Calgary consistently ranked among the top 10 best places to live, it provides an easily adaptable and desirable lifestyle.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Streams
1. AAIP Streams for Foreign Skilled Workers
The Alberta Express Entry Stream is designed for individuals who are part of Canada's Express Entry system, including foreign skilled workers and international students. Under this stream, the province of Alberta selects qualified candidates from the national pool to issue an Invitation to Apply. These individuals have strong connections to Alberta and possess skills that contribute to the province's economic development.
- Express Entry Profile: You must have an active Express Entry Profile.
- Occupation: Current occupation in your federal Express Entry profile should be an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
- Minimum CRS Score: you have to score a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System of 300.
- Intention to live in Alberta: you must be interested in immigrating permanently to Alberta.
- Additional Positive Factors:
a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer
a degree/diploma/certification from a Canadian institution
parents/siblings/relatives living in Alberta
French as your first language
The AAIP Rural Renewal Stream helps to recruit and retain immigrants to rural Alberta. It helps rural communities attract and retain foreign nationals who want to live, work, and settle. Individuals applying for the Rural Renewal Stream need to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Intention to live in Rural Communities: You must intend to live and work in your designated community in Alberta.
- Community endorsement: You must obtain a valid Endorsement of the Candidate Letter from your designated rural community’s Economic Development Organization (EDO).
- Job Offer: You must possess a full-time job offer or employment contract in a qualifying occupation in your specified community from an Alberta firm.
- Occupation requirements: Occupations under NOC skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AAIP.
Work Experience: 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months of filing your application. - Language requirements: CLB 5 or NCLC 5 If your job offer is for NOC 0, A or B. If your job offer is for NOC C or D occupation, then minimum CLB4 or NCLC 4.
- Education: a degree, diploma or certificate. ECA is required if it is not obtained from Canadian Institution.
The Alberta Opportunity Stream is a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for foreign nationals working in the province and international graduates of an approved Alberta post-secondary school. The Alberta Opportunity Stream criteria may apply when you submit your application, when the AAIP evaluates your application or both. To ensure you meet the qualifying requirements, read the basic eligibility requirements carefully:
- Residency: You must have valid temporary resident status in Canada.
- Work Permit: You must have a valid temporary work permit. It can be an LMIA-based work permit, LMIA-exempt work permit, PGWP or an Open work permit.
- Job Offer: All applicants, including PGWP holders, must have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer to work in their present vocation in Alberta when their application is submitted and assessed by the AAIP.
- Eligible Occupations: NOC skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AAIP.
- Language Proficiency: If your job offer is of NOC 0, A or B occupation, then a minimum 5 level in each language skill in CLB (English) or NCLC test (French) is required. NOC C or D occupation must be level 4 in each language skill. NOC code 3413 requires a minimum score of CLB of 7 in each language skill.
- Education: Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your highest level of education is required. ECA is not required if you have a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate, a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate, or a trade certificate.
- Additional requirements for PGWP holders: Your degree/diploma/certificate must be issued by Alberta Advanced Education, a publicly funded post-secondary institution.
- Work experience (within the last 18 months: You must possess a minimum of 12 months of work experience in your current occupation in Alberta. Also, 24 months of work experience (in Alberta plus Canada or outside Canada) is required. PGWP holders require only six months of work experience in a full-time job (30 hours a week).
2. Alberta Entrepreneurs Streams under AAIP
The AAIP Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for foreign graduates who have studied at Alberta Universities and Colleges and wish to start or purchase a business in the province.
- Ownership: 34% or greater with Canadian citizens or permanent residents as partners.
- Experience: Minimum 3 years as a business owner or four years in a senior management role.
- Education: Completed a program lasting two or more years at an Alberta College or University. A degree or diploma is mandatory.
- Language Proficiency: CLB 7 or above in English or French.
- Work Permit: PGWP Mandatory.
The AAIP Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for foreign graduates who want to launch start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta.
- Minimum Investment: CAD 100,000 (Urban Center), CAD 50,000 (outside Calgary and Edmonton)
- Ownership: 34% or higher (Urban Center), 51% (outside Calgary and Edmonton)
- Experience: Min. 6 months as a business owner or manager.
- Education: Equivalent college or university degree obtained from outside Canada.
- Language Proficiency: CLB Level 5 or Above in English or French.
- Pitch Deck: 10-minute slideshow presentation
- Business Plan: Mandatory
- Letter of Recommendation: Mandatory
- Settlement Funds: Mandatory
The AAIP Farm Stream is for foreign entrepreneurs with the resources and experience to set up, purchase, and operate a farm in Alberta.
- Minimum Net Worth: CAD 500,000
- Minimum Investment: CAD 500,000
- Farm Management Skills: Financial documents describing the current business, farm-related experience, training, and education.
- Business Plan: Mandatory
The AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Stream caters to foreign entrepreneurs and business people who wish to start or purchase a business in specific rural Alberta communities. This definition of “rural” refers to communities under 100,000.
- Minimum Net Worth: CAD 300,000
- Minimum Investment: CAD 200,000
- Ownership: 51% or greater
- Experience: Min. 3 years as a business owner or four years in a senior management role.
- Education: Completed high school (ECA required)
- Language Proficiency: CLB4 or Above in English or French.
- Job Creation: Mandatory
- Community Support Letter: Mandatory
3. Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Accelerated Tech Pathway comes under the Alberta Express Entry Program. It provides faster processing to foreign workers currently working for or have a job offer with an Alberta-based tech employer in one of the eligible tech occupations.
These are the eligibility requirements for AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway:
- You must have an active Express Entry profile with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300 in the federal Express Entry pool.
- You must be employed full-time in Alberta or have a job offer for full-time employment in Alberta (full-time is a minimum of 30 hours per week) in one of the eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations.
- The principal occupation listed in your Express Entry profile corresponds to your current Alberta job or job offer.