Alberta is the fourth-largest and fourth-most populated province in Canada, with Edmonton and Calgary its two main urban destinations for new arrivals. Its oil and gas sector is Canada’s largest, generating over one eighth of Canada’s GDP and employing thousands of workers across the province.
With its continuing strong economic prospects and some of the country’s most stunning natural landscapes, Alberta remains a popular destination for those looking to live and work in Canada.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program route is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Successful applicants for this regional immigration route will be able to use their nomination to apply for permanent residence, allowing them to live and work permanently in Alberta.
In order to apply for the AAIP, you must have a particular skill that is in demand in Alberta, or intend to start a business within the province. If you are successful, you will be able to include your partner and/or dependent children in your permanent residence application.
There are currently four available work and skills-based streams within the AAIP:
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream
- for individuals already working in Alberta’s tourism or hospitality sector, and who have an offer of a full-time job in an eligible role. Requires an LMIA.
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- for individuals already working in Alberta in any sector, and who have an offer of a full-time job in an eligible role. Requires an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt work permit.
- Alberta Express Entry Stream
- for individuals with high-demand skills who have created an Express Entry profile, scored enough points and been invited by Alberta authorities to apply for provincial nomination
- Rural Renewal Stream
- for individuals who have already secured an endorsement from a designated regional community in Alberta, either as a foreign worker with a job offer or as a refugee
For entrepreneurs intending to start or purchase a business in Alberta, there are an additional four streams available within the AAIP:
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream
- for individuals planning to buy or start a business in a rural community in Alberta
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- for individuals who have graduated from certain universities and colleges in Alberta who wish to buy or start a business within the province. Requires a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- Farm Stream
- for individuals with experience running or owning a farm who want to buy or start their own farm in Alberta
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- for individuals with a foreign degree who want to buy or start a business in Alberta, and who have secured a recommendation from one of this stream’s designated agencies
How do I apply for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program?
In order to apply for one of the work and skills-based AAIP streams, you must first complete a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) and then be invited to submit an application. Your EOI will contain information about you, your skills and experience, and any sponsorships or offers of employment you may have. Your EOI will then be scored out of 100, with your score helping to determine whether and when you may be invited to submit an AAIP application.
Once created, your EOI will be valid for one year, after which it will expire. Submitting an EOI for a work and skills-based AAIP stream is free of charge.
If your EOI is successful, you will receive an invitation to apply for a specific AAIP stream by email. You will then have 30 days in which to start your application, after which you will have 60 days to complete and submit it. If you do not start or complete your application within these time limits, your invitation to apply will be revoked and your EOI (if still valid) will be placed back into the EOI pool.
To finalise submission of your application, you will have to pay a non-refundable application fee of CAD $840. You will be notified by email if your application has been successful.
For the entrepreneur AAIP streams, you will also need to first complete an Expression of Interest before you will be invited to apply for your chosen stream. In addition to information about you, you will also need to provide a general outline of the business or investment plan upon which you are basing your application.
Fees for entrepreneur AAIP streams are as follows:
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream: CAD $200
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: CAD $200
- Farm Stream: CAD $3500
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: CAD $200
If selected, depending on the stream you may then be asked to submit a Business Application Package, which includes a full business plan and (if requested by Albertan authorities) a report on that plan by a designated qualified service provider, usually a consultancy. Where a Business Application Package has been requested, they must be submitted along with a non-refundable fee of CAD $3500.
If your application is successful, depending on the stream you may be asked to sign a Business Performance Agreement setting out the terms of your acceptance into the AAIP, particularly as they relate to the business you will be starting or purchasing.