Alberta Advantage Immigration Program application streams

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), now known as the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), targets individuals with the skills needed to address labor shortages in Alberta. This program accepts applications from skilled workers through the Alberta Opportunity Pathway and the Express Entry system. Additionally, it manages two business immigration pathways: the Farmer Self-Employed Pathway and the Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway. The Alberta Canada Provincial Nominee Program is administered by the Government of Alberta in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Candidates interested in immigrating to Canada through the AINP must follow a two-stage process:

• Apply for Provincial Nomination with the Government of Alberta.
• Apply for a Canada PR Visa with the Federal Government if nominated.

Each year, IRCC allocates a specific number of nominations to the AINP.

Different AINP Immigration Pathways

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) offers four immigration pathways for candidates:

• Alberta Opportunity Pathway
• Express Entry Pathway
• Farmer Self-Employed Pathway
• Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway

Minimum Requirements for AINP Opportunity Pathway

To be eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Pathway, candidates must meet several Alberta PNP requirements at the time of application submission and assessment by the AINP unless stated otherwise.

Work Visa and Residency

Qualified candidates must have valid Provisional Resident status in Canada, authorizing them to work. The valid Work Visa must be based on one of the following:

• Affirmative LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment)
• LMIA exemption through inter-company transferees, international trade agreements, Mobilité Francophone, or International Experience
• Post-graduate Work Visa

Candidates must also be employed in an eligible occupation.

Ineligible Candidates

• Refugees under removal or appeal proceedings
• Provisional residents living outside Alberta
• Provisional residents on restoration or implied status

Additional Requirements for Post-Graduate Work Visa Holders

Candidates with a Post-Graduate Work Visa must meet extra requirements. Their current occupation must be related to their field of study in Alberta.

For those enrolled and admitted to their program before April 1, 2019, qualifications must be from an authorized institution and include one of the following:

• Post-Graduate Certificate or Certificate of at least 1 year
• Minimum 2-year Diploma Program
• Bachelor’s Degree at the undergraduate level
• Diploma, Certificate, or Degree at the graduate level

For those enrolled and admitted on or after April 1, 2019, qualifications must be on the approved list of the Alberta Opportunity Pathway.

Occupation Requirements

To be eligible for the Alberta immigration, you must be employed in a qualified occupation in Alberta. Most occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Levels D, C, B, A, and 0 are eligible for the AINP. Alberta does not prioritize candidates based on a specific list of occupations but does have a list of disqualified occupations. Eligible in-demand occupations in Alberta include:

• Managerial Occupations
• Applied and Natural Sciences Occupations
• Finance and Business Administration Occupations
• Occupations in Religion, Government Service, Education, and Social Science
• Health Occupations
• Sales and Service Occupations
• Occupations in Sport, Recreation, Culture, and Art
• Manufacturing, Processing, and Utilities Occupations
• Equipment, Transport, Trades, and Operators Occupations

Language Requirements

You must provide language test results demonstrating a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 in all language skills in either French (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens - NCLC) or English at the time of application submission. This applies to most NOC codes.

Exception: Applicants under NOC Code 3413 (Patient Service Associates, Orderlies, and Nurse Aides) must provide a language test score of at least CLB or NCLC Level 7 in each language skill.

Note: From January 1, 2020, candidates applying under NOC B, A, and 0 must meet a language requirement of at least CLB or NCLC Level 5.

Education Requirements

At the time of application, you must have completed at least a high school education in your country of origin. From January 1, 2021, this education must be equivalent to Alberta’s high school standards.

Work Experience Requirements

When applying, you must have:

• At least 12 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the past 18 months; OR
• At least 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada or abroad within the past 30 months. This can include a combination of experience in Alberta, outside Alberta, and internationally.

For Post-Graduation Work Visa holders:

• At least six months of work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the past 18 months; AND
• The occupation must be related to your field of study, with credentials from an approved institution in Alberta.

Additional Requirements

• You must have the necessary certification, registration, or licensing to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
• You must have a full-time, valid job offer from an employer in Alberta for your current occupation and be employed full-time with that employer in Alberta.

The job offer must include:

• Continuous paid work
• Full-time employment (at least 30 hours per week for one year)
• Employment in your current occupation
• Employment in a qualified occupation under the AINP for which you have a valid Work Visa meeting AINP requirements.

Alberta Express Entry Pathway

The Alberta PNP allows the province to nominate a select number of eligible candidates from the Federal Express Entry pool. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) directly chooses these candidates. To apply, candidates must first receive a Notification of Interest.

This pathway is designed for individuals with strong ties to Alberta who can contribute to the province’s economy and diversity. It also welcomes international graduates.

Requirements for the Alberta Express Entry Stream

To be eligible for a Notification of Interest, candidates must:

• Have an active profile in the Canada Express Entry pool.
• Express a desire to permanently immigrate to Alberta.
• Work in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
• Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300 points.

Steps to Apply for PR Visa through AINP's Entrepreneur Pathway

1. Step 1: Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) - Eligible candidates can submit their EOIs which will be evaluated and scored within one month. The highest-ranking candidates will be invited to submit a Business Application.
2. Step 2: Submitting the Business Application - Selected candidates must submit their Business Application within three months along with a non-refundable fee of $3,500.
3. Step 3: Business Application Assessment - The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will review the Business Application and supporting documents. Approved candidates will receive a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) which must be signed and returned within 14 days. AINP will then issue a nomination certificate.
4. Step 4: Applying for PR Visa - Submit the PR Visa application with the federal government and continue operating the business as per the BPA.

Note: Failure to meet the conditions of the BPA will result in the revocation of the nomination certificate.

Processing Time

The processing time for a PR Visa through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) varies, typically taking several months. It depends on several factors including the pathway applied for, the complexity of the case, and the volume of applications received.

Costs of Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The costs associated with the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) are as follows:

• Application Fee: CAD 250 for the Provincial Nomination application.
• PR Visa Application Fee: The PR Visa application fee varies based on the applicant's family size and other factors. It is paid to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) upon applying for permanent residence.

Cost of Alberta Provincial Nominee Program

The fees for the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are as follows:

• Processing Fee and Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $1,525.00 (includes $950 processing fee and $575 right of permanent residence fee)
• Processing Fee (without right of permanent residence fee): $950.00
• Include Your Spouse or Partner: $1,525.00 (includes $950 processing fee and $575 right of permanent residence fee)
• Include Your Spouse or Partner (without right of permanent residence fee): $950.00
• Include a Dependent Child: $260.00 (per child)
• Biometrics – Per Person: $85.00
• Biometrics – Per Family (2 or more people): Maximum fee of $170.00

How Peerless Immigration Services Can Help You?

The Alberta PR (AINP) streams have a high number of refusal rates due to improperly prepared applications. The process and documentation required for obtaining a Canada PR Visa through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are complex and often necessitate expert assistance.

At Peerless, we have successfully helped thousands of individuals and their families immigrate to Canada through the Federal Express Entry Program. Our experienced Immigration Experts are skilled in accurately assessing your case and advising the best course of action to meet your needs.

With over 6+ years of experience, Peerless has built a strong reputation and extensive expertise in the dynamic immigration industry, consistently helping aspiring immigrants achieve their goals. We are among the top 10 immigration consultants in Delhi for Canada, known for our reliability and outstanding track record of thousands of successful PR Visa applications. Here are the key factors that make us the best immigration consultant for a Canada PR Visa:

• Consultations provided by authorized and licensed Immigration Consultants
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• Complaint redress system for any process issues
• Experience in processing over 30,000 applications
• Multiple assessments of each case before submission

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)