PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM OF ALBERTA

The Federal Government of Canada has concluded a new agreement on immigration with Alberta’s Province government, called the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). According to the agreement, Alberta will be able to nominate more immigration candidates who have crucial skills for the province, and then the nominated applicants will be quickly processed by the federal government.
The current limit of 2 500 immigrants will be increased to 25 000 per year during the next 10 years. An incredible economic growth may be now observed in Alberta. It is expected that 10% of all immigrants arriving to Canada over the next few years will settle in Alberta province.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic immigration program operated by the Government of Alberta with the Government of Canada’s department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The AINP offers options for both skilled and semi-skilled workers.

Ι. Strategic Recruitment Stream

1. Compulsory and Optional Trades Category

• You must intend to and be able to live and work permanently in Alberta.
• You must have
  • a valid Alberta Qualification Certificatein a compulsory or optional trade (PDF), or
  • a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Recognized Trade Certificate in a compulsory or optional trade (PDF)
• You must be residing in Alberta at the time of application and show that you have a valid work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to work in Alberta in the trade in which you are certified.
• You must show, at the time of application, that you are either currently working in your trade for an Alberta Employer or have previously worked in your trade with an Alberta Employer for a minimum of six months in the past two years.
• You are required to meet language requirements. There are three accepted language tests you can choose from. Your test result cannot be more than two years old at the time you submit your AINP application.

2. Engineering Occupations Category

• You must be currently residing in Alberta.
• You must intend to and be able to live permanently in Alberta.
• You must provide evidence of related education/training and experience as an engineer, designer or drafter.
• You must be currently working or have worked within the last two years in Alberta either directly or on contract for an Alberta Employer.
• Your occupation in Alberta must be on the AINP Strategic Recruitment Stream Engineering Occupations List.
• If you have engineering credentials and you are working in an occupation under NOC 0211, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2141, 2143, 2144, or 2145, you must provide a “Letter of No Objection” from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) or show that you are registered with APEGA as a foreign licensee.
• If you are working in an occupation under NOC 2231, 2232, 2241 or 2253 you do not require a “Letter of No Objection” from APEGA.

3. Post-Graduate Worker Category

Post-Graduate Worker Category criteria include but are not limited to:

As a Candidate, you must:

• Clearly show in the application that you are able to and intend to live permanently in Alberta.
• Be working full-time in Alberta, at the time of application, for an Alberta employer.
• Have obtained a certificate, diploma, degree, or have completed a graduate level program from one of these AINP approved Alberta public and private post-secondary institutions. 
• The program of study in Alberta must have been at least one year (i.e. minimum of two semesters of full-time study, or equivalent) in duration.
• Have a current and valid Post-Graduation Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Be working in one of the following National Occupational Classification(NOC) skill levels:
  • NOC 0: Management occupations
  • NOC A: Occupations that usually require university education
  • NOC B: Occupations that usually require college education
  • NOC C: Occupations that usually require specific training and/or secondary education.
    • Some occupations are not eligible for consideration under the AINP.
  • If working in a NOC C occupation, you must submit official test results showing that you meet the minimum language standards, and your test results cannot be more than two years old at the time of application to the AINP. The only official test results that the AINP will accept are listed below, along with the minimum language standards.
    • A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or before March 31, 2014, with minimum scores of
      • Listening: 2H
      • Reading: 2H
      • Writing: 2H
      • Speaking: 2H
    • A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or after April 1, 2014, with minimum scores of
      • Listening: 4
      • Reading: 4
      • Writing: 4
      • Speaking: 4
    • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test with minimum scores of
      • Listening: 4.5
      • Reading: 3.5
      • Writing: 4
      • Speaking: 4
    • A Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) with minimum scores of:
      • Listening: 145
      • Reading: 121
      • Writing: 181
      • Speaking: 181

Supervisors, foremen and tradespeople working in a Compulsory or Optional Trade in Alberta (including Chefs, Cooks and Line Cooks) must apply under the Strategic Recruitment Stream Compulsory and Optional Trades Category.

II. Employer-Driven Stream

1. Skilled Worker Category

As an Alberta Employer, you must:

• Be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
• Provide a job offer to the Candidate for permanent, full-time employment in a skilled occupation. A skilled occupation is an occupation that falls under one of the following skills levels under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system:
  • NOC 0: Includes management occupations that usually require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate) or a professional designation.
  • NOC A: Includes occupations that usually require university education.
  • NOC B: Includes occupations that usually require college education.
• Provide a job offer to the Candidate that:
  • meets Alberta’s employment and wage standards
  • does not conflict with existing collective bargaining agreements. The AINP will not approve an application if there is a labour dispute in progress that may involve, directly or indirectly, either the employer or the candidate.
• Provide proof of your authorization to hire a foreign worker by showing either the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or evidence of the LMIA exemption.
  • If there is an LMIA in place for the Candidate, you must show that you are following all the conditions of the LMIA (including salary).
  • If the Candidate is exempt from an LMIA, you must show you are offering wages and benefits to the Candidate that meet industry standards.
• Clearly show the need for the position and that you have made a significant effort to hire a Canadian or permanent resident of Canada for the positiononly if the Candidate is not currently working in Alberta (is abroad).
  • The Employer-Driven Stream is not intended to be used as a substitute for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
• Meet additional criteria if the Candidate’s occupation is in:
  • Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Staff

 Candidate criteria

As a Candidate, you must:

• Clearly show in the application that you are able to and intend to live permanently in Alberta.
• Have related education, training, previous work experience, and any Alberta licensing needed for the position and to meet AINP criteria.
• Provide a copy of your valid work permit if you are already working in Alberta.
• Provide proof of your legal status in your country of residence only if you are not currently working in Alberta (you are living abroad).
• Meet additional criteria if your occupation is in Early childhood educators and child care staff

2. International Graduate Category

If you are an international graduate who meets most of the criteria below, you may be eligible to apply without an employer.

International Graduate Category criteria include but are not limited to:

As an Alberta Employer, you must:

• Be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
• Provide a permanent, full-time job offer to the candidate that:
  • Falls under one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC)skill levels:
    • NOC 0: Management occupations
    • NOC A: Occupations that usually require university education.
    • NOC B: Occupations that usually require college education.
    • NOC C: Occupations that usually require specific training and/or secondary education. Please note only candidates working in a NOC C occupation must complete a designated language test with scores that meet language requirements.
      • Some occupations are not eligible for consideration under the International Graduate Category.
    • Meets Alberta’s employment and wage standards.
    • Does not conflict with existing collective bargaining agreements. The AINP will not approve an application if there is a labour dispute in progress that may directly or indirectly involve the employer or the candidate.
  • Show you are offering wages and benefits to the candidate that meet industry standards.

 As a Candidate, you must:

• Clearly show in the application that you are able to and intend to live permanently in Alberta.
• Be working full-time in Alberta, for the employer who is supporting your application, at the time of application.
• Be performing the same occupation as is stated on your permanent, full-time job offer from your employer.
• Be working in an occupation that falls under one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC)skill levels:
  • NOC 0: Management occupations
  • NOC A: Occupations that usually require university education.
  • NOC B: Occupations that usually require college education.
  • NOC C: Occupations that usually require specific training and/or secondary education. Please note, only candidates working in a NOC C occupation, must complete a designated language test with scores that meet language requirements.
    • Some occupations are not eligible for consideration under the International Graduate Category.
  • Have obtained a certificate, diploma, degree, or have completed a graduate level program from
    • one of these AINP approved Alberta public and private post-secondary institutionsor
    • a publicly funded community college, trade/technical school or university in another Canadian province or territory.
    • The program of study in Canada must have been at least one year (i.e. minimum of two semesters of full-time study, or equivalent) in duration.
  • Have a current and valid Post-Graduation Work Permit issued by IRCC.
  • If working in a NOC C occupation, you must submit official test results showing that you meet the minimum language standards, and your test results cannot be more than two years old at the time of application to the AINP. The only official test results that the AINP will accept are listed below, along with the minimum language standards.
    • A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or before March 31, 2014, with minimum scores of:
      • Listening: 2H
      • Reading: 2H
      • Writing: 2H
      • Speaking: 2H
    • A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or after April 1, 2014, with minimum scores of:
      • Listening: 4
      • Reading: 4
      • Writing: 4
      • Speaking: 4
    • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test with minimum scores of:
      • Listening: 4.5
      • Reading: 3.5
      • Writing: 4
      • Speaking: 4
    • A Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) with minimum scores of:
      • Listening: 145
      • Reading: 121
      • Writing: 181
      • Speaking: 181

3. Semi-Skilled Worker Category

As an Alberta employer in the Semi-Skilled Worker Category, you must:

• Be incorporated or registered as a business in Alberta by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta
• Be operating in one of the five (5) eligible industries under the AINP Semi-Skilled Worker Category listed below
• Provide a job offer for permanent, full-time employment to the candidate that:
  • is in an eligible semi-skilled occupation
  • meets Alberta’s employment and wage standards
  • does not conflict with existing collective bargaining agreements.
    The AINP willnot approve an application if there is a labour dispute in progress that may directly or indirectly involve the employer or the candidate.
• Have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Confirmation for the candidate and meet all the conditions of the LMIA.
• Submit to the AINP a candidate who meets all job requirements and AINP criteria.
• Provide a plan outlining your approach to accommodation, settlement, and retention for the candidate
  • Complete a Settlement and Retention Plan
• Meet all additional criteria required for your industry:
  • food and beverage processing
  • hotel and lodging
  • manufacturing
  • long-haul trucking industry
  • foodservice industry (pilot project)

As a candidate in the Semi-Skilled Worker Category, you must:

• Be currently working in Alberta on a work permit for an eligible AINP Semi-Skilled Occupation (see list above)
• Show that you have completed a minimum of high school education
  • In the Foodservices Industry (pilot project), your high school education must be equivalent to Alberta standards.
• Submit one of the following test results, showing that you meet minimum language standards. Your test result cannot be more than two (2) years old at the time you submit your AINP application.
  • A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or before March 31, 2014, with minimum scores of:
    • Listening: 2H
    • Reading: 2H
    • Writing: 2H
    • Speaking: 2H
  • A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or after April 1, 2014, with minimum scores of:
    • Listening: 4
    • Reading: 4
    • Writing: 4
    • Speaking: 4
  • AnInternational English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test with minimum scores of:
    • Listening: 4.5
    • Reading: 3.5
    • Writing: 4
    • Speaking: 4
  • A Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) with minimum scores of:
    • Listening: 145
    • Reading: 121
    • Writing: 181
    • Speaking: 181
  • Meet additional criteria required for your industry:
    • Food and Beverage Processing
    • Hotel and Lodging 
    • Manufacturing
    • Long-Haul Trucking Industry
    • Foodservice Industry (pilot project)

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Self-Employed Farmer Stream

You may qualify if you have the financial resources and farm management experience to purchase and establish a farm in Alberta. 

• You must prove that you have farm management skills shown by:
  • Financial documentation of your existing farm business
  • Documentation of your education, training and work experience
  • Proposed business plan for the farming enterprise you are considering in Alberta
  • Proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance your proposed farming business.
• You must have sufficient financial resources to develop a sustainable farming operation.
  • You must be able to invest a minimum of CDN $500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business in Alberta.
  • You must provide documents that demonstrates you have a minimum net worth of CDN $500,000 or confirmation that you have access to a similar amount of funds from other sources.
  • The CDN $500,000 is the minimum amount. You may be required to show you have the ability to invest more than the minimum.
• You must invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta.
  • You will have to document your investment intentions in your proposed business plan.
  • Applications representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta’s agri-food targets will be given priority.

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

The availability of AINP streams and categories is dependent upon application volumes and labour market needs. The AINP reserves the right to close application intake for any AINP stream or category at any time, without prior notice.

Published 10.03.17