What is the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)?
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), currently called the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is designed for people with the necessary skills and talents to fill the gaps in the Alberta labor market. Skilled workers can apply to this Provincial Nominee Program of Alberta via the Express Entry and Alberta Opportunity Pathway. Additionally, two business immigration channels are overseen by AINP: the Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway and the Farmer Self-Employed Pathway.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) National Immigration Department and the Government of Alberta work together to operate the Alberta PNP. Applicants interested in entering Canada through the AINP must adhere to a two-step process:
- Submit a Provincial Nomination application to the Alberta Government.
- If you are selected, submit an application for a Canada Permanent Resident Visa through the Federal Government.
The IRCC allots a certain number of nominations to AINP each year.
What are different AINP Immigration Pathways?
The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program, or AINP, is now accepting applications from applicants via the four immigration channels listed below:
- Alberta Opportunity Pathway
- Express Entry Pathway
- Farmer Self-Employed Pathway
- Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway
Alberta Opportunity Pathway
In June of 2018, AINP introduced the Alberta Opportunity Pathway, which took the place of the province’s Employer-Driven Pathway and Strategic Recruitment Pathway. It attempts to shorten wait times, streamline the AINP application process, and level the playing field for both candidates and employers.
Minimum requirements for AINP Opportunity Pathway
Candidates are required to fulfill many types of requirements to become eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Pathway. All requirements must be fulfilled at the time of submitting the application and assessment of the application by AINP unless specified otherwise.
Work Visa and Residency
Candidates that meet the requirements must be in possession of a valid Provisional Resident status in Canada, which grants them the ability to work. Any one of the following criteria must be met for the work visa to be valid:
- The Labor Market Impact Assessment, or Affirmative LMIA
- LMIA exemption obtained by foreign trade agreements, mobility francophone, international experience, or intercompany transferees
- Work Permit for Postgraduate Studies
The candidates must also be working in an eligible occupation
Unqualified candidates:
- Refugees awaiting deportation or appeal
- Temporary inhabitants avoiding Alberta
- Temporary inhabitants during repair or inferred condition
Post-Graduate Work Visa holders additionally need to meet additional conditions. Their current employment must be related to the field of study they are studying in the province of Alberta.
- Postgraduate qualification or a minimum one-year certificate
- A minimum of two years of diploma coursework
- An undergraduate bachelor's degree
- Graduate-level diploma, certificate, or degree
Your qualifications must be on the Alberta Opportunity Pathway’s authorized list if you are accepted into your program after April 1, 2019, or later.
Occupation Requirements
To be eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Pathway, you must be working in one of the approved occupations in Alberta. Most jobs listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) with skill levels D, C, B, A, and 0 are qualified for AINP. Unlike several other Canadian provinces, Alberta does not give preference to applicants whose jobs are predetermined on a list. However, the AINP has a list of jobs that are ineligible.
Language Requirements
At the time of application submission, you must provide results from language exams attesting to a minimum CLB – Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4 in all language proficiency in either English or French (NCLC – Niveaux de competency Linguistique Canadiens). This is true for the majority of NOC codes.
The only exemption is for applicants who fall within the Orderly, Nurse Aides, and Patient Service Associates (3413 NOC Code) categories. For each language competence in French or English, they must provide a language test result of at least Level 7 CLB or NCLC.
The language requirement for candidates applying under NOC B, A, and 0 has been raised to NCLC or CLB Level 5 as of 1.1.2020.
Education Requirements
When you apply, you must have at least finished your high school education in your home country.
Candidates must now demonstrate that they have finished at least a high school education in accordance with Albertan requirements as of 1.1.2021.
Requirements for Work Experience
Upon submitting your application, you must have:
- A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience gained in Alberta during the previous 18 months in your current field of work; OR
- A minimum of 24 months* of full-time experience working in your current field in Canada or abroad during the previous 30 months. (*) Experience from inside the province of Alberta, outside of Alberta, within Canada, and abroad may be combined.)
- Their current employment in Alberta within the previous 18 months; Moreover
- In a profession related to their education that is comparable to a qualification and an Alberta-approved institution;
Additional requirements
To work in Alberta in your current occupation, you must hold the necessary qualification, registration, or license.
In order to work in your current position in Alberta, you must be employed full-time in that occupation by an employer in Alberta who has extended a legitimate job offer to you.
- Uninterrupted employment
- Full-time work means working 30 hours a week or more for a year.
- Working in your current field of expertise
- Employment in an AINP-approved field for which you are eligible and meet the conditions for an AINP work visa
What is Alberta Express Entry Pathway?
A restricted number of qualified candidates may be chosen by the province for nomination from the Federal Express Entry pool under the Express Entry Pathway of Alberta. The qualified applicants are chosen directly by AINP from the Express Entry pool. Before they can apply, candidates must first get the Notification of Interest.
Candidates who have a strong connection to Alberta and who can boost the province’s economy and diversity are eligible for the immigration stream. Graduates from abroad are also welcome.
The requirements for Alberta Express Entry stream
Candidates can only get a Notification of Interest if they meet the standards listed below:
- Possess an operational profile in the pool for Canada Express Entry
- Must express interest in relocating to Alberta permanently
- Must work in a profession that promotes Alberta's economic development and diversification
- The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) minimum score is 300 points.
The below factors can boost the chances of obtaining the NOI for candidates:
- An employment offer from an Albertan company and/or prior work experience in Alberta
- Obtaining a degree from a post-secondary Canadian institution
- Existence of family members in Alberta: parent, sibling, and/or child
The below factors can boost the chances of obtaining the NOI for candidates:The below factors can reduce the chances of obtaining the NOI for candidates:
- The profile in Express Entry terminates in the next 90 days
- Working in a disqualified occupation
Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Pathway
In close collaboration with the Alberta Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the AINP oversees the Self-Employed Farmer Pathway. Candidates with farm management experience and sufficient funding to invest in a province-wide agricultural enterprise are given preference.
Requirements
The applicants of the Self-Employed Farmer Pathway are required to possess:
- Experience running a farming business at the moment
- In the province of Alberta, work experience, education, and training are necessary for creating a successful agricultural enterprise.
- A business plan for the agricultural venture that the province needs to launch
- Evidence that a Canadian financial institution is prepared to provide funding for the suggested farming venture
- A minimum of $500,000 in equity is required for investing in the agricultural venture. A minimum net worth of $500k or permission to use these funds
Alberta Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway
Alberta’s Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway is designed for international graduates of post-secondary educational institutions in the province. They have to want to run or open a business in the province.
In order to obtain a work visa, candidates must first operate or establish their firm in Alberta for a minimum of one year. After they complete the criteria of the Agreement for Business Performance, they are then nominated by the AINP for a Canada PR Visa.
Steps to apply for PR Visa through AINPs Entrepreneur pathway
Step 1: Furnishing an EOI - Expression of Interest
Applicants that meet the eligibility requirements may submit their EOIs; they will be evaluated and scores will be provided within a month of submission. The business application will need to be provided by the top-ranked candidates.
Step 2: Submission of Package for Business Application
Within three months of being chosen from the EOI pool, candidates must submit the business application. The $3,500 non-refundable application fee needs to be paid as well.
Step 3: Assessment of Business Application
After receiving the Business Application and any supporting documentation from the candidates, the AINP evaluates them. The candidates whose business application is accepted will receive a signed Business Performance Agreement (BPA).
The BPA is an official agreement between the government of Alberta and the candidate. It needs to be signed and returned to the AINP within 14 days. After the AINP receives the signed BPA, candidates are issued a Letter of Approval for Business Application.
Step 4: Establishment of the Business in Alberta
After receiving the Letter of Approval for Business Application, the candidates may continue to live in Alberta and actively run and own their businesses for a minimum of one year. They are required to own at least 34% of the company.
Step 5: Concluding Report for Nomination from AINP
After the requirements for business performance are met, the final report for the AINP nomination is turned in. If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts the final report and forwards a nomination letter to the candidate, AINP will forward a Certificate of Nomination to IRCC.
After that, candidates can apply through the IRCC for a Canada PR visa.
Latest Alberta PNP Draws
AINP periodically reviews the candidate profiles in the Canada Express Entry pool. After that, it extends NOIs to the contenders, asking them to submit an application for nomination via AINP Draws. Typically, the draw results are released approximately 30 days following the draw.
What are the Occupations that are in demand in Alberta?
The following are the List of Eligible In-demand Occupations in Alberta:
- Management Positions
- Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Professions
- Jobs in finance and business administration
- Jobs in Social Science, Education, Government Service, and Religion
- Jobs in Health
- Jobs in Sales and Services
- Jobs in Culture, Art, and Sport Recreation
- Jobs only found in manufacturing, processing, and utility
- Transport, Equipment, Trades, Operators, and Related Occupations
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