Alberta PNP - Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly known as the (AINP – Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program), is designed to attract people with the qualifications to fill the gaps in the Alberta labour market. The Alberta Opportunity Pathway and Express Entry systems accept applications from skilled workers for this provincial nominee program. In addition, AINP oversees the Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway and the Farmer Self-Employed Pathway for business immigration.

The Government of Alberta, in conjunction with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the National Immigration Department, administers the Alberta PNP. Candidates who wish to immigrate to Canada through the AINP must adhere to a two-stage process:

✅Submit an application for provincial nomination to the Alberta government.

✅If you are nominated, contact the federal government to apply for a permanent resident visa for Canada.

The IRCC allots a certain number of nominations to AINP each year.

What various AINP immigration pathways are there?

The following four immigration streams are accepted for applications to the AINP, or Alberta

Provincial Nominee Program:

Alberta Opportunity Pathway

Express Entry Pathway

Farmer Self-Employed Pathway

Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway

Alberta Opportunity Pathway

In June 2018, AINP introduced the Alberta Opportunity Pathway, which took the place of the province’s Employer-Driven Pathway and Strategic Recruitment Pathway. It intends to make the AINP application process easier, faster, and more equitable for both companies and candidates.

Requirements for the AINP Opportunity Pathway

To be eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Pathway, applicants must meet a variety of criteria. Unless otherwise stated, all conditions must be met at the time the application is submitted and evaluated by the AINP.

Work Visa and Residency

Candidates must be qualified and hold a valid Canadian Provisional Resident status that allows them to work. The basis for the legitimate Work Visa must be one of the following:

• Labour Market Impact Assessment (affirmative)

•LMIA exemption based on internal transfers, commercial agreements, Mobilit Francophone, or foreign experience

• Post – Graduate Work Permit

Additionally, the candidates must be employed in a qualifying job.

Ineligible applicants:

Refugees who are subject to deportation or appeal processes

Provincial residents remaining outside of Alberta

Provincial residents with implied or restored status

A Post-Graduate Work Visa holder must additionally meet additional conditions. Their current job must be related to the province of Alberta where they are studying.

If you are admitted to and enrolled in your program before April 1, 2019, one of the following qualifications must have been made available by an authorized institution:

Post- Graduate Certificate or a year certification

Minimum 2 years Diploma Program

Bachelor’s Degree at the Undergraduate level

Diploma, Certificate, or Degree at the Graduate level

If you are enrolled and admitted in your program later than or on 1 April 2019, your qualification must be included in the approved list of Alberta Opportunity Pathway.

Occupation Requirements

To be eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Pathway, you must be employed in an Alberta-recognized occupation. Most jobs classified as NOC – National Occupational Classification Skill Levels D, C, B, A, and 0 are eligible for AINP. Unlike several other provinces in Canada, Alberta does not give candidates preference if their professions are pre-set to a certain list. On the other side, the AINP maintains a list of professions that are not acceptable.

Language Requirements

At the time of application submission, you must provide results from language exams demonstrating that you have at least CLB – Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4 in all language skills in French (NCLC – Niveaux de competency Linguistique Canadiens) or English. The majority of NOC codes fall under this.

The only candidates exempt from this rule are Patient Service Associates, Orderlies, and Nurse Aides as defined under the 3413 NOC Code. They must provide a language test score of at least Level 7 CLB or NCLC for each of the French or English linguistic skills.

For applicants who fall under NOC B, A, or 0, the language requirement has been raised to NCLC or CLB Level 5 as of 1.1.2020.

The maximum number of points on the evaluation grid is 110. A candidate must receive a minimum of 60 points to be accepted into the program. To prove they have earned the required 60 points, candidates must provide supporting documentation with their SINP application.

Candidates’ Expressions of Interest are ranked using the SINP scoring matrix. The challenge to presenting an application for SINP is probably going to be reaching out to applicants with the most elevated scores.

The Saskatchewan Province maintains the right to use additional criteria to prioritize candidate selection if many candidates receive the same scores. Candidates with a connection to the province’s past education, experience, or family are given preference in this situation by SINP. Candidates with higher language scores and more years of work experience will be given priority by SINP if there are still numerous candidates with the same scores.

Education Requirements

When applying, you must have at least finished high school in your country of origin.

Candidates must now have completed at least a high school diploma that meets Alberta criteria as of 1.1.2021.

Work Experience Requirements

When submitting your application, you must have:

A minimum of 12 months of recent, full-time employment in your current profession in Alberta; OR

Within the last 30 months, you must have worked in your current occupation full-time for at least 24 months in Canada or abroad. (* It may include experience gained within the province of Alberta, outside the province, within Canada, or beyond.)

Holders of Post-Graduation Work Visas must have at least six months' worth of work experience in each of the following fields:

• Their current job in Alberta over the previous 18 months; AND

• in a profession associated with their education that is equivalent to a credential and institution recognized in Alberta;

Additional conditions

In order to work in your current occupation in Alberta, you must possess the necessary certification, registration, or licensure.

You must have a full-time, legitimate job offer from an employer in Alberta for the occupation in which you are currently engaged in Alberta, as well as full-time employment with that employer in Alberta.

The job offer must be signed by you and your employer in Alberta and include the following information:

Full-time employment, which means working at least 30 hours per week for a period of one year, uninterrupted

Working in your current position

Working in an AINP-qualified occupation for which you have a work visa and which satisfies AINP Work Visa requirements.

What is the Pathway for Alberta Express Entry?

The Alberta Express Entry Pathway enables the province to choose a small pool of qualified candidates from the Federal Express Entry pool for nomination. The qualified applicants are chosen by AINP directly from the Express Entry pool. The Notification of Interest must first be obtained by candidates before they can apply.

Candidates who have a strong connection to Alberta and who can boost the province’s economy and diversity are eligible for the immigration stream. Also invited are graduates from abroad.

The prerequisites for the Express Entry stream for Alberta

Candidates must meet the criteria listed below in order to be qualified to receive a notification of interest:

The following requirements must be met:

Have an active profile in the Canada Express Entry pool

Must indicate a desire to immigrate to Alberta permanently

Must work in a position that promotes Alberta’s diversification and economic growth

A 300-point minimum CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score is required.

The following elements can improve candidates' chances of getting the NOI:

Receiving a job offer from an Alberta firm and/or employment experience there

Completing your studies at a post-secondary institution in Canada

The existence of family members living in Alberta, such as a parent, sibling, or child.

The following elements may make it less likely for candidates to receive an NOI:

➡ The Express Entry profile expires in the following 90 days.

➡ Engaging in a prohibited profession.

Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Pathway

Together with the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Department, the AINP oversees the Self-Employed Farmer Pathway. Priority is given to applicants who have the necessary financial resources and farm management abilities to invest in a provincial agricultural enterprise.

Requirements

Candidates for the Self-Employed Farmer Pathway must have the following qualifications:

Management experience in an existing farming firm;

Work experience, training, and education are crucial for creating a successful agricultural enterprise in the province of Alberta;

Proof that a Canadian financial institution is prepared to fund the proposed agricultural venture;

A business plan for the agricultural enterprise that needs to be formed in the province;

Equity of at least $500,000 for investment in the agricultural enterprise. The ability to access these funds or a net worth of at least $500,000.

Alberta Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway

Aimed at international graduates of post-secondary schools in Alberta, the Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway. They must be motivated to launch or run a business in the province.

Candidates must initially run or launch their company in Alberta for a minimum of one year while they are on a work visa. When the criteria of the Agreement for Business Performance are met, the AINP will subsequently nominate them for a Canada PR visa.

Steps to apply for PR Visa through the AINPs Entrepreneur pathway

Step1: Providing an EOI (Expression of Interest)

Candidates that meet the eligibility requirements can submit their expressions of interest, which will be evaluated and given scores within a month of submission. The highest-ranking candidates will be required to submit a Business Application.

Step 2: Submitting the Business Application Package

Candidates that are chosen from the pool of EOIs must submit their business applications within three months. Additionally, the $3,500 non-refundable application fee must be paid.

Step 3: Business application evaluation

Upon receiving the Business Application and any supporting documents from the candidates, the AINP evaluates them. Candidates whose business applications are accepted will receive a signed BPA – Business Performance Agreement.

The BPA is a valid contract between the candidate and the province of Alberta. It must be delivered back to the AINP together with the signature within 14 days. The AINP offers candidates a Letter of Approval for Business Applications after receiving the completed BPA.

Step 4: Establishing the Business in Alberta

After receiving the Letter of Approval for Firm Application, the applicants are allowed to reside in Alberta, operate their firm there, and own it for at least a year. They must own a minimum of 34% of the business.

Step 5: Final Report from AINP for Nomination

Following the completion of the Business Performance requirements, the final report for AINP Nomination is submitted. If the final report is approved and a nomination letter is sent to the applicant, AINP will send a Certificate of Nomination to IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Alberta's most recent PNP draws

The AINP constantly reviews the profiles of the applicants in the Canada Express Entry pool. Then, it provides NOIs to the candidates, encouraging them to submit nomination applications via AINP Draws. All draw’s specifics are typically released around a month after the draw has taken place.