Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic immigration program operated by the Government of Alberta with the Government of Canada's department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This program supports Alberta's economic growth by attracting and retaining work-ready immigrants to the province.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) targets immigrants that are in high demand throughout the province who can fill shortage of skilled labor with immigrants that have required training and experience. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of experience and skills to get an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate.

Being nominated and by applying via the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (Alberta PNP program 2020), will speed up the permanent residency application process by some time.

Skilled and semi-skilled immigrants can apply for Alberta PNP 2020 and there are also options for immigrants to apply with or without any employer support. Alberta PNP is mainly broken into three main immigration streams :

Alberta Opportunity Stream – This stream is for the immigrants who can meet the streams requirements and are working in Alberta in an eligible occupation. Alberta Opportunity Stream has replaced AINP’s Strategic Recruitment and Employer-Driven streams from June 14, 2018.

Alberta Express Entry Stream – In this Stream, Province searches for the capable immigrants in the Federal Government’s Express Entry Pool. This stream allows the express entry registered candidates to apply for provincial nomination. Once Provincial Nomination Certificate is issued, it adds 600 CRS points in Express Entry Profile of the respective client thus guaranteeing ITA in next Express Entry Draw.

Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream – This stream of AINP’s is to allow the immigrants with farming experience and personal funds to purchase and develop a farm in the province to apply for permanent residence. Candidates whose application will be successfully processed will be able to live in the province in order to purchase and manage their farming business

Alberta Opportunity Stream - This stream provides a pathway to Canada PR to applicants working in Alberta and international graduates who have completed their studies at a recognized Alberta educational post-secondary institution.

Every AINP Stream has different requirements.

Eligibility

Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements that a Candidate must have:

• Valid temporary status authorizing to work in Canada
• A valid work permit (not implied status or restoration status) for an eligible occupation based on either:
  • A Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
  • An LMIA exemption for workers
  • An LMIA exemption as a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder

Language Proficiency

The minimum requirement for language proficiency under this stream is to have Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4. It can be in either language whether it is in English or French. Candidates have to prove their knowledge of the language in four sections – Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

Education requirements

At the time of applying under this stream, the candidate needs to have completed at least a Canadian high school or its equivalent in their country of the region. The foreign education needs to be verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

Work Experience

Candidates must:

• Have a minimum of 12 months of work experience for a “current occupation” in Alberta within the last 18 months. OR
• Have a minimum of 24 months of work experience in “current occupation” in Canada and/or outside of Canada within the last 30 months.

Occupation requirements

For an eligible occupation, at the time of AINP assess the application, the candidate must:

• Work in an eligible occupation in the province
• Work in an occupation that matches the previous work experience

Express entry process of Alberta immigration nominee program (AINP)

This stream allows AINP to nominate skilled and capable immigrants from the federal government’s express entry pool. For express entry candidates to apply under AINP, they must be invited by the province to do so. To get invited, the candidate must show strong ties to the province or can be the one that will support the province’s economic growth and diversification priorities. International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions can also be issued Notification of Interest under this stream.

Getting Notification of Interest from AINP under Express Entry

Based on the credentials submitted by the candidate to the AINP, the province can select the candidate and send them a Notification of Interest (NOI). In order to get an NOI letter, the candidate:

• Must have an active express entry profile
• Must show an intention to immigrate to province and settle there permanently
• Must be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification, and
• Must have minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300 points

In case the candidate is able to follow one or more of the following adaptability factors, it will increase the likelihood of getting an NOI:

• Alberta job offer and/or work experience
• A graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
• A relative that is living in the province: parent, child, brother and/or sister

Once the candidate’s application is approved, they will receive a nomination certificate via the IRCC Express entry portal. Candidate must accept the nomination within 30 days after it is issued in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

After getting an ITA, the candidate has 60 days to submit their application for a permanent residence visa to the IRCC.

Alberta does not specify occupation in-demand list. There are some occupations which are in demand in Alberta. Candidates falling in any of the following categories, their chances will increase for getting a nomination from the province:

• Trades, Transport, and Equipment Operators
• Unique to the Primary Industry (oil and gas)
• Sales and Services
• Business, Finance, and Administrative
• Management
• Restaurant and Food Service Managers, Cooks, Attendants, and Kitchen Helpers
• Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related workers
• Contractors and supervisors, trades and related workers
• Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics
• Heavy equipment operators
• Metal forming, shaping and erecting trades
• Finance and insurance clerks
• Retail managers, salespersons, sales clerks, and cashiers
• Automotive service technicians