Alberta Opportunity Stream (AAIP)
Alberta PNP – The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is a pathway for individuals interested in obtaining permanent residency in Canada through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). Specifically designed for individuals working in Alberta with temporary resident status, the AOS is a stream within the AINP that aims to support the province’s economic development by retaining skilled workers.
Here’s an informative summary about the Alberta Opportunity Stream for Canada PR:
“The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is your pathway to permanent residency in Canada through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). If you are a temporary resident working in Alberta and wish to establish your roots in this thriving province, the AOS is designed for you.
To be eligible for the AOS, you must be working in an eligible occupation and meet specific criteria related to your work experience, language proficiency, education, and settlement funds. The AOS aims to attract and retain individuals who contribute significantly to Alberta’s economy, bringing their skills and talents to the local workforce.
The application process involves several steps, including obtaining a nomination from the AINP. Once nominated, you can apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The AOS provides a streamlined and efficient route for skilled workers to transition from temporary to permanent status, fostering both personal and professional growth in Alberta.
By choosing the Alberta Opportunity Stream, you are not just obtaining permanent residency; you are becoming an integral part of Alberta’s vibrant community. Embrace the opportunities, cultural richness, and quality of life that this province has to offer.
Secure your future in Alberta, contribute to its economic prosperity, and build a life in one of Canada’s most dynamic regions.
Eligibility and Process
Residency, work permit requirements
At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada, that is, a temporary foreign worker permit.
NOC 2021 update: Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) based work permits issued under NOC 2016 version continue to be accepted by the AAIP.
Eligible applicants
At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a valid work permit – not status maintained during processing (formerly implied status) or restoration status.
Valid work permits are based on one of the following:
- a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- an LMIA exemption for workers based on one of the following exemptions as determine by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
- international trade agreements
- workers transferred within a company
- International Experience Canada
- Mobilité Francophone
- R205(d) for religious work
- an open work permit issued by IRCC to:
- vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or
- the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
- a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
- PGWP holders must also meet specific occupation, education and work experience requirements as set out below.
- an open work permit issued under one of IRCC’s open work permit public policies:
- 2022 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program or 2023 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program
- Permit must beheld by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.
- Holders of these open work permit must also meet the same specific occupation, education and work experience requirements as PGWP holders as set out below
- an open work permit issued under the public policy for Hong Kong recent graduates
- an open work permit issued under IRCC’s Ukraine immigration measures (also known as the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)).
- 2022 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program or 2023 temporary policy changes to the PGWP Program
If your work permit type is not included in the list above, you are not eligible to apply.
Work Experience Qualifications for Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
Are you considering the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)? To ensure your eligibility, it’s crucial to meet specific work experience requirements aligned with your current occupation.
**Current Occupation Compatibility:**
– Your ‘current occupation’ refers to the role you are actively engaged in when submitting your application.
– It must align with your work experience at both the application submission time and during the AINP assessment.
**Eligible Work Experience:**
At the time of application submission, you must fulfill one of the following criteria:
– A minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
– A minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months. This experience can be a blend of Alberta-based, Canadian (outside Alberta), or international work.
For Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders:
– A minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
**Work Experience Conditions:**
Irrespective of your category, the work experience during the qualifying period:
– Must have been full-time, equivalent to a minimum of 30 hours per week.
– Should match your current occupation.
– Must be authorized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada.
– Cannot include work gained during study programs, co-op placements, or internships in Canada, unless you are a PGWP holder with paid co-op work terms directly related to your current occupation and all gained in Alberta.
**Licensing, Registration, and Certification Requirements:**
All applicants, including PGWP holders, must adhere to the following:
– Possess the necessary licensing, registration, or certification to work in their current occupation in Alberta.
– For those in compulsory trades, a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate is required.
– Childcare workers must hold valid certification as a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator or Level 3 Early Childhood Educator.
Eligible job offers
For all applicants, including PGWP holders, at the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
Your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:
- continuous, paid work
- full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week
- employment for 12 months or more
- work in your current occupation
- wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:
- meet or exceed the requirements set out in your LMIA, or
- if you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta as set out on the Alis website
- exceptions for NOC 41302 – Religious leaders and NOC 42204 – Religion workers:
- If your job offer is LMIA exempt, your wages and benefits must meet or exceed minimum wage.
- Meal and lodging deductions that meet Employment Standards are permitted. Proof of employee authorization of deductions is required.
- Important: If you submitted your application on or before November 15, 2022 review the NOC 2016 version of the wage requirement for religious workers (PDF, 527 KB) for religious workers that apply to you.
- work for an eligible AAIP occupation for which you have a work permit that meets AAIP work permit requirements
- Note: The update of the NOC to the NOC 2021 version does not affect the validity of LMIAs and LMIA based work permits issued under the NOC 2016 version.
Ineligible applicants based on job offer
The following individuals are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, even if they have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month period:
- part-time, casual or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
- independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as directors, shareholders or agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES)
- employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business
- employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a ‘virtual’ location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta
Language requirements
| National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category | Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score required | Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) test score required |
|---|---|---|
| If you are working in a NOC 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation | Minimum of 5 for each English language skill | Minimum of 5 for each French language skill |
| If you are working in a NOC 4 or 5 occupation | Minimum of 4 for each English language skill | Minimum of 4 for each French language skill |
If you apply to the AAIP under NOC code 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), the AAIP requires a minimum language test score of CLB of 7 for each English language skill, or NCLC of 7 for each French language skill.
List of ineligible occupations
| NOC code (2021) | NOC TEER category | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| 00010 | 0 | Legislators |
| 40021 | 0 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
| 40030 | 0 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
| 40041 | 0 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
| 60040* | 0 | Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers |
| 41100 | 1 | Judges |
| 41220 | 1 | Secondary school teachers |
| 41221 | 1 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 51111 | 1 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 51122 | 1 | Musicians and singers |
| 42200* | 2 | Justices of the peace |
| 42202* | 2 | Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children’s Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant) |
| 43100 | 3 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
| 43109 | 3 | Other instructors |
| 53121 | 3 | Actors, comedians and circus performers |
| 53122 | 3 | Painters, sculptors and other visual artists |
| 53124 | 3 | Artisans and craftspersons |
| 53200 | 3 | Athletes |
| 63101 | 3 | Real estate agents and salespersons |
| 33100* | 3 | Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers |
| 44100 | 4 | Home child care providers |
| 44101 | 4 | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 64321 | 4 | Casino occupations |
| 55109 | 5 | Other performers |
| 65109 | 5 | Other sales related occupations |
| 65211 | 5 | Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport |
| 65229 | 5 | Other support occupations in personal services |
| 65329 | 5 | Other service support occupations |
| 75200 | 5 | Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs |
| 85101 | 5 | Harvesting labourers |
| 85102 | 5 | Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers |
| 85104 | 5 | Trappers and hunters |
| 85110 | 5 | Mine labourers |
| 85121 | 5 | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |