Alberta Opportunity Stream (AINP)

On June 14, 2018 the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) replaced the following two immigration streams in Alberta’s immigration program:

• Employer-Driven Stream
• Strategic Recruitment Stream

The AOS is a way for foreign nationals working in Alberta and foreign graduates who have attended an approved post-secondary institution in Alberta, to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program or AINP.  The eligibility requirements are as follows:

 

Residency status and work permit requirements

• You must have valid temporary residence in Canada, and specifically in the province of Alberta. You cannot be resident of another province or territory and you cannot be a refugee or be claiming refugee status.
• You must have a valid work permit based on an eligible occupation (see below for list of ineligible occupations) and that is:
  • A positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) or
  • An LMIA exemption based on: a trade agreement; or workers transferred within a company; or International Experience Canada, or
  • An LMIA exemption based on a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holder that is based on the following if you enrolled before October 1, 2018:
    • A post-secondary institution approved by Alberta Advanced Education which provides the approved credential for your degree: an AAE-approved certificate or Post-graduate certificate for a 1-year course, or
    • A 2-year diploma program, or
    • An undergraduate degree or post-graduate certificate or diploma
  • If you enrolled on or after October 1, 2018 your LMIA exemption must be based on the Alberta Advanced Education approved post-secondary credentials. Go here to see the list of approved degrees, diplomas, and credentials.

 

Occupation requirements

You must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta. Most NOC skill levels 0, A, B, C, &D are eligible under the AINP, but the following occupations are NOT eligible as listed in the following table:

NOC CODE	NOC Skill Level	Occupation Titles of INELIGIBLE Occupations
011	0	Legislators
0422		School Principals and Administrators of Elementary and Secondary Education
0423		Fire Chiefs, and Senior Fire Fighting Officers
0651		Escort Agency Managers, Massage Parlour Managers
4031	A	Secondary School Teachers
4032		Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers
4154		Professional Occupations in Religion
5121		Authors and Writers
5133		Musicians and Singers
5135		Actors and Comedians
5136		Painters, Sculptors, and other Visual Artists
1227	B	Court Officers and Justices of the Peace
3223		Dental Laboratory Bench Workers
4214		Early Childhood Educators and Assistants
4216		Other Instructors
4217		Other Religious Occupations
5232		Other Performers
5244		Artisans and Craftspersons
5251		Athletes
6232		Real Estate Agents and Salespersons
4411	C	Home Child Care Providers
4412		Home Support Workers, House Keepers and Related Occupations
4413		Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants
6533		Casino Occupations
6564		Other Personal Service Occupations
7513		Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs
8442		Trappers and Hunters
6623	D	Other Sales Related Occupations
6722		Operators and Attendants in Amusement, Recreation and Sport
6742		Other Service Support Occupations
8611		Harvesting Labourers
8612		Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Labourers
8613		Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers
8614		Mine Labourers

You must be working in an occupation that matches your previous work experience.

 

Language Requirements

You must at the time of applying have proof of having scored the following on English and/or French language tests:

• A minimum CLB score of 4 (English) until June 14, 2019 when it will increase to CLB 5.
• A minimum NCLC score of 4 (French) until June 14, 2019 when it will increase to NCLC 5
• Proof of this from one of the following testing systems: CELPIP, IELTS, TEF.

CLB Level	CELPIP Score	IELTS Score	TEF Score
CLB 4/NCLC 4 (Until June 14, 2019)	4	Reading 3.5 Writing 4.0 Listening 4.5 Speaking 4.0	Reading 120 – 150 Writing 181 – 225 Listening 145 – 180 Speaking 181 – 225
CLB 5/NCLC 5 (On/After June 14, 2019)	5	Reading 4.0 Writing 5.0 Listening 5.0 Speaking 5.0	Reading 151 – 180 Writing 226 – 270 Listening 181 – 216 Speaking 226 – 270

 

Education requirements

For all Alberta Opportunity stream except Post-Graduate work permit holders, you must have a high school (secondary school) diploma from your home country until January 1, 20121. On and after January 1, 2021 you will need to have a secondary degree equivalent to Alberta high school standards.

For AOS Post-Graduate work permit holders you need:

• An Alberta Advanced Education (AAE) approved credential. These include:
  • Apprentice Credentials:
    • Journeyman Certificate: 1 – 4 years depending on the trade
  • Undergraduate Credentials:
    • Certificate: 1 or less years. Sometimes required for admission to diploma programs or to transfer course credits
    • Diploma: 1 – 2 years. May require specific grades or subjects
    • Bachelor’s Degree: 4 years though may be longer if co-op education or work-study is involved
    • Post-diploma or Post-bachelor’s certificate: varying length of course study. Focused on specializing your skills
  • Graduate Credentials:
    • Master’s Degree: 2 years. Thesis-based or course-based. Requires undergraduate degree.
    • Doctor’s Degree: 2 – 3 years. Full-time study and research. Requires master’s degree. Involves preparation and defence of dissertation.

Note: If you enrol in an Alberta credential program on or after October 1, 2018 your Alberta credential must be on the Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials for Post-Graduate Work Permit Holders. Go here for the list of approved educational institutions in Alberta.

 

Work Experience requirements

• Your current occupation (the job you are doing when you apply to the AINP) must be the same occupation as your work experience listed in your application.
• Have 12 months full-time work experience in Alberta within the last 18 months, OR
• Have 24 months full-time work experience in Canada and/or abroad within the last 30 months
• If you are a Post-Graduate Work Permit holder you must have 6 months full-time work experience in Alberta in last 18 months and your work must be related to your field of study in your degree, diploma or certificate listed in your application
• The work experience listed must be full-time with a minimum of 30 hours per week
• The work experience must be in the same occupation as that listed in your application
• Must have been authorized by the IRCC (if in Canada) with a valid work permit
• Must NOT have been done while studying or as an internship:
  • Post-Graduate Permit holders may be exempted and thus used towards your work experience, IF your degree/diploma/certificate included co-op education or work-study programs if the work was:
    • Paid and full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
    • Directly related to your area of study
    • Done in the province of Alberta
• You must have any required licensing, registration, or certification
• You have a bona-fide full-time job offer from a valid Alberta employer
• Your job offer must be:
  • In a signed letter from your employer
  • For continuous, paid, full-time work
  • For a minimum of 12 months and in your occupation
  • Be in an eligible AINP occupation for which you have a valid work permit
• The following people are NOT eligible:
  • Part-time employees
  • Business owners
  • Independent contractors
  • Temporary agency workers
  • Home-based business workers.

 

Income level requirements

This are the income requirements typical of any nominee program across Canada. The specific levels required for the AINP are given in the following table:

Number of Members in Family Unit	Required Gross Annual Income CAD$ (income before tax)
1 (you)	$21,833
2 (you and your partner)	$30,876
3	$37,816
4	$43,666
5	$48,820
6	$53,480
7	$57,765
8	$61,753
9	$65,499
10	$69,042

 

PNP Draw Points Cut-Offs

Some of the PNP streams for the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba use the same scoring system as Express Entry. Here are the cut-offs for 2021:

 

PNP Invitations