Alberta
Alberta is a province of Western Canada. It is in Westernmost of the three Prairie provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan) of Canada. Alberta is mineral-rich and massive coniferous forests, breathtaking mountain scenery and desert landscapes.
Alberta is known in parts as Canada's artistic heritage and energy hub. The province's economy is largely dependent on oil and gas, manufacturing, forestry, largescale farming and ranches.
These sectors account for the largest employment sectors and are expected to grow further due to technological advances and investments in critical sectors. This makes Alberta a fantastic place to look for work.
Alberta has over 4.5 million people and is rapidly expanding with most of the population residing in Edmonton, the provincial capital, and Calgary the largest city in the province.
Alberta’s low population growth, low unemployment rate and labour shortages is an indication of dynamic job opportunities available for newcomers in the province.
In recent years the province has increased its share of permanent resident immigrants as well as temporary foreign workers living and working in Alberta.
The Calgary area has the third-highest proportion of immigrants among the country's urban areas. According to data, nearly one in every three people living in the Calgary census metropolitan area is an immigrant.
Alberta, just like the other provinces, has a say in who comes to the province, and this was made possible by an agreement with the federal government.
Alberta is an ideal immigration destination; if you have the necessary job skills and qualifications, contact Asare Immigration Consulting for assistance.
The Alberta advantage Immigration Program
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. Candidates must be able to fill labour shortages or have plans to buy or start a business in Alberta.
If you are nominated by the program, you may apply for permanent residence together with your spouse, or common-law partner and dependent children.
There are eight immigration streams for interested applicants to choose from.
Streams for Workers
Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Designed for skilled workers who are currently working in a qualifying occupation in Alberta.
Alberta General Express Entry
- For candidates in the Express Entry system who have a Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of at least 300, and who are currently working in an eligible occupation.
Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Tech workers can qualify for expedited processing.
Rural Renewal Stream
- For candidates who have a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in a designated rural Alberta community.
Streams for Entrepreneurs/Business
- Rural Entrepreneurs
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Farm Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
International Graduate of Alberta Post-Secondary institutions
An international student may benefit from the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) if you completed your studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution and are employed in Alberta on a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
The Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program encourages student applicants with qualifications aligned with the province’s needs to apply if:
- You can show that you have at least six months of work experience in Alberta in an occupation related to your field of study.
- Meet the language and income requirements
Applicants to AOS must meet several requirements including;
Residency Status and Work Permits
You must have a valid temporary resident status and work permit in an eligible occupation based on Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) OR LMIA-exempt workers (Intra-Company Transferees and International Experience Canada) OR Post-Graduate Work Permit holder
Language
You must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 4 or 5 in either English or French.
Exemption(s): Occupations under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates) must have a minimum of CLB 7
Education Requirements
You must have completed at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent in your country of origin verified through Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an approved agency.
Exemption(s): ECA are not required for Canadian degree, diploma certificate OR if you have work experience that qualifies you for the AAIP in a compulsory or optional trade with a valid Alberta trades certification
Work Experience Requirements
Have at least 12 months full-time work experience in the current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months OR
Job Offer Requirements
- Have at least 24 months full-time work experience in the 'current occupation' in Canada and/or outside Canada within the last 30 months
- As a Post Graduate Work Permit holder, you must have a minimum of six months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
- Paid co-op full-time placements can count towards work experience requirement.
- Must be signed by applicant and Alberta employer and must be 12 months or more and must be in applicant’s current occupation.
- If you have completed a one-year post graduate certificate you must be employed in an occupation related to your previous undergraduate or graduate field of study outside Canada.
- Eligible occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) are TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.
Ineligible Occupation List
NOC
00010
40021
40030
40041
60040
41100
41220
41221
51111
51122
42200
42202
43100
43109
53121
53122
53124
53200
63101
33100
44100
44101
64321
55109
65109
65211
65229
65329
75200
85101
85102
85104
85110
85121
teer
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Occupation
Legislators
School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education
Managers in social, community and correctional services
Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers
Escort agency managers, massage palour managers
Judges
Secondary school teachers
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
Authors and writers (except technical)
Musicians and singers
Justices of the peace
Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children services
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
Other instructors
Actors, comedians, and circus performers
Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists
Artisans and craft persons
Athletes
Real estate agents and salespersons
Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers
Home childcare providers
Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
Casino occupations
Other performers
Other sales related occupations
Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport
Other support occupations in personal services
Other service support occupations
Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
Harvesting labourers
Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
Trappers and hunters
Mine labourers
Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
NOC Code | TEER
|
Occupation Title
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 palour 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 services
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 craft persons
53200
- 3
-
Athletes
63101
- 3
-
Real estate agents and salespersons
33100
- 3
-
Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers
44100
- 4
-
Home childcare 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
If you have work experience in the above-mentioned occupations, please contact Asare Immigration Consulting for personalised assistance.
Alberta General Express Entry
If you can show strong ties to Alberta or can support the province's economic development and diversification priorities, you may be selected for the Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program (AAIP).
International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions may apply under this stream.
You can only apply to the Alberta Express Entry stream after you receive Notification of Interest (NOI) letter from the province.
You may receive a NOI if you:
- Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry profile
- Have stated interest in moving permanently to Alberta
- Are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification; and
- Have a minimum CRS score of 300.
Further, you may be more likely to be selected if you have one or more adaptability factors including;
- A valid Alberta job offer and/or work experience
- A graduate of an Alberta post-secondary institution with a valid Alberta job offer; and/or
- Having a parent, child, brother and/or sister who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in Alberta.
Accelerated Tech Pathway Selection Criteria
If you are currently employed or have a job offer from an Alberta-based tech industry employer in an eligible technology occupation, you may be eligible for the Accelerated Tech Pathway—which is an expedited immigration pathway for tech workers from Canada and abroad.
Eligibility and Application Process
To qualify for this program, candidates must
- Have an active Express Entry profile with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of 300
- Have a full-time job or job offer in Alberta with an Alberta technology employer in an occupation
- Complete an online form with the AAIP providing information about their Express Entry profile and their tech job in Alberta once they determine that they meet these assessment criteria.
Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria will be contacted by AAIP and invited to submit a complete application to be considered for nomination.
Accelerated Tech Pathway: Eligible Occupations List
NOC code
00012
10022
10030
11200
11202
12101
20010
20011
20012
21210
21211
21220
21221
21222
21233
21223
21231
21230
21234
21300
21301
21310
21311
22110
22212
22220
22221
22222
22301
22302
22310
32120
32129
33101
41402
50011
51120
52120
60010
72200
72201
72205
Occupation
Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services
Advertising, marketing, and public relations manager
Telecommunication carriers manager
Human resources professionals
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
Human resources and recruitment officers
Engineering managers
Architecture and science managers
Computer and information systems managers
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
Data scientists
Cybersecurity specialists
Business system specialists
Information systems specialists
Web designers
Database analysts and data administrators
Software engineers and designers
Computer systems developers and programmers
Web developers and programmers
Civil engineers
Mechanical engineers
Electrical and electronics engineers
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
Biological technologists and technicians
Drafting technologists and technicians
Computer network and web technicians
User support technicians
Information systems testing technicians
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
Medical laboratory technologists
Other medical technologists and technicians
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations
Graphic designers and illustrators
Corporate sales managers
Electricians (except industrial and power system)
Industrial electricians
Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
NOC code | Occupation
00012
Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services
10022
Advertising, marketing, and public relations manager
10030
Telecommunication carriers manager
11200
Human resources professionals
11202
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
12101
Human resources and recruitment officers
20010
Engineering managers
20011
Architecture and science managers
20011
Architecture and science managers
20012
Computer and information systems managers
21210
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211
Data scientists
21220
Cybersecurity specialists
21221
Business system specialists
21222
Information systems specialists
21233
Web designers
21223
Database analysts and data administrators
21231
Software engineers and designers
21230
Computer systems developers and programmers
21234
Web developers and programmers
21300
Civil engineers
21301
Mechanical engineers
21310
Electrical and electronics engineers
21311
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
22110
Biological technologists and technicians
22212
Drafting technologists and technicians
22220
Computer network and web technicians
22221
User support technicians
22222
Information systems testing technicians
22301
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
22302
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
22310
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
32120
Medical laboratory technologists
32129
Other medical technologists and technicians
33101
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
41402
Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
50011
Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51120
Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations
52120
Graphic designers and illustrators
60010
Corporate sales managers
72200
Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201
Industrial electricians
72205
Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
Need Help?
Asare Immigration Consulting Inc. is available to help student, workers and investors who are interested in settling in Alberta permanently. Schedule a Call or complete our free Online Assessment and our immigration expert.
Rural Renewal Stream
The Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) promotes attraction and retention of newcomers to address current labour and skills shortages in rural Alberta communities.
RRS allows rural communities to recruit and retain foreign nationals to live, work and settle in
their communities.
How RRS Works
Communities must apply for and become designated before they can recruit and endorse candidates for the RRS.
Community Requirements
Rural communities that participates in the program must meet the following requirements:
- Have a population fewer than 100,000.
- Be outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas
- Have one or more employers interested in participating and offering permanent, full-time, non-seasonal employment;
- Obtain a letter of support from the community or municipal council;
- Submit a signed application from the economic development organization with a primary economic development function, including an economic development plan or similar document;
- Obtain a letter of support from a settlement agency.
Candidates Eligibility Requirements
Candidates for the RRS must meet several requirements including:
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (GES) nominates qualified international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta to apply for permanent residence
- Have a letter of endorsement of the applicant from their nominated community
- Have a full-time job offer or bona fide employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in an eligible occupation in their designated community;
- Have the required licences, registration, or certification to practise their current occupation in Alberta or the occupation listed in their job offer in Alberta;
- Have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation in the 18 months prior to your application, either in Alberta, elsewhere in Canada or abroad;
- Meet the English or French language requirements;
- Have completed a minimum of high school education equivalent to the Canadian education standard or a foreign degree, diploma, or certificate;
- Demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members to settle in the designated community. If they are not residing in Canada, or if they are currently in Canada but not working.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this stream, candidates must meet the following criteria;
Education
You must have completed at least 2 years of full-time education resulting in diploma or degree from an eligible Alberta post-secondary education
Work Permit
You must have a As a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) valid at the time you submit your Expression of Interest
Language
You must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark of 7 for each English Language skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking) or a Niveau de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French skill.
Business Establishment
Must start a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with 34% ownership. Your business partners must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The business must be an eligible business
Work Experience
Have a minimum of 6 months of work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent. You must meet this requirement before submitting your EOI.
Economic Benefit
If you can provide an economic benefit to Alberta through:
- Job creation;
- Economic sector;
- Business location (e.g., rural);
- Business succession;
- Investment;
- Developed intellectual property;
- Partnership, or support from business incubator, business accelerator, venture capital or angel investor.
Age
If you are between 21 to 49 years old
Spouse
If your spouse or common-law partner has at least one of the following:
- One year of continuous full-time employment in Alberta;
- Completed at least two years of full-time study at an Alberta post-secondary institution;
- A minimum CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in each language ability.
The table below summarizes the selection factors for business newcomers.
Business Selection Factors (75 points)
Criteria
Business management or ownership experience or equivalent.
This could be with a business incubator or completion of entrepreneurship program courses
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory Requirement
Economic Benefit
Maximum of 40 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Total Business Investment
Maximum 20 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Descriptions
6 months
1 year
More than 1 year
Economic development sector (e.g. energy. Agriculture, financial services, fintech etc
Succession
Job creation (max 15 points)
1 job
2 jobs
3 jobs or more
Rural (outside Calgary or Edmonton)
$25,000 or less
$ 25,001 to $50,000
$50,001 to $75000
75,001 to more
Points
5
10
15 points
5
15
5
10
15
5
5
10
15
20
Human Capital Factors
Criteria
Language Proficiency
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory requirement
Alberta Education
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory requirement
Descriptions
CLB/NCLC 7 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
CLB/NCLC 8 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
CLB/NCLC 9 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
Bachelor’s degree or 2-year Diploma
2 or more degrees or diplomas
Master’s degree or higher
Points
5
12
15
5
12
15
Human Capital Factors
Criteria
Age
Maximum of 5 points
Not mandatory
Spouse or common-law partner characteristics
Maximum of 5 points
Not mandatory
Alberta Relatives
Maximum of 5 points
Not mandatory
Descriptions
21 to 49 years old
Your spouse or common-law partner has one or more of the following:
- At least one year of continuous full-time employment in Alberta;
- Completed at least 2 years of full-time study at an Alberta post-secondary;
- A minimum of CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all language abilities.
A relative may include one of the following
Mother, Father, Stepmother, Stepfather, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister
Points
5
10
10
Business Selection Factors (75 points)
Criteria | Descriptions | Points
Business management or ownership experience or equivalent.
-
6 months
-
5 Points
This could be with a business incubator or completion of entrepreneurship program courses
-
1 year
-
10 Points
Maximum of 15 points
-
More than 1 year
-
15 Points
Mandatory Requirement
Economic Benefit
Maximum of 40 points
-
Economic development sector (e.g. energy. Agriculture, financial services, fintech etc
-
15 Points
Not a mandatory requirement
-
Succession
-
5 Points
Job creation (max 15 points)
-
1 job
-
5 Points
-
2 job
-
10 Points
-
3 jobs or more
-
15 Points
-
Rural (outside Calgary or Edmonton)
-
5 Points
Total Business Investment
- $25,000 or less
- 5 Points
Maximum of 20 points
- $ 25,001 to $50,000
- 10 Points
Not a mandatory requirement
- $50,001 to $75000
- 15 Points
-
75,001 to more
-
20 Points
Human Capital Factors
Criteria | Descriptions | Points
Language Proficiency
-
CLB/NCLC 7 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
-
5 Points
Maximum of 15 points
-
CLB/NCLC 8 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
-
12 Points
Mandatory requirement
-
CLB/NCLC 9 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
-
15 Points
Alberta Education
-
Bachelor’s degree or 2-year Diploma
-
5 Points
Maximum of points 10 points
-
2 or more degrees or diplomas
-
7 Points
Not a mandatory requirement
-
Master’s degree or higher
-
10 Points
Adaptability Factors
Criteria | Descriptions | Points
Age
-
21 to 49 years old
-
5 Points
Maximum of 5 points
Not mandatory
Spouse or common-law partner characteristics
Your spouse or common-law partner has one or more of the following:
- 10 Points
Maximum of 5 points
Not mandatory
Alberta Relatives
A relative may include one of the following :
Mother, Father, Stepmother, Stepfather, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister
-
10 Points
Maximum of 5 points
Not mandatory
Business Requirements
Applicants must show they have the potential to create economic benefit in Alberta, your proposed business must satisfy the following requirements:
- Your business goal must be for profit—not passive income;
- Your business must comply with any federal, provincial, or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirement;
- Your business must be in Alberta;
- You must own at least 34% of your business, and you must stay in Alberta and be involved in the day-to-day management of your business. You cannot do this remotely.
Unqualified Businesses
- Business that has no economic value component such as payday loan or a business that trades in used goods;
- Businesses that would be considered passive investment and do not need any active management such as property rental, investment, and leasing activities;
- Home based businesses.
If you need help navigating the processes involved in the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Contact Asare Immigration Consulting Inc or complete our free Online Assessment and our immigration expert will get in touch between 1-2 business days.
Alberta Foreign Graduate
Entrepreneur Stream
The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (FGES) is an economic immigration program for qualified foreign-educated graduates from outside of Canada who want to start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta.
An applicant who meets the requirements set out by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will be issued with a letter of recommendation by a designated agency.
The job of a designated agency is to assess your business plans based on your ability to show the potential for a successful market, customer acquisition, business development, key partnerships, and financial plans to fund the development and operation of the start-up.
The designated agency will provide a written report on their assessment of the proposed business plan. Foreign graduates must submit this report with their Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Business Application.
The proposed business must be connected to one of these sectors:
Technology, aerospace, financial services, energy, agriculture tourism life sciences, pharmaceuticals
Candidates are awarded points based on points grid. The points grid is like that of the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream such as:
- Language — Max of 30 points (English or French minimum CLB 5
- Education — Max of 35 points must have been completed within the last 10 years assessed by Educational Credential Assessment
- Business Plan — Submit business plan with financial projections
- Pitch Deck — You must prepare a 10-minute presentation that outlines the proposed business. Assume this presentation is for an investor
- Business Establishment— Must have at least 34 % ownership
- Business investment — You must make an investment of at least $100,000 if business is in an urban area or $50,000 in business in the rural area.
- Settlement of funds — Funds to support yourself and accompanying family members
- Letter of Recommendation — Letter of recommendation from an approved agency
Farm Stream
The Alberta Advantage Program (AAIP) assess candidates’ eligibility by working in collaboration with Alberta’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Candidates must demonstrate an intention to set up a farming business in Alberta and must show farm management skills and sufficient financial resources to invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta.
Eligibility Requirements
Prove that you have farm management skills such as
- financial documentation of an existing farm business
- documentation of education, training, and work experience
- a proposed business plan for the farming enterprise you are considering in Alberta
- proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance your proposed farming business
Prove that you have sufficient financial resources
- Must be able to invest a minimum of CAD $500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business in Alberta; and
- Show a minimum net worth of CAD $500,000 or confirmation of access to similar funds from other sources.
Prove that you will invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta;
- Document investment intentions in the proposed business plan
- Attend an in-person interview with a government of Alberta representative who will determine your eligibility under the program.
Ineligible Applicants
- Refugee claimants, or if you are involved in a federal appeal or removal process; Live-in caregiver currently residing in Canada;
- Temporary Foreign Worker, working and residing in a province other than Alberta; and
- International student studying in Canada, including if you are doing a co-op work placement or internship as part of you study program.