The Alberta Express Entry is a component of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), which is a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) run by the province of Alberta. This stream selects potential candidates from the Federal Express Entry pool and offers them the chance to apply for nomination by the province. The selection criteria for this program are not disclosed to the public and all Express Entry candidates are taken into consideration.
Successful nominees through the Alberta Express Entry stream will receive an invitation to submit a formal application for permanent residency in Canada. This stream operates in conjunction with the Federal Express Entry immigration system. To be eligible for this stream, candidates must have an active profile in one of the three Federal Express Entry programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Note that this program is only accessible through invitation and foreign nationals cannot apply directly. All Express Entry candidates are automatically considered for this stream when they create their Express Entry profile. The province will send an invitation directly to the Express Entry accounts of those selected candidates to apply.
Although the specific selection criteria are not known, the AINP has stated that they aim to select candidates who exhibit strong connections to Alberta and who can contribute to regional economic growth and diversity.
Alberta Express Entry Eligibility Requirements
Requirement | |
Express Entry Profile | Yes |
Connection to Province | No |
Job Offer | No |
Language Proficiency | Express Entry requirement |
Level of Education | Express Entry requirement |
Work Experience | Express Entry requirement |
Investment Requirement | No |
Express Entry Profile Requirements
The Alberta Express Entry program is aligned with the federal Express Entry system and in order to be eligible, candidates must have an active profile in one of the following programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or Federal Skilled Trades (FST).
For Federal Skilled Worker, candidates must have a minimum of a high school diploma and at least one year of full-time, continuous work experience in a skilled position as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B. Additionally, they must demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7.
The Canadian Experience Class does not have a minimum education requirement, but candidates must have at least one year of full-time work experience in a skilled position as defined by the NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B. The work experience must have been obtained within the three years prior to the application, and candidates must demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at a CLB level 7 for positions classified as NOC Skill Level 0 or A and CLB 5 for positions classified as NOC Skill Level B.
For Federal Skilled Trades, candidates must possess a license or certification to practice their trade in a Canadian province or territory or have an offer for full-time employment in a position lasting at least 12 months. They must also demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at a CLB level 4.
All candidates must demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at the level specified by their respective programs. This must be demonstrated through a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score. A CLB 7 test score is required for Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class candidates, while a CLB 4 test score is required for Federal Skilled Trades candidates.
Alberta Express Entry Application Procedure
The Alberta Express Entry stream operates on an invitation-only basis and requires candidates to first create an Express Entry profile. Those who meet the minimum eligibility requirements may be selected for nomination by the province of Alberta. Receiving an invitation, however, is dependent on the province’s review and selection process, which considers the eligibility and potential of the candidate.
If a candidate receives a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Alberta, they must submit a complete application to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) within a specified deadline. Upon approval of the application, the candidate will be notified of their selection for provincial nomination. This will be reflected in the candidate’s IRCC online account and increase their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score by 600 points, increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency in the next Express Entry draw.
Once an ITA is received, the applicant must submit an official application for Canadian permanent residency within the designated timeframe. These applications are typically processed within a six-month period.
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