The Alberta Opportunity Stream is a component of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) administered by the province of Alberta. This stream aims to provide a pathway to permanent residency for foreign workers who are currently residing and working in Alberta and have secured a full-time job offer from an Albertan employer.
Alberta Opportunity Stream Eligibility Requirements
Requirement | |
Express Entry Profile | No |
Connection to Province | Work Experience |
Job Offer | Yes |
Language Proficiency | CLB 4 |
Level of Education | High School |
Work Experience | 12 months, minimum |
Investment Requirement | No |
Must have a valid temporary resident status that authorizes work in Canada
Must be residing and working in the province of Alberta (refugee claimants are not eligible)
Must have a valid work permit (not implied or restoration status) for an eligible occupation based on one of the following:
Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Valid LMIA-exemption (including International Experience Canada)
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder must meet additional criteria:
Occupation must be related to their field of study in Alberta
Must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta that matches previous work experience at the time of application postmark and assessment
Two lists of ineligible occupations:
Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list
List of High-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta as indicated on Canada’s Refusal to Process an LMIA List (only applicable to PGWP holders)
Must have a bona fide full-time job offer from current Alberta employer to continue work in the same occupation
The job offer must be signed by both applicant and employer and offer continuous, full-time, paid work in the current occupation in Alberta
Must demonstrate proficiency in English or French equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4
Language test results must be from an approved Canadian language test and no more than two years old at the time of application postmark
As of January 1st, 2020, language requirement increases to CLB Level 5 for applicants under NOC Skill Levels 0, A, or B, and CLB Level 4 for applicants under NOC Skill Levels C or D
NOC Code 3413 (nurses aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) must achieve a minimum language test score of CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French
Must have completed a minimum of high school education in the country of origin
Must be working in an occupation in Alberta that matches previous work experience at the time of application postmark and assessment
Must meet one of the following scenarios for work experience:
12 months of full-time work experience in the current occupation in Alberta in the last 18 months
24 months of full-time work experience in the current occupation in the last 30 months (can be obtained in Canada and/or abroad)
6 months of full-time work experience in the current occupation in Alberta (for PGWP holders only, and the occupation must be related to their Alberta education)
Experience must be full-time (30 hours/week), part-time experience will not be considered
Must have proper regulation, licensing, and/or status to perform the occupation legally
As of November 1st, 2018, AINP no longer requires applicants to demonstrate a minimum annual income
Alberta Opportunity Stream Application Procedure
The Alberta Opportunity Stream accepts applications on a continuous basis, with processing conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals are required to submit a complete paper application, which must include all necessary supporting documentation in hard copy form, delivered in a single envelope to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) office.
Upon successful review and approval of the application, the AINP will notify the candidate of their selection for provincial nomination. A formal nomination package will be sent to the successful applicant through the mail.
The recipient of the provincial nomination must then submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence within six months. This application must be submitted through the paper-based process and sent to the relevant application center by mail. On average, paper-based Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications for permanent residency are processed within 18 months.
