Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program(AINP)
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) allows the province to choose a limited number of immigrants to meet critical skill shortages being experienced by Alberta employers. The AINP supports Alberta’s economic growth by attracting and retaining work ready people to the province.
Applicants nominated by the province can apply for permanent residence through IRCC as a Provincial nominee. IRCC is the final authority on all permanent resident applications.
Types of Categories:
The Alberta PNP currently has the following streams and sub-categories:
1. Strategic Recruitment Stream:
Strategic Recruitment Stream comprises of the following:
- Compulsory & optional Trades Category
- Engineering Occupations Category
- Post Graduate Worker Category
2. Employer Driven Stream
- Skilled Worker Category
- International Graduate Category
- Semi-Skilled Worker Category [ Under Construction & to be updated]
- Food and Beverage Processing Industry
- Hotel and Lodging Industry
- Manufacturing Industry
- Trucking Industry
- Food Services Industry
3. Self Employed Farmer Stream
1. STRATEGIC RECRUITMENT STREAM
An applicant can apply on their own without an employer under one of the three different categories. Strategic Recruitment Stream comprises of the following:
- Compulsory & optional Trades Category
- Engineering Occupations Category
- Post Graduate Worker Category
Compulsory Trades Category:
In order to qualify under this category, Eligible applicants must:
- Be currently residing in Alberta
- Is currently working or has previously worked for an Alberta employer in their trade for a minimum of 6 months.
- Possess an Alberta Qualification Certificate and be on an occupation that is listed as a “Compulsory Trade” in Alberta.
- A valid Trade certificate with an Interprovincial Red Seal issued by a recognized authority.
- Applicants do not need a job offer to qualify under this category.
- Demonstrate a clear ability and intention to live and work permanently in Alberta.
Engineering Occupations Category:
In order to qualify under this category, Eligible applicants must:
- Possess appropriate education and training as an engineer, designer, or drafter.
- Be on an Occupation that is listed on Alberta’s AINP Strategic Recruitment Stream – Engineering Occupations List.
- Is currently working or has worked within the last 24 months in Alberta for a recognized Alberta Engineering, Procurement, and Construction company or a company which is a member of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta.
- Obtain a “Letter of No Objection” from the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGA), unless they work in an occupation that falls under one of the following National Occupation Classifications codes: NOC: 2231, 2232, 2241 or 2253.
- Applicants do not need a job offer to qualify under this category.
- Candidate must be currently residing in Alberta.
- Demonstrate a clear ability and intention to live and work permanently in Alberta.
Post Graduate Worker Category:
An applicant must be in Canada on a valid Post-graduation work permit to qualify under this category:
- Has obtained a certificate, diploma, degree, or have completed a graduate level program from a publicly funded community college, trade/technical school or university in Alberta.
- The program in Alberta must have been at least one year in duration .
- Has a current Post Graduate work permit issued by IRCC.
- Is working full-time in Alberta for an Alberta employer in an eligible NOC level 0, A, B, or C occupation.
- Meet standard English/ French language requirements.
- Show that they intend to live and work in Alberta permanently.
2. EMPLOYER DRIVEN STREAM
An applicant can apply along with their employer under one of the three different categories. The Employer Driven Stream comprises of:
- Skilled Worker Category
- International Graduate Category
- Semi-Skilled Worker Category [ Under Construction & to be updated]
Alberta Provincial Nominee Program was established to assist employers in filling positions for skilled workers from outside of Canada.
Employers unable to fill skilled positions with Canadian residents may present their Business case to the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program and apply for approval to recruit a specified number of foreign candidates to fill these positions.
An Employer’s application under the Provincial Nominee Program will be considered where the position:
- Cannot be filled by a Canadian resident.
- Is for permanent, full-time employment in Alberta;
- Meets provincial employment and wage standards;
- Is offered to an individual who meets the requisite qualifications.
- Is not in variance with existing collective bargaining agreements.
Employers must first apply for Pre-approval to sponsor candidates for PNP. After the employer receives it’s pre-approval and presents the candidate with a guaranteed job offer, the candidate then submits the PNP application.
Skilled Worker:
All applicants must have the following in order to qualify under this category:
- Show that they intend to live and work in Alberta permanently.
- Nominees are skilled workers – in occupational levels O, A or B as defined by the National Occupational Classification Code (NOC).
- Job offer is for permanent, full-time employment from Pre approved employer in Alberta.
- Offered to an individual who has the required qualifications and certifications.
- Employees should meet all licensing & regulatory requirements of their occupation.
- Possess relevant qualifications, work experience, certification and work permit.
- Has a positive Labour Market Opinion (HRSDC).
- Have met the employer’s probationary requirements.
International Graduate Category
Alberta AINP is intended for skilled occupations for which formal education and/or specialized training in the intended occupation is embarked on by International students. These occupations are defined as Skill Level 0, A, or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code.
Criteria for Provincial Nominee Candidates:
- An international graduate must have obtained a diploma, degree, or have completed a graduate level program from a publicly funded community college, trade/technical school or university, or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees in Alberta or Canada.
- Education program must have been a minimum of two years in duration at the undergraduate level or a minimum of one year at the graduate level.
- International graduate must have obtained permanent full time employment for a minimum of 6 months related to their field of study and hold a valid work permit prior to the employer filing an application with the Alberta PNP.
- Has a current Post Graduate work permit issued by IRCC.
- Meet standard English/ French language requirements.
- Show that they intend to live and work in Alberta permanently.
Semi-Skilled Worker Category
The AINP program may consider some of the occupations under Semi-Skilled Worker Category in the following industries:
- Food and Beverage Processing Industry
- Hotel and Lodging Industry
- Manufacturing Industry
- Trucking Industry
- Food Services Industry
In order to be considered for AINP Semi-Skilled Workers must meet the following:
- Accepted an offer of permanent, full-time employment from an Alberta employer.
- Currently working in Alberta on a work permit in a Semi skilled Occupation.
- Has a minimum of high school education or more.
- Possess qualifications necessary for the job offer in one of the eligible industries.
- Demonstrate that he or she meets the required qualifications for the job, including provincial regulations and industry standards.
- Meet standard English / French language requirements.
- Provide proof of current status in Canada as a temporary worker.
3. SELF EMPLOYED FARMER STREAM
APNP is designed to assist Farm owner/operators with proven managing skills and significant financial resources, to develop a farming business in Alberta. Alberta nominates farm owner/operators who intend to immigrate, purchase and manage a farming business in Alberta.
Criteria for the Self Employed Farmer Stream:
- Farm owner/operator category is restricted to primary agriculture enterprises.
- Priority to applicants purchasing farming enterprises which assist in growth relevant to Alberta’s agri-food growth targets.
- Document their investment intentions through their proposed business plans.
Applicants should prove Farm management skills through any combination of the following:
- Financial documentation of their existing farm enterprise.
- Documentation of their education, training and work experience.
- Proposed business plan for the farming enterprise being considered in Alberta.
- Document their investment intentions through their proposed business plans.
- Canadian financial institution willingness to finance the proposed farming enterprise.
Applicants must also meet other Requirements:
- Invest a minimum of $500,000 of equity in a farming enterprise in Alberta.
- Demonstrate that they have a minimum net worth of $500,000 Cdn or confirmation of access to a similar amount of funds from any other sources.
- Sufficient financial resources to develop a sustainable farming operation.
- Personal representation to Alberta Agriculture to demonstrate their financial capability and specific interests in investing in a farming enterprise in Alberta.
A Self-Employed Farmer Applicant will initially seek an assessment from Alberta Agriculture and Food Dept. As part of this assessment, an applicant will be required to attend an interview, conducted by the officials of the Government of Alberta, to assist in determining their eligibility under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.
Successful PNP applicants nominated by the Government of Alberta will be required to meet all Federal Government statutory requirements regarding health, criminal and security checks before an immigration visa is issued.
Business Immigration Program
Alberta’s AINP program is distinctive in that it only comprises of a Skilled Worker Stream and there is No business Category. At present, there is no Provincial nominee program for Business category for this province except for the, Strategic Recruitment, Employer Driven & Self Employed Farmer Streams.
A New Beginning
Canada wants to attract new immigrants on an annual basis with the emphasis firmly focused on immigrants with economic and professional skills from every part of the world.
In Canada you can start a new life, with never-ending opportunities ahead of you. We will help you plan your transition to the new way of life in Canada carefully, patiently and knowledgably.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility to immigrate to Canada as a Provincial Skilled worker, we invite you to Contact us
