Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program. It allows the province to nominate individuals for permanent residence based on labor shortages, economic development needs, and regional priorities.

Applicants may apply through one of the worker or entrepreneur streams, depending on their employment, business intent, or educational background.

Streams for Workers

1.  Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)

For temporary foreign workers already employed in Alberta.

Requirements:

●  Valid full-time job offer in an eligible occupation

●  Valid work permit (not implied status)

●  CLB 4 to 7 (depending on occupation)

●  High school education or equivalent

●  At least 12 months Alberta work experience or 24 months Canada/global experience

●  Fee: $1,500

 

2.  Alberta Express Entry Stream

For candidates in the federal Express Entry pool with strong ties to Alberta.

Requirements:

●  Active Express Entry profile (FSW, CEC, or FST)

●  CRS score of at least 300

●  Relevant work experience or family ties in Alberta

●  No job offer required

●  Sub-pathway: Accelerated Tech Pathway (for tech occupations)

●  Fee: $1,500

 

3.  Rural Renewal Stream

For candidates with job offers from employers in designated rural Alberta communities.

Requirements:

●  Endorsement from a participating rural community

●  Valid job offer in an eligible occupation

●  CLB 4 or higher

●  High school education or equivalent

●  At least 12 months of relevant work experience

●  Fee: $1,500

 

4.  Tourism and Hospitality Stream

For foreign nationals working in Alberta’s tourism and hospitality industry.

Requirements:

●  Currently employed or have a job offer from a participating tourism employer

●  At least 6 months Alberta work experience

●  CLB 4 or higher

●  Job offer must meet wage and employment conditions

●  Fee: $1,500

 

---

 

Streams for Entrepreneurs

1.  Rural Entrepreneur Stream

For individuals starting or buying a business in rural Alberta.

Requirements:

●  Net worth: Minimum $300,000

●  Investment: Minimum $100,000

●  Business ownership or management experience

●  Endorsement from a rural Alberta community

●  Fee: $3,500

 

2.  Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

For international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions.

Requirements:

●  At least 2 years of full-time study in Alberta

●  Valid Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

●  Minimum CLB 7

●  34% ownership in the business

●  Business plan required

●  Fee: $3,500

 

3.  Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

For graduates from institutions outside Canada planning to start a business in Alberta.

Requirements:

●  Post-secondary education from a foreign institution (within last 10 years)

●  Letter of recommendation from a designated agency

●  Minimum CLB 7

●  Minimum $100,000 investment

●  Minimum 6 months of experience as a business owner or manager

●  Fee: $3,500

 

4.  Farm Stream

For experienced farmers planning to purchase or develop a farming business in Alberta.

Requirements:

●  Farm management experience

● Minimum $500,000 investment

●  Business plan approved by Alberta Agriculture

●  Fee: $3,500

The Accelerated Tech Pathway is a fast-track option under the Alberta Express Entry Stream for tech professionals working in or with a job offer in Alberta.

Eligibility:

●  Express Entry profile with CRS of 300 or more

●  Working in or have a job offer for an eligible tech occupation

●  Occupation must fall under Alberta’s tech sector list

Process:

1.  Submit Accelerated Tech Pathway form

2.  Receive Notification of Interest (NOI)

3.  Apply to AAIP with required documents

4.  If approved, receive a nomination and 600 additional CRS points

As of April 1, 2025, the following English/French tests are accepted for all AAIP streams:

●  IELTS General Training

●  CELPIP General

●  TEF Canada

●  TCF Canada

●  PTE Core (newly accepted in 2025)

Test results must be valid on the date of submission and not older than 2 years.

1.  Review eligibility requirements for your stream

2.  Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) or stream-specific intake form

3.  If invited or eligible, submit a full application with the applicable fee

4.  Await assessment and potential nomination

5.  If nominated, apply for permanent residence through IRCC

●  Application processing can range from 4 to 12 months

●  Alberta regularly publishes draw results for the Express Entry and Rural streams

●  Alberta has discontinued Family Connection and Occupation-in-Demand categories, but these factors are still used in EOI scoring