The Alberta Opportunity Stream is a component of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), which operates as a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under the jurisdiction of the province of Alberta. This stream is designed to cater to foreign workers who are presently residing and employed in Alberta, and who have received an offer of full-time employment to continue working for an Alberta-based employer.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Express Entry Profile: Not Required
2. Connection to Province: Work Experience
3. Job Offer: Yes
4. Language Proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4
5. Level of Education: High School
6. Work Experience: Minimum 12 months
7. Investment Requirement: Not Applicable

Connection to Province:

Applicants must possess a valid temporary resident status in Canada that permits them to work. Furthermore, they must be residing and actively employed within the province of Alberta. It is essential to note that refugee claimants are ineligible for this stream. Eligible candidates must possess a valid work permit, which should fall into one of the following categories:

a. A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
b. A valid LMIA-exemption (including International Experience Canada)
c. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders have additional criteria:
– The applicant’s occupation must be aligned with their field of study in Alberta

Job Offer:

At the time of submitting an application to AINP and during the assessment process, applicants are required to be engaged in an eligible occupation within Alberta that aligns with their prior work experience. Post-Graduation Work Permit holders are also expected to work in an occupation that correlates with their Alberta educational credential. Two lists of ineligible occupations exist:
1. The Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list, which applies to all applicants, rendering those with occupations on this list ineligible to apply.
2. The List of High-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta as indicated on Canada’s Refusal to Process an LMIA List, which exclusively pertains to Post-Graduation Work Permit holders. Applicants with occupations on this list are ineligible to apply.

Applicants must possess a genuine, full-time job offer from their current Alberta-based employer for continued employment in their present occupation. This job offer should be mutually signed by the applicant and the employer, and it must encompass continuous, full-time, compensated employment in the applicant’s existing occupation within Alberta.

Language Proficiency:

All applicants must showcase proficiency in either English or French, equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4. This must be substantiated by presenting valid results from one of the language tests approved by Canada. The results should be no older than two years at the time of application submission. It is important to note that, starting from January 1st, 2020, applicants applying under NOC Skill Levels 0, A, or B will be required to meet a higher language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark Level 5 in either English or French. Candidates applying under NOC Skill Levels C or D will only require CLB 4 in their language tests. Applicants with NOC Code 3413 (nurses aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) must attain a minimum language test score of CLB 7 for each English language skill or NCLC 7 for each French language skill.

Level of Education:

All applicants are mandated to have successfully completed at least a high school education in their country of origin.

Work Experience:

At the time of application submission and during AINP’s assessment, applicants should be employed in an occupation within Alberta that aligns with their previous work experience. PGWP holders are also required to be employed in an occupation congruent with their Alberta educational credential. Applicants must satisfy one of the following scenarios for work experience:
1. Minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in their current Alberta occupation within the last 18 months; or
2. Minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in their current Alberta occupation within the last 30 months (may be acquired in Canada and/or abroad); or
3. For Post-Graduation Work Permit holders: Minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in their current Alberta occupation within the last 18 months, which should be related to their Alberta education.

The work experience must have been in a full-time capacity (30 hours/week), and part-time experience will not be considered. Additionally, applicants must possess the appropriate regulatory, licensing, and/or status in Canada to legally perform the occupation.

Settlement Funds:

Effective November 1st, 2018, AINP has eliminated the requirement for applicants to demonstrate a minimum annual income as part of the program’s criteria. This is no longer a prerequisite for the program.