Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) offers various pathways for skilled workers, international students, and entrepreneurs to immigrate to Canada. Whether you have specialized skills and experience, are seeking higher education opportunities, or want to start your own business, AAIP can provide a route to permanent residency in Alberta. With its streamlined application process and dedicated support services, AAIP is an excellent option for those looking to build a new life in Canada.

AAIP Streams for Foreign Skilled Workers

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program has these streams for foreign workers who are either living and working inside Alberta or planning to move there:

  1. Alberta Express Entry: This stream is for candidates with an Express Entry profile.
  2. Accelerated Tech Pathway: This stream is open to eligible candidates with work experience in one of 38 tech industry occupations.
  3. Alberta Opportunity Stream: This stream is for foreign individuals already working in Alberta and people who have completed their graduation and further studies at institutions in Alberta.
  4. Alberta Rural Renewal Stream: This stream is designed to support the economic development of rural communities.

Alberta Entrepreneur Immigration Streams

You can immigrate to Canada as an entrepreneur or a farmer through the Alberta Entrepreneur Immigration Streams. These are the four entrepreneurial immigration streams under AAIP:

  1. Rural Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for entrepreneurs who plan to start or buy a business in rural Alberta.
  2. Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for recent graduates from Alberta’s post-secondary institutions who want to launch a startup or buy an existing business in the province.
  3. Farm Stream: This stream is for individuals who plan to start or buy a farm in Alberta.
  4. Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for foreign graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to launch a startup or buy an existing business in the province.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Streams

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Alberta can use the Express Entry stream to nominate people with a profile in the federal Express Entry system. If you show your ties to Alberta and the necessary skills to contribute to the province’s economic growth, you might be invited by the province to apply. If you receive a provincial nomination from Alberta, you will be awarded an additional CRS points.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream is only available by invitation. If you have an Express Entry profile, you may get a Notification of Interest (NOI) straight from the Alberta government in the federal system. You will be contacted by the AAIP and asked to file for provincial nomination by submitting all relevant documentation through the AAIP online portal.

Minimum Requirements

  • You must be in the Express Entry pool;
  • You must have expressed interest in immigrating to Alberta permanently;
  • You must be employed in a field contributing to Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
  • A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Programme (AAIP) Accelerated Tech Pathway is a stream of the AAIP for Express Entry candidates currently working for an Alberta employer or having a job offer in one of 38 in-demand tech occupations.

If you are working or have a full-time job offer with an Alberta technology industry employer, you can apply for this program under the expedited pathway. You need to submit an online application via the AAIP website. If you meet all the required criteria, you will receive an invitation from AAIP to apply for provincial nomination.

Minimum Requirements

  • You must have a profile in the Express Entry pool.
  • You must express your permanent residency in Alberta.
  • The cut-off score of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is 300.
  • You must be employed or receive a full-time job offer from an eligible tech company in Alberta.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

If you are already a full-time working professional in Alberta or have finished your post-graduation at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution, you can apply for a provincial nomination under the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

You need to fill out your application online through the AAIP online portal. You must also submit all relevant documents and pay the online application fee, depending on your situation.

  • You must have a valid, full-time work permit.
  • You must be a full-time employee in Alberta that fits your work experience.
  • You must demonstrate your language efficiency in English or French, as determined by a formal language evaluation ((CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF). You must attain a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4, 5 or 7, depending on your occupation.
  • You must produce a degree from high school.
  • A minimum of 12 months of work experience in Alberta in the last 18 months or a minimum of 24 months of work experience in Canada in the last 30 months.

Alberta Rural Renewal Stream

The Alberta Rural Renewal Stream is a Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP) for newcomers with job offers and community support from an Alberta rural community. The programme is intended to increase immigration to Alberta’s smaller rural towns, which sometimes struggle to recruit newcomers.

Since this stream is community-driven, you must get the approval of a participating community in Alberta. Employers make job offers to designated communities, and the community ensures that the applicant satisfies the stream criteria. You are subsequently given a letter of support. After receiving the endorsement, the foreign national submits their application to the AAIP.

  • A valid full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer is necessary.
  • You must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible profession 18 months before applying.
  • You must meet English or French language requirements.
  • Your education should be equivalent to Canadian high school education standards.
  • You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family member(s) if anyone will be moving with you.

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The AAIP Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for foreign graduates who want to launch start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta.

  • Minimum Investment: CAD 100,000 (Urban Center), CAD 50,000 (outside Calgary and Edmonton)
  • Ownership: 34% or higher (Urban Center), 51% (outside Calgary and Edmonton)
  • Experience: Min. 6 months as a business owner or manager.
  • Education: Equivalent college or university degree obtained from outside Canada.
  • Language Proficiency: CLB Level 5 or Above in English or French.
  • Pitch Deck: 10-minute slideshow presentation
  • Business Plan: Mandatory
  • Letter of Recommendation: Mandatory
  • Settlement Funds: Mandatory

AAIP Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The AAIP Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for foreign graduates who have studied at Alberta Universities and Colleges and wish to start or purchase a business in the province.

  • Ownership: 34% or greater with Canadian citizens or permanent residents as partners.
  • Experience: Minimum 3 years as a business owner or four years in a senior management role.
  • Education: Completed a program lasting two or more years at an Alberta College or University. A degree or diploma is mandatory.
  • Language Proficiency: CLB 7 or above in English or French.
  • Work Permit: PGWP Mandatory.

Farm Stream

Farm Stream program caters to you if you want to immigrate to Alberta to buy or start a farming business.

You must first submit a business plan to the Alberta government and await a decision. Your business plan must be feasible and agreeable with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The decision is based on how your business plan would fulfil the needs of Alberta’s agricultural economy. If the decision is favourable for you, you must then accumulate all necessary documentation and fill out the necessary forms for both the Alberta government and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

  • Farm management skills;
  • Sufficient financial resources (minimum investment of CAD $500,000);
  • Investment plans are documented in a proposed business plan.

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Stream caters to foreign entrepreneurs and business people who wish to start or purchase a business in specific rural Alberta communities. This definition of “rural” refers to communities under 100,000.

  • Minimum Net Worth: CAD 300,000
  • Minimum Investment: CAD 200,000
  • Ownership: 51% or greater
  • Experience: Min. 3 years as a business owner or four years in a senior management role.
  • Education: Completed high school (ECA required)
  • Language Proficiency: CLB4 or Above in English or French.
  • Job Creation: Mandatory
  • Community Support Letter: Mandatory

FAQs: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

These are some frequently asked questions about the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.

What are the processing times for Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?

Under the AAIP programs, the processing time of each stream varies. Submissions submitted using the AIP web portal take 4 to 6 months on average, while paper applications take 15 to 19 months on average.

How much is Alberta PNP application fee?

Applicants for the Alberta PNP must pay a $500 processing fee, which is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of application submission. This amount has nothing to do with whether or not the application receives a nomination.

Do I need job offer for AAIP?

Most of the AAIP Streams require a job offer except the Express Entry Pathway. To understand your options better, get in touch with ELAAR’s experienced immigration consultants.

Which documents are required for Alberta Express Entry program?

A list of all documents required for AAIP Streams. The requirements may vary with the stream you’re applying for. Get in touch with our experts to learn more.

  • Valid passports
  • Work permit(s)
  • Language assessment(s)
  • Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
  • Education
  • AIT-recognized trade certificate
  • Licensing, registration, and certification (excluding trade certificates)
  • Alberta job offer(s) or employment contract
  • Employment reference letter(s)
  • Alberta relative(s) (if applicable)

What are the eligibility criteria for the AAIP?

Eligibility criteria vary depending on the specific stream within the AAIP. Generally, criteria may include factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, a job offer (for certain streams), and intention to live and work in Alberta.

What are the benefits of the AAIP?

The AAIP offers successful candidates the opportunity to live and work in Alberta, faster processing times for permanent residency applications, and the chance to contribute to the local economy.

Immigrate to Canada through AAIP

Prospective immigrants who wish to immigrate to Alberta through any of the AAIP programs mentioned above should contact our experts. We have a team of exceptional Licensed Immigration Consultants who understand the AAIP requirements. They can assess your AAIP profile and optimize your application. Make your journey to Canada easier under the guidance of the experts at Elaar Immigration by contacting us today.