Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program(AINP)


Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is run by Alberta government in collaboration with Federal government. an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. If a person is nominated through the program, they may apply for permanent residence status together with their spouse or common-law partner and dependent children.

  • Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
  • Alberta Express Entry Stream
  • Self-Employed Farmer Stream

Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)

Residency status and work permit requirements

you must have a valid work permit in Alberta (not implied status or restoration status) for an eligible occupation at the time of your application. Refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process are not eligible

Eligible occupations

At the time your application is postmarked and at the time the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) assesses your application, you must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta. Occupation requirements also apply to your work experience and job offer. Most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AINP.

If you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder your occupation must also be related to your field of study in Alberta. You must review the Education criteria section for details on eligible Alberta credentials and approved Alberta institutions.

In addition to occupations on the list above, Post-Graduation Work Permit holders are not eligible to apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream if their occupation is on the Government of Canada’s list of high-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta. These occupations are not in demand in Alberta and can be filled by Albertans and Canadians.

Language requirements

If your application is postmarked on or after January 1, 2020 you must demonstrate you meet the following language test score in English or French:

  • For NOC 0, A or B occupation Minimum of 5 for each English language skill and Minimum of 5 for each French language skill
  • If you are working in a NOC C or D occupation then Minimum of 4 for each English language skill and Minimum of 4 for each French language skill
  • If you apply to the AINP under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), then the AINP requires a minimum language test score of CLB of 7 for each English language skill, or NCLC of 7 for each French language skill.

Education requirements

  • At the time your application you must have completed a minimum of high school education in your country of origin.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must meet the following additional education requirements.
  • Your credential must be issued by an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.
  • If you started attending your Alberta credential program before April 1, 2019, your credential must be Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials

Work experience requirements

Your current occupation must also match your work experience at the time your application and at the time the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) assesses your application.

Qualifying work experience

At the time your application is postmarked you must have either:

  • a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months; or
  • a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada and/or abroad within the last 30 months
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders require a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
  • All applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, must meet the licensing, registration and certification requirements:

Eligible job offers

For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, at the time your application is postmarked and at the time the AINP assesses your application for nomination, you must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta.

Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Alberta Immigrant Nominee program (AINP) uses Express Entry Stream that allows Alberta to nominate a limited number of qualified candidates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system.

Candidates including International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions who have demonstrated strong ties to Alberta or who can help support the government’s economic development and diversification priorities may be issued a Notification of Interest (NOA) before they are able to submit an application under the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The candidates nominated under a different AINP stream are not eligible to apply under the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

  • Candidates may receive a Notification of Interest letter if they:
  • Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
  • Have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta
  • Are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification, and
  • Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300.
  • If candidates have one or more of the following adaptability factors, this may increase your likelihood of receiving a Notification of Interest letter:
  • Alberta job offer and/or work experience
  • A graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
  • A relative that is living in Alberta: parent, child, brother and/or sister

If candidates receive a Notification of Interest letter from Alberta, they must email to Alberta’s AINP within two weeks of receiving it in their federal Express Entry profile. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will confirm candidate’s information and may send them an email requesting them to submit an application.

Alberta Express Entry Stream assessment criteria

To be considered for nomination under Alberta Immigrant Nominee Programs Express Entry System the candidates must:

  • Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
  • Meet the criteria of at least one of the federal immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Intend to and be able to live and work in Alberta
  • Be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
  • Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300.

If candidates have one or more of the following adaptability factors then this may increase their chances of being nominated:

  • Valid Alberta job offer and/or work experience
  • A graduate of an Alberta post-secondary institution with a valid Alberta job offer, or
  • Parent, child, brother and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta.

Apart from the programs mentioned above there are other programs available for Farm owners under Alberta’s Self-employed Farmer Stream.

Please contact us for more information or if you want to start the application process.