Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Alberta is one of the largest provinces in Canada and is home to two of the largest cities in the country, Edmonton and Calgary. Also, it is the most populous of the three Prairie Provinces. Not only that, but it has some amazing national parks which are known all over the world.

On February 16, 2022, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) was renamed to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) aims to assist economic immigration by nominating individuals for permanent residency in Alberta. To qualify for nomination, applicants must possess skills that can fill job shortages or intend to purchase or establish a business in Alberta. Additionally, they must be able to support their families. The program is jointly administered by the governments of Alberta and Canada.

If nominated through the AAIP, you may apply for permanent residency along with your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada is responsible for managing the applications for permanent residency. The federal government holds the ultimate authority to make decisions on these applications.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

The Alberta Opportunity Stream was introduced in June 2018. This stream specifically caters to foreign nationals who are currently employed in Alberta and have received an official offer of full-time employment from their employer in the province. To be eligible for this stream, candidates must meet certain criteria based on their work experience, job offer, language proficiency, and educational qualifications.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

The Alberta Express Entry stream was launched in June 2018. It allows the province to give provincial nominations to a selected group of candidates who have active profiles in the federal Express Entry system. Alberta will automatically consider profiles in the federal Express Entry pool, but the exact selection criteria is unknown. However, AAIP aims to choose candidates who have strong ties to Alberta and who can contribute to the regional economic development and diversification.

If Express Entry candidates receive a provincial nomination through this stream, they will get a 600-point increase to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score. This increase virtually guarantees that they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in the subsequent Express Entry draw.

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

The Accelerated Tech Pathway is a program that allows certain Express Entry candidates to apply for nomination with expedited processing, provided they have a job offer from a company in the tech industry or hold a job offer in an eligible tech role in Alberta. To be eligible for the program, candidates must already be eligible under the Alberta Express Entry stream. Additionally, they must either be working in one of 38 tech occupations that are in high demand as identified by the AAIP, or have a job offer from an employer in Alberta that is part of an eligible tech industry.

AAIP Farm Stream

The Alberta Farm Stream is aimed at foreign nationals who have significant experience in owning and operating a farm, and who also possess the financial resources required to start a new farm operation in Alberta. To apply for this stream, candidates must consult with the province and submit a comprehensive proposal that outlines their plans for launching a new agricultural farm in Alberta in great detail.

Graduate Entrepreneur

The Graduate Entrepreneur stream is a program designed to help international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who wish to start and operate a business in the province to obtain permanent residency. The program uses a points-based Expression of Interest system to rank candidates. The candidates with the highest-ranking points will be invited to submit a detailed Business Application. If successful, the candidates will be issued a nomination by the province which can be used to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The Foreign Entrepreneur Stream is a program that offers a pathway to permanent residency for individuals who have completed a post-secondary education abroad and intend to start and operate a business in Alberta. Recent graduates who meet the minimum requirements for the program can register a profile using AAIP’s online portal. They can then submit a Business Application for the opportunity to start a business in Alberta and, eventually, apply for permanent residency.

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