The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. Nominees must have skills to fill job shortages or be planning to buy or start a business in Alberta. They must also be able to provide for their families. The program is run by the governments of Alberta and Canada.
If you are nominated through the program, you may apply for permanent residence status together with your spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children.
There are two main types of streams under this program that prospective candidates can apply under, with their respective categories:
Streams for Workers
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Alberta Express Entry Stream
- Rural Renewal Stream
Streams for Entrepreneurs
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Farm Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Streams for Workers
The AAIP has 4 streams for foreign workers who are living and working in Alberta, or plan to live and work here.
Tourism and Hospitality Stream
The Tourism and Hospitality Stream is for temporary foreign workers who are already working full-time in Alberta in the tourism and hospitality sector and have a full-time job offer from a qualifying Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Candidates must have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Candidates must also meet other minimum eligibility criteria for occupation, language, education, Alberta job offer and work experience.
Alberta Opportunity Stream
The Alberta Opportunity Stream is for temporary foreign workers who are already working full-time in Alberta and have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Candidates must have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or hold one of the accepted LMIA exemption work permits. Candidates must also meet other minimum eligibility criteria for residency and work permit type, occupation, language, education, Alberta job offer and work experience.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
Qualified candidates may be invited to apply for nomination who have profiles in the federal Express Entry pool that are aligned with minimum requirements, and provincial economic, sector and occupational priorities. There are also dedicated pathways operated in this stream for health care professionals, technology workers and police occupations.
Rural Renewal Stream
The Rural Renewal Stream supports the attraction and retention of newcomers to rural Alberta through a community-driven approach that supports local economic development needs and contributes to the growth of the community. The Rural Renewal Stream empowers rural communities to recruit and retain foreign nationals to live, work and settle in their communities.
Communities must apply for and become designated before they can recruit and endorse qualified candidates. Temporary foreign workers who have a job offer from an Alberta employer in a designated community, and an endorsement letter from a designated community, can then apply for an AAIP nomination. Communities can also endorse refugees who qualify under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) with the support of a non-governmental referral partner. Referral partners help EMPP candidates with the AAIP application process.
Stream for Entrepreneurs
Rural Entrepreneur Stream
The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community can submit an Expression of Interest.
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream allows the AAIP to nominate qualified international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta to apply for permanent residence.
Farm Stream
Experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta can apply for nomination.
Candidates must submit their application, along with a proposed business plan, to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) for assessment. The AAIP will consult with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation to ensure the business plan is feasible and viable, and meets the needs of Alberta’s agriculture industry.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Foreign graduates who have a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada and want to launch a start-up enterprise and innovative business can work with a designated agency to submit an Expression of Interest.
