The province of Alberta has the highest population amongst the Prairie provinces and two of Canada’s largest cities – Edmonton and Calgary – call this province home. Its economy is one of the fastest-growing in the country and its natural beauty is well-renowned. Banff National Park and Jasper National Park are two testaments to this beauty that Alberta is famed around the world for.
In order to get immigrants who have the perfect mix of work experience and skills, Alberta has instituted the AINP or Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. There are four streams under this program that prospective candidates can apply under
There are two main streams under this program:
- Skills Immigration (including Express Entry British Columbia)
- Entrepreneur Immigration
Skills Immigration
Skilled Worker Category
Meant for those workers who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled job and have many years of experience in said skilled job.
Healthcare Professional Category
As part of this stream, the Government of Alberta nominate candidates who are eligible from the federal Express Entry system. The nominees get an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System points.
International Graduate Category
Targeted at recent (within the last 3 years) graduates from eligible Canadian universities, this category is meant for those who have received job offers from BC employers.
International Post-Graduate Category
To apply under this category, the candidate must have graduated with a Masters or Doctoral degree from an eligible British Columbia educational institute in applied sciences, natural sciences or health sciences study programs. No job offer is required to apply under this category.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category
This category is targeted at workers who are in semi-skilled or entry-level positions such as long-haul trucking, food processing or tourism/hospitality. Also, workers in semi-skilled or entry-level positions living and working in the Northeast Development Region of British Columbia can apply through this category.
Express Entry British Columbia
This category is in alignment with the federal level Express Entry. Candidates who are eligible have their BC PNP application and, if nominated, permanent residence application processed on a priority basis. The categories eligible for Express Entry BC are:
- Skilled Worker Category
- Health Care Professional Category
- International Graduate Category
- International Post-Graduate Category
Skills Immigration Registration System
A new Skills Immigration Registration System or SIRS was announced in January 2016 by the BC government. The system is points-based and the points are calculated based on years of work experience in that skill, education level in that skill and job offer in BC. The registration score will determine who is eligible to be invited to apply.
Entrepreneur Immigration
Those people who are planning to invest in BC and settle here may become eligible for entrepreneur immigration. There are two categories under this program.
Entrepreneur Immigration Category – This is targeted at business owners or senior managers who are planning to invest in a proposed business in BC.
Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot – This pilot category is targeted at international entrepreneurs who are establishing a business in small communities in BC.
Strategic Projects Category
This category is aimed at organizations instead of people. Foreign-controlled companies who are setting up operations in BC are allowed to have up to five foreign personnel (key technical, professional or managerial staff) nominated for permanent residence in BC.
