Alberta Immigration Programs

If you’re considering immigrating to Alberta, you currently have the following options to choose from:

Immigration Programs for Workers

Alberta offers 3 programs for foreign workers who either live and work in Alberta or intend to do so:

1. Alberta Opportunity Stream: This program is suitable for skilled workers who are currently employed in an eligible occupation in Alberta and have a job offer from an Alberta employer. Foreign workers employed in Alberta and international graduates who have completed their studies at an approved institution in the province are eligible to apply under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Applicants interested in the Alberta Opportunity Stream must complete their application online through the AAIP online portal. Subsequently, candidates will be required to submit specific documents based on their individual circumstances and pay the online application fee.

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Must have a valid work permit.
• Must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta that matches your work experience.
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or 5 depending on the occupation.
• Minimum high school diploma.
• Minimum of 12 months of work experience in Alberta in the past 18 months or minimum of 24 months of work experience in Canada in the past 30 months.

2. Alberta Express Entry Stream: This program is suitable for applicants in the Express Entry (EE) system with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300 who are currently employed in an eligible occupation. Candidates with profiles in the federal Express Entry system may be invited to apply. There are also specific pathways in this program for healthcare professionals and tech workers.

Candidates with an Express Entry profile may receive a so-called Notification of Interest (NOI) directly from the Government of Alberta through the federal system. Invited candidates then have a limited time to indicate their willingness to be considered under this program by the province. If selected, candidates will apply for provincial nomination through AAIP by submitting all required documents via the online portal.

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Must have an Express Entry profile.
• Must express interest in permanent migration to Alberta.
• Must work in a job that supports Alberta’s economic development.
• Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

3. Rural Renewal Stream: This program is suitable for applicants with a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in a rural community in Alberta. These rural communities must apply and be designated before they can attract and endorse qualified candidates. This program is community-driven, meaning that candidates must first obtain support from a participating community in Alberta. Designated communities have the authority to attract and retain foreign workers, and employers offer them job opportunities. Temporary foreign workers with a job offer from an Alberta employer in a designated community and a confirmation letter from a designated community may apply for AAIP nomination. These rural communities can also support refugees who are eligible under the Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP) with the assistance of a non-governmental partner. Non-governmental partners assist EMPP candidates in the AAIP application process.

Subsequently, a support letter is provided to the applicant. After receiving their application confirmation, applicants submit their application to AAIP.

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Must have a valid full-time job offer or employment contract in a specific community.
• Must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible job in the 18 months before the application. This work experience can be a combination of experience in Alberta, other places in Canada, or abroad.
• Must meet minimum language requirements.
• Minimum high school education equivalent to Canadian educational standards.
• Must demonstrate sufficient budget to support themselves and all family members who will relocate to the designated community.

Immigration Programs for Entrepreneurs

The province of Alberta offers 4 programs for entrepreneurs who intend to live in Alberta and start or purchase a business in the province:

1. Rural Entrepreneur Stream: This program is suitable for entrepreneurs who wish to start a business in rural communities in Alberta. It is community-driven, meaning that entrepreneurs interested in establishing a business in rural Alberta communities must first contact a participating rural community in the immigration program and plan an exploratory visit. After the exploratory visit, the entrepreneur must present a business proposal containing information about the business and its benefits to the desired rural community. Then, a support letter is provided to the entrepreneur. Once the applicant receives community support, the interested rural community sends an Expression of Interest (EOI) to AAIP.

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Minimum 3 years of experience as an active business owner/manager or minimum 4 years of experience as a senior manager in the last 10 years.
• Minimum high school diploma equivalent to Canadian standards with Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 4 for each French language skill.
• Minimum net worth of $300,000.
• Minimum investment of $200,000 from the applicant’s own equity (and/or spouse/legal partner).

2. Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: This program is suitable for international graduates from Alberta-approved post-secondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business.

Interested candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP online portal. Applicants will receive an EOI score within 30 days, and candidates with higher ranks will be asked to submit a business application.

A business application must be completed within 90 days of receiving an email requesting it. All required documents must also be submitted.

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Minimum two years of full-time study in Alberta.
• Valid post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the time of application.
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7.
• The applicant must establish a new business or acquire an existing business with a minimum of 34% ownership.

3. Farm Stream: This program is suitable for experienced farmers who intend to buy or establish a farm in Alberta. The Farm Self-Employment program is for candidates interested in immigrating to Alberta to buy or establish an agricultural business.

Interested candidates must first submit their business plan to the Government of Alberta and await a decision. AAIP makes its decision by consulting with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to ensure the viability of the business plan and its alignment with Alberta’s agricultural industry needs. If a positive decision is received, the required documents must be collected, and forms must be completed for the Government of Alberta and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Farm management skills.
• Sufficient financial resources (minimum investment of $500,000 Canadian dollars).
• Documented investment plans in a proposed business plan.

4. Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: This program is suitable for foreign graduates holding degrees from foreign institutions who want to start a new and innovative business.

If you are interested in this program, you must work with a designated agency. If you meet the necessary conditions, this agency will issue a recommendation letter for you. You must then submit your recommendation letter along with an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP portal.

The recommending agency will provide a written report on their assessment of your proposed business plan. You must submit this report along with your application.

Designated agencies include:

• High-Performing Startups
• Calgary Platform

Minimum requirements for this program:

• Minimum six months of full-time work experience in business management and/or ownership.
• Must have a business plan with financial projections.
• Must have post-secondary education from a foreign institution and have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) done. The degree must have been completed within the last ten years.
• A 10-minute slide presentation explaining the business and detailing what the investor wants to see.
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5.
• If the business is located in a metropolitan area, it must have at least 34% ownership. If it’s located outside Calgary or Edmonton, it must have at least 51% ownership.
• Must invest a minimum of $100,000 for an urban center or $50,000 for a regional area. More points are awarded for higher investments. These can be obtained from your own equity or from a reputable Canadian financial institution, venture capitalist, or angel investor company.
• Must have a recommendation letter from a designated AAIP agency.
• Must have enough funds to start your business and support yourself and your family in Canada.

For more information on Alberta’s provincial immigration programs, please contact our organization.