Alberta Immigrant
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program is an immigration program through which a broad range of workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs can settle in Alberta permanently.
Successful applicants to the AINP receive a provincial nomination certificate.
With this nomination, the applicant, as well as his or her accompanying family members, if applicable, may apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for Canadian permanent residence.
Alberta has been a hugely attractive destination for newcomers to Canada over recent years, with the government data from Canada’s most recent census in 2016 showing that Alberta rivals British Columbia for a position as the second most popular immigration destination in Canada, after Ontario.
Alberta’s share of recent immigrants – people who first obtained permanent resident status in Canada five years prior to a census – increased from 6.9 percent in 2001 to 17.1 percent in 2016.
Immigrants to Alberta are attracted by the wealth of job opportunities across the province and high living standards.
The provincial capital, Edmonton, as well as the slightly larger Calgary and a host of smaller communities across the province, have experienced economic growth over recent years.
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program offers five streams — the Opportunity Stream, the Express Entry Stream, the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream, the Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa Stream, and the Self-Employed Farmer stream.
The Opportunity stream provides a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for foreign workers working in Alberta, who will require a job offer from an employer in Alberta in order to be eligible.
The Express Entry stream provides a pathway for Express Entry candidates who Alberta invites to apply to the province. Candidates are invited through their Express Entry accounts with the exact selection criteria not available to the public.
Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream receive 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool.
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream (IGEIS) is for international students who have graduated from post-secondary institutions in Alberta and wish to immigrate to the province permanently by starting a business or purchasing an existing business.
The Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa Stream (FGSVS) is for recent graduates from post-secondary institutions outside Canada who are interested in starting new businesses and settling in Alberta.
The AINP also offers the Self-Employed Farmer stream for experienced farmers with the demonstrated capacity to operate a farm in Alberta.
Four top tips when applying for AINP
Like any application, it pays to be as prepared as possible when it comes time to submit your AINP application. With that in mind, here are four top tips that you should focus on:
- Read all the relevant AINP terms and conditions. The availability of AINP streams and categories is dependent upon application volumes and labour market needs. The criteria for the AINP are routinely evaluated and may be subject to change at any time and without notice so make sure that you are as prepared as possible.
- Review the AINP selection criteria: Each stream has its own distinct selection criteria. Be sure that you’re familiar with the requirements for your stream: AINP Opportunity, AINP Express Entry, or AINP Farmer.
- Review the language test requirements: It is necessary for you to demonstrate proficiency in either English or French by taking one of the approved language tests for Canadian immigration
- Follow the instructions laid out on the AINP website: Applicants through the Opportunity and Express Entry streams must apply using the AINP Online Portal. For the latest eligibility requirements and application procedures you can always refer to the AINP government website.
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
You can find out which AINP streams are open right now, in our PNP Canada Live Tracker.
If you have already submitted an application to Alberta immigration authorities, or thinking of doing so soon, you can view updated AINP processing times.
Finally, if you are looking to move to Alberta then you should take the time to visit our detailed and informative city guides about Alberta’s two biggest cities: Calgary and Edmonton.