Alberta is a prosperous province rich in natural beauty and resources.
Located in Western Canada, Alberta is home to two of Canada’s largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton, and is the most populous of the country’s three ‘Prairie provinces. It is also renowned as one of the most beautiful parts of North America, with famous national parks, such as Banff and Jasper.
The province operates the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). Through this program, prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills and work experience needed by the province may receive an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate.
Alberta Immigration Streams
If you wish to immigrate to Alberta, you currently have five options to choose from. This page will help you figure out which immigration stream is suitable for your situation.
- Alberta Opportunity Stream for skilled workers who are currently working in an eligible occupation in Alberta.
- Alberta Express Entry Stream for candidates in the Express Entry (EE) system who have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300, and who are currently working in an eligible occupation.
- Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream for those who wish to operate a farming business
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream for international graduates of a designated post-secondary institution in Alberta, who wish to start a business in Alberta.
- Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa for foreign nationals who graduated from a U.S. educational institution and who wish to start a business in Alberta.
Summary of AINP Options
| Category | Is a job required? | Is the stream aligned with Express Entry? | Is it currently receiving applications? | Connection to province |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | Yes | No | Yes | Having work experience in the province |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream | No | Yes | Yes | Having work experience in the province OR Having a parent, child, brother or sister who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen of Alberta |
| Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream | No | No | Yes | N/A |
| International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream | No | No | Yes | Completed education in Alberta |
| Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa | No | No | Yes | N/A |
Alberta Opportunity Stream
Foreign nationals working in Alberta and international graduates who completed their studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution are eligible to apply for a provincial nomination under the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
Application Fee: CAD $500
Processing time: Approximately 8 months
How it works:
Candidates interested in the Alberta Opportunity Stream must complete their application online through the AINP online portal. After that, candidates will be asked to submit specific documents depending on their situations and pay the online application fee.
Minimum Requirements:
- Must have a valid work permit;
- Must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta that matches your work experience;
- A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 or 5 depending on occupation
- A minimum of a high school degree;
- A minimum of 12 months of work experience in Alberta in the last 18 months, or a minimum of 24 months of work experience in Canada in the last 30 months.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Express Entry stream allows Alberta to nominate individuals who already have a profile in the federal Express Entry system. Individuals who have demonstrated ties to Alberta and have the necessary skills to contribute to the province’s economic growth may be invited by the province to apply.
Application Fee: CAD $500
How it works:
The Alberta Express Entry Stream works by invitation only. Candidates who have Express Entry profiles may receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the Alberta government directly in the federal system. Invited candidates then have a limited about of time to indicate to the province that they are interested in being considered for selection under this stream.
If selected, candidates will receive a request from the AINP to apply for a provincial nomination by submitting all required documents through the AINP online portal.
Minimum Requirements:
- Must be in the Express Entry pool;
- Must have expressed interest in immigrating to Alberta permanently;
- Must be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification;
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.
Self-Employed Farmer Stream
The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is for candidates interested in immigrating to Alberta to purchase or start a farming business.
Application Fee: CAD $500
How it works:
Interested candidates must first submit their business plan to the Alberta government, and wait to receive a decision. The AINP bases its decision through consultation with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to ensure that the business plan is feasible and that the project meets the needs of Alberta’s agricultural industry. If a positive decision is received, you must then gather the required documents and fill in the required forms for both the Alberta government and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Minimum Requirements:
- Farm management skills;
- Sufficient financial resources (minimum investment of CAD $500,000);
- Investment plans documented in a proposed business plan.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
Alberta’s International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream is for international graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions who are interested in establishing or operating a business in Alberta.
Application Fee: CAD $3,500
How it works:
Interested candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AINP online portal. You will receive an EOI score within 30 days and the highest-ranking candidates will be asked to submit a Business Application.
A Business Application must be completed within 90 days of receiving an email asking you to submit one. You must also submit all required documents
Minimum Requirements:
- At least two years full-time education in Alberta;
- A Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) valid for at least two years;
- A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7;
- Must establish a new business or operate an existing business with at least 34% ownership;
- A minimum of six months of full-time work experience.
Foreign Graduate Start-Up Stream
Alberta’s Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa is for foreign-educated international graduates who wish to launch a start-up business in Alberta and become permanent residents of Canada.
Application Fee: CAD $3,500
How it works:
If you are interested in this program, you must work with a designated agency. This agency will issue you a letter of recommendation if you meet the requirements.
You will then have to submit your letter of recommendation with their Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AINP Portal.
The agency will also provide a written report on their assessment of your proposed business plan. You must submit this report with your application.
What are the designated agencies?
1. Empowered Startups
2. Platform Calgary
Minimum Requirements:
- A minimum of six months of full-time work experience of managing and/or owning the business;
- Must have a business plan with projected financials;
- Must have a post-secondary education from a foreign institution, and have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The degree must have been completed within the last two years;
- A 10-minute slides-only presentation that explains the business and details what an investor wants to see;
- A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7;
- Must have at least 34% ownership if the business is located in an urban centre, or at least 51% ownership if located outside Calgary or Edmonton;
- Must make a minimum investment of $100,000 for an urban centre, or $50,000 for a regional area. More points are awarded for higher investments. These can be made from your equity, or a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital or angel investment firm;
- Must have a letter of recommendation from an AINP-approved agency;
- Must have enough money to set up their business and support yourself and your family in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I immigrate to Alberta?
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has five current immigration streams:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream for skilled workers
- Alberta Express Entry Stream for candidates with Express Entry profiles
- Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream for those who wish to operate a farming business
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream for international graduates in Alberta who wish to start a business
- Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa for foreign-educated international graduates who wish to start a business in Canada.
Step 1: Depending on your specific situation, choose the stream that is right for you. Find out if you are eligible for the chosen stream.
Step 2: Submit your application for your chosen stream.
Step 3: Obtain a provincial nomination from Alberta.
Step 4: Submit a permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
It is also important to understand the difference between base PNP streams and enhanced PNP streams.
Enhanced streams are aligned with the federal Express Entry system. In Alberta, only the Alberta Express Entry stream is enhanced. Candidates in the Express Entry system who express their interest in immigrating to Alberta may receive a Notification of Interest from the Alberta government. They will then have two weeks to respond to it. If they are selected, they must apply through the AINP portal.
All other current streams in Alberta are based streams. This means that they are not aligned with Express Entry. Interested individuals are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the province’s AINP portal, instead of being selected through the Express Entry system.
2. Is it easy to immigrate to Alberta?
Immigrating to Alberta is not a one-size-fits-all solution. What may be easy for one candidate may be difficult for another. It is therefore advisable to choose the stream that is right for you depending on your specific situation.
For example, if you are currently working in Alberta in an eligible occupation, and wish to become a permanent resident, then you may be eligible through the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
If you would like help in choosing the best way to immigrate to Alberta, feel free to contact us.
3. What occupations are in-demand in Alberta?
Occupations in high demand in Alberta include translators, optometrists, cabinetmakers, dental hygienists, dietitians and nutritionists, chiropractors among others.
For a full list of what occupations are considered in-demand in Alberta, you are encouraged to visit this webpage.
You can sort the list of jobs by demand: high, medium, or lower.
4. What’s it like living in Alberta?
Some of the benefits of living in Alberta include lower provincial taxes and a lower cost of living than other popular provinces.
Alberta also offers higher wages. The minimum wage in Alberta is $15 per hour. This is the highest in Canada (except for Nunavut).
Alberta is known as one of the most beautiful parts of North America. When you have some time off, you may be able to enjoy its famous national parks such as Banff and Jasper.
5. Is Alberta diverse?
According to Canada’s last census in 2016, visible minorities such as South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean, and Japanese minorities made up over 23 percent of the Alberta population.
The Indigenous population (including First Nations, Metis, Inuit among others) made up another 6.5 percent.
6. How long does it take to process my Alberta application?
The processing time for the AINP may vary. To estimate how long it will take for your application to be processed, follow this link.
7. What is the cost of living in Alberta?
Alberta has some advantages when it comes to the cost of living. For example, there are no provincial health care premiums and no provincial sales tax (PST).
This means that you will only have to pay the Goods and Services (GST) that is paid by everyone in Canada. This is 5%.
In other provinces, you would pay both GST and PST. For example, in British Columbia, you would be 7% PST and 5% GST, which means you would be paying 12% in sales tax.
In addition, Alberta offers tax rebates and credits that help with your finances.
It is also worth noting that Alberta has a higher family income than the rest of Canada. According to the 2018 Canadian Income Survey, families in Alberta earned an average of $98,400 after tax. The Canadian average is $84,900.
8. Are salaries higher in Alberta?
Alberta has a higher family income than the rest of Canada.
According to the 2018 Canadian Income Survey, families in Alberta earned an average of $98,400 after tax. The Canadian average is $84,900.
9. Are there different options for school education?
Yes. Alberta has many options for a school education depending on language or religion. For example, there are many Francophone schooling options in Alberta.
10. Is Alberta a good place to study?
Alberta has 26 universities and colleges to choose from.
The University of Alberta is in the top 6 universities in Canada and the top 150 in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World Rankings for 2021.
The University of Calgary is in the top 10 universities in Canada and the top 200 in the world.
The Alberta government subsidizes tuition fees for universities and colleges. These fees vary across the province so it is advisable to check tuition costs on their websites.
For a list of all the universities and colleges that are in Alberta, click here.
11. Is it cold in Alberta?
Alberta is Canada’s sunniest province. According to the Alberta website, the province enjoys 1,900 hours of sunshine in the north and 2,300 hours in the south.
Winters are dry, sunny and cold. Summers are warm and wetter.
Edmonton has extreme temperature changes. In January, the temperatures are -14 and -51°C. In July, they are 16 and 35°C, according to Britannica.
12. Is healthcare in Alberta free?
Alberta residents can get full coverage for medically necessary physician services, as well as some dental and oral surgical health services through the province’s Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).
Many medical services are fully covered such as medically required services, medically required diagnostic services (laboratory, radiological, and other procedures) and psychiatric visits, as well as others.
Many hospital services are also fully covered, such as accommodation, meals, medications administered in a hospital, use of the operating room, care room, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and anaesthetic facilities, and more.
Medical services and hospital stays and visits are either fully covered, partially covered or not covered. For a detailed list, you are encouraged to visit the Alberta website.
13. What is the minimum CRS score for Alberta?
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for the Alberta Express Entry Stream is 300.
14. Can I apply for Alberta PNP without a job offer?
Yes. You do not need a job offer for four of Alberta’s five immigration streams.
However, having a job offer may increase your chances under the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
15. How many immigrants come to Alberta each year?
Alberta welcomes over 40,000 new immigrants in an average year, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
