Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Alberta Express Entry Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream Name	Alberta Express Entry Stream (AAIP)
Stay	Permanent (leads to Canadian PR)
Cost	$135 (WEOI) + $1,500 (Application)
Eligibility Timing	Invitation-only via Worker Expression of Interest
Work Rights	Options via LMIA, BOWP, or 204(c) support
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Spouse and dependants can be included
Visa Record	Active Express Entry profile required

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Purpose & Overview

The Alberta Express Entry Stream, part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), allows the Province of Alberta to nominate qualified individuals from the federal Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Selection priorities include:

• Dedicated Health Care Pathway
• Accelerated Tech Pathway
• Law Enforcement Pathway
• Priority sectors (such as construction, agriculture, and aviation)

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Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for an invitation and nomination, applicants must satisfy three tiers of criteria:

1. Minimum Assessment Requirements

• Maintain an active federal Express Entry profile meeting criteria for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Achieve a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.
• Hold a primary occupation linked to a specific pathway or provincial economic/sectoral priority.
• Demonstrate the intention and ability to live and work permanently in Alberta.
• Meet Alberta Job Offer and Employment Requirements if invited based on a job offer.

2. Pathway-Specific Requirements

• Accelerated Tech Pathway:
  • Must be working full-time in Alberta or have a bona fide full-time job offer in an eligible tech occupation for an employer under an eligible NAICS code.
  • Must hold valid immigration status (work permit or implied status) if working in Alberta.
  • Primary Express Entry occupation must match the Alberta employment/job offer.
  • Ineligible: Part-time, casual, seasonal workers, independent contractors, agency workers, and telecommuters working outside Alberta.
• Law Enforcement Pathway:
  • Must be identified by the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) as an internationally recruited police officer.
  • Hold a verifiable job offer from an Alberta police service in NOC 40040, 41310, or 42100.
• Priority Sectors:
  • Primary occupation (and job offer, if applicable) must fall under eligible construction, agriculture, or aviation occupations.
• Dedicated Health Care Pathway:
  • Must satisfy dedicated pathway criteria outlined on the Dedicated Health Care Pathway page.

Ineligible Applicants

• Primary occupation is on the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list.
• Refugee claimants or individuals subject to federal appeal or removal proceedings.
• Holders of an active nomination under any AAIP stream.
• Individuals currently banned from AAIP due to misrepresentation.

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Application Steps

1. Submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI):
   • Log in to the AAIP portal using an Alberta.ca Account and complete the WEOI.
   • Pay the non-refundable $135 fee within 24 hours.
   • The WEOI enters the candidate pool and remains valid for 12 months (scored up to 100 points).
2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA):
   • If selected during a provincial draw, accept the invitation within 15 calendar days in the portal.
3. Submit the AAIP Application:
   • Complete the application, upload all checklist items, and submit within 30 calendar days of creating the draft.
   • Pay the non-refundable $1,500 application fee within 24 hours of submission.
4. Accept Nomination & Apply for Permanent Residence:
   • If nominated, accept the AAIP nomination in the IRCC Express Entry portal within 30 days.
   • Once IRCC issues an Invitation to Apply, submit the federal permanent residence application within 60 days.

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Work Permit Renewal & Letters of Support

Nominees must ensure their temporary work authorization remains valid while awaiting permanent residence processing.

• Option 1: Renew via a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• Option 2: Renew via an LMIA exemption.
• Option 3: Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if an IRCC Acknowledgement of Receipt has been received.
• Option 4 (204(c) Letter of Support):
  • Accelerated Tech Pathway nominees without a valid work permit receive this letter automatically in their nomination package.
  • Other nominees with a valid Alberta job offer can request a letter via the AAIP portal for a non-refundable $150 fee (fee exempt if IRCC requested the letter in writing).

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Obligations & Updates

• Information Changes: Applicants and nominees must update AAIP through the online portal regarding changes to contact details, family status, employment, work permits, or third-party representatives.
• Express Entry Profile Validity: If a profile expires while an application is pending, applicants must submit an updated profile (CRS $\ge$ 300, same primary occupation) via the portal's "Update Employment Information" tab.
• Nomination Rules: Nominations cannot be extended and are strictly tied to a single Express Entry profile. AAIP may withdraw a nomination if requirements are no longer met or false information was submitted.
• Reconsideration: A declined application can be contested within 30 calendar days of the decision date only if an assessment error occurred. Reconsiderations rely exclusively on the original file; no new documents are accepted.

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Required Forms & Resources

• Worker Stream Document Checklist
• Worker Stream Expression of Interest Points Grid
• Employer Declaration and Authorization Form
• Use of Representative Form
• Spouse, Common-Law Partners and Dependants Authorization Form