Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Alberta Opportunity Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream Name	Alberta Opportunity Stream (AAIP)
Program Purpose	Provincial nomination for permanent residence
Nomination Validity	6 months
Application Costs	$135 WEOI; $1,500 application
Nomination Extension Fee	$150 non-refundable
204(c) Support Letter Fee	$150 non-refundable
Work Authorization Requirement	Valid Canadian temporary work permit
Work Rights	Dependent on valid work permit
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare / Healthcare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship Pathway	Via federal permanent residence application
Family Inclusion	Spouse, common-law partner, and dependants
Language Minimum	CLB/NCLC 4, 5, or 7
Education Minimum	Canadian high school equivalent or higher
Work Experience Minimum	6, 12, or 24 months

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Purpose and Overview

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). It allows eligible foreign workers who are already living and working in Alberta with a valid temporary resident work status to be nominated for Canadian permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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Eligibility Criteria

Criteria must be met at the time the application is submitted and when AAIP assesses the application. AAIP assesses occupations using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system.

1. Residency and Work Permit Status

• Eligible Status: Applicants must hold valid temporary resident status authorizing them to work in Canada (e.g., LMIA-based work permit, eligible LMIA-exempt work permit, open work permit for vulnerable workers, eligible IRCC temporary public policy open work permit, or an eligible Post-Graduation Work Permit [PGWP]).
• Ineligible Status: Maintained status (formerly implied status), restoration status, refugee claimants, individuals in federal appeal/removal processes, and individuals living/working in a Canadian province or territory outside Alberta.

2. Occupation Requirements

• Applicants must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta that matches their work experience and job offer. Most NOC TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 occupations are eligible.
• Ineligible Occupations Include (Selected NOC 2021 Codes):
  • TEER 0: 00010 (Legislators), 40021 (School principals/administrators), 40030 (Managers in social/community services), 40041 (Fire chiefs/senior officers), 60040 (Escort agency/massage parlour managers).
  • TEER 1: 41100 (Judges), 41220 (Secondary school teachers), 41221 (Elementary/kindergarten teachers), 51111 (Authors/writers except technical), 51122 (Musicians/singers).
  • TEER 2: 42200 (Justices of the peace), 42202 (Uncertified or Level 1 Early Childhood Educators).
  • TEER 3: 43100 (Teacher assistants), 43109 (Other instructors), 53121 (Actors/comedians), 53122 (Painters/sculptors), 53124 (Artisans/craftspersons), 53200 (Athletes), 63101 (Real estate agents/salespersons), 33100 (Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers).
  • TEER 4: 44100 (Home child care providers), 44101 (Home support workers/caregivers), 64321 (Casino occupations).
  • TEER 5: 55109 (Other performers), 65109 (Other sales related occupations), 65211 (Amusement/recreation attendants), 65229 (Other support occupations in personal services), 65329 (Other service support occupations), 75200 (Taxi/limousine drivers), 85101 (Harvesting labourers), 85102 (Aquaculture/marine harvest labourers), 85104 (Trappers/hunters), 85110 (Mine labourers), 85121 (Landscaping/grounds maintenance labourers).

3. Language Requirements

Official test results must be less than 2 years old at submission (CELPIP General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada):

• NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3: Minimum score of CLB 5 (English) or NCLC 5 (French) in all four skills.
• NOC TEER 4 or 5: Minimum score of CLB 4 (English) or NCLC 4 (French) in all four skills.
• NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates): Minimum score of CLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all four skills.

4. Education Requirements

• General Applicants: Minimum completion of high school education equivalent to Canadian standards, verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated provider (unless holding an eligible Canadian post-secondary/high school credential or recognized trade certificate).
• PGWP Holders: Must hold an approved credential from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution (e.g., minimum 1-year post-diploma/post-baccalaureate certificate, 2-year diploma, undergraduate bachelor’s degree, or graduate-level credential). The occupation must relate to the field of study in Alberta (and prior post-secondary study outside Canada if completing a 1-year post-diploma/post-baccalaureate certificate started on or after April 1, 2019).

5. Work Experience Requirements

Must be full-time (minimum 30 hours per week) in the current occupation:

• Alberta Experience Pathway: Minimum 12 months full-time experience in Alberta within the last 18 months; or
• Combined Experience Pathway: Minimum 24 months full-time experience in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months; or
• PGWP Holders: Minimum 6 months full-time experience in Alberta within the last 18 months (paid Alberta co-op work terms may qualify if full-time and directly related).
• Mandatory licensing, registration, or trade certificates (e.g., Level 2 or Level 3 for Early Childhood Educators; AIT trade certificates for compulsory trades) must be held.

6. Job Offer Requirements

• A genuine, full-time (minimum 30 hours/week) job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer in the current occupation.
• Ineligible Job Offers: Part-time, casual, or seasonal workers; independent contractors, temporary agency workers, or business owners/directors/shareholders; home-based businesses not zoned for commercial/industrial use; or virtual/telecommuting arrangements outside Alberta.

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Application Steps

1. Submit Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI):
   • Create an Alberta.ca Account.
   • Complete the online WEOI via the AAIP Portal and pay the $135 non-refundable fee within 24 hours.
   • WEOIs enter a pool, are scored up to 100 points, and remain valid for 12 months.
2. Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA):
   • If selected during a draw, an invitation is sent by email.
   • Applicants have 15 calendar days to accept the invitation and initiate an application.
3. Submit Application:
   • Once started, applicants have 30 calendar days to complete the application, upload all documents from the Worker Stream Document Checklist, and pay the $1,500 non-refundable application fee within 24 hours.
4. Assessment & Decision:
   • AAIP processes the file and issues a decision via email.
   • Declined Applications: A request for reconsideration may be submitted within 30 calendar days if an error was made in applying program criteria. No new evidence is accepted.

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After Nomination: Obligations and Next Steps

• Apply to IRCC for Permanent Residence: You must submit a permanent residence application to IRCC online within 6 months before your nomination certificate expires.
• Maintaining Status & Work Permit Extensions: AAIP nomination does not grant or extend work authorization. If a work permit will expire before permanent residence is granted, candidates can maintain status through:
  • An employer-supported LMIA;
  • An LMIA exemption;
  • A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after receiving an IRCC Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR); or
  • A 204(c) Letter of Support requested from AAIP ($150 fee applies; free if requested in writing by IRCC).
• Nomination Extensions: A nomination may be extended once for a $150 fee if requested within 6 months of the original expiry date.
• Reporting Changes: Candidates must notify both AAIP (via the online portal) and IRCC of any changes to address, phone number, employment, marital status, dependants, or immigration status.

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Key Program Forms

• Use of Representative Form (PDF)
• Employer Declaration and Authorization Form
• Spouse, Common-Law Partners and Dependants Authorization Form (PDF)

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Important Warnings

• No Guarantee: Meeting eligibility criteria, submitting a WEOI, receiving an ITA, or obtaining a provincial nomination does not guarantee assessment, nomination, or the issuance of a permanent resident visa.
• Misrepresentation: Providing inaccurate, false, or misleading information may lead to application refusal and a multi-year ban from applying to the AAIP.
• Fees Non-Refundable: All AAIP fees ($135 WEOI, $1,500 application, $150 support letter/extension) are non-refundable once submitted.
• Email Communications: Official AAIP emails come only from @gov.ab.ca domains. Never share portal credentials with third parties.