Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Tourism and Hospitality Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream Name	AAIP Tourism and Hospitality Stream
Program Purpose	Provincial nomination for permanent residence
Nomination Validity	6 months
Worker EOI Fee	$135 CAD
Application Fee	$1,500 CAD
Nomination Extension Fee	$150 CAD
204(c) Support Letter Fee	$150 CAD (exempt if requested by IRCC)
Work Rights	Valid work permit required
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship Pathway	Via federal permanent residence
Family Sponsorship	Eligible spouse and dependants included
Application Method	Online via AAIP portal (invitation only)

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Purpose

The Tourism and Hospitality Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) allows eligible temporary foreign workers currently employed in Alberta’s tourism and hospitality sector to be nominated for Canadian permanent residence.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria apply at the time of application submission, during assessment, or both.

1. Approved Employer Requirements

• Single Employer: Current employment and job offer must be with a single, approved Alberta tourism and hospitality employer.
• WCB Coverage: The employer's primary business must belong to an eligible industry defined by the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) – Alberta, and the employer must provide a valid WCB clearance letter or prove exemption.
• Eligible WCB Industries (Sample Codes):
  • Museums, Art Galleries (80701)
  • Zoos, Game Farms (80703)
  • Bowling Alleys, Billiard Parlours (85300)
  • Golf Clubs, Ranges (85900)
  • Ski Resorts, Gondolas (85904)
  • Casinos, Dance Halls (85916)
  • Arenas, Stadiums (85919)
  • Travel Agency, Motor Association (85925)
  • Restaurants, Catering (87501)
  • Hotels, Convention Centres (87503)
  • Sports and Recreation (87600)
  • Property Management, Hostels (89702)
  • Private Clubs (87508)
  • Other qualifying activities identified across multiple codes: Curling rinks, ice skating rinks, cricket fields, convention bureaus, information bureaus, sports/entertainment promotions, professional sports.
• Sector Association Membership: The employer must hold an active membership in an eligible sector association:
  • Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association
  • Alberta Bed and Breakfast Association
  • Restaurants Canada
  • Alberta Hospitality Association
  • Indigenous Tourism Alberta / Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
  • Canadian Association of Tour Operators
  • Canada West Ski Areas Association
  • Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
  • Alberta Golf Association
  • Convention Centres Canada
  • Tourism Industry Association of Alberta
  • Tourism HR Canada
  • Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association
  • Exemption: If an employer cannot qualify for association membership, they must provide proof of ineligibility from the associations and be listed as an Experience Provider on the Travel Alberta website.

2. Eligible Occupations

NOC Code (2021)	Occupation Title	TEER Category
54100	Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness	4
60030	Restaurant and food services managers	0
60031	Accommodation service managers	0
62020	Food service supervisors	2
62200	Chefs	2
63200	Cooks	3
64300	Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses	4
64301	Bartenders	4
64314	Hotel front desk clerks	4
64320	Tour and travel guides	4
64322	Outdoor sport and recreational guides	4
65200	Food and beverage servers	5
65201	Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations	5
65210	Support occupations in accommodation, travel, and facilities set-up services	5
65310	Light duty cleaners	5
65311	Specialized cleaners	5
65312	Janitors, caretakers, and heavy-duty cleaners	5
65320	Dry cleaning, laundry, and related occupations	5

3. Current Employment & Work Experience

• Current Status: Living and working in Alberta in an eligible occupation for an approved employer with a valid work permit based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or IRCC temporary special measures for wildfire-affected individuals. Maintained status or other work permit types are not accepted.
• Experience Requirement: Minimum of 6 consecutive months (or at least 780 hours) of full-time, paid employment (minimum 30 hours/week) with the same employer in an eligible occupation.
• Job Offer: Must hold a bona fide, full-time job offer or employment contract for an eligible occupation with the current employer.

4. Ineligible Candidates

Even if working 30+ hours per week, the following are ineligible:

• Part-time, casual, or seasonal workers.
• Independent contractors, business owners, temporary agency workers, corporate directors, shareholders, or agents on CORES.
• Employees working in non-commercial/non-industrial zoned locations (e.g., home-based businesses).
• Telecommuters or virtual workers operating outside of Alberta or off-premises.

5. Language Requirements

• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or NCLC score of 4 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) in English or French.
• Accepted tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada.
• Results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application submission.

6. Education Requirements

• Minimum completion of secondary school (high school) equivalent to Canadian standards.
• Foreign credentials require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organization.
• ECA Exemptions: Valid Canadian post-secondary/secondary credential from a recognized institution, or an Alberta Qualification Certificate / trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

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Fees and Costs

• Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI): $135 CAD (non-refundable).
• AAIP Application Fee: $1,500 CAD (non-refundable).
• Nomination Extension Request: $150 CAD (non-refundable).
• 204(c) Letter of Support Request: $150 CAD (non-refundable; waived if requested by IRCC).
• Note: All portal fees must be paid online via single credit/debit card within 24 hours of submission, or the application/request is cancelled.

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Application Steps

1. Submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI):
   • Register via the AAIP Portal using an Alberta.ca Account.
   • Self-declare details; score is calculated out of 100 points based on the points grid.
   • Pay the $135 fee within 24 hours. WEOIs remain valid in the pool for 12 months.
2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA):
   • Candidates are selected via draws based on scores and labour market priorities.
   • You have 15 calendar days to accept the invitation and initiate a draft application.
3. Submit the Full AAIP Application:
   • You have 30 calendar days from creating the draft to complete the form, upload all documents, and pay the $1,500 CAD fee.
4. Assessment & Decision:
   • Officers may request further documentation. Decisions are communicated via email.
   • If approved, the applicant receives an AAIP nomination certificate valid for 6 months.
5. Apply for Permanent Residence:
   • Submit an online PR application to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class before the 6-month nomination expires.

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Work Permit Maintenance & Extensions

Nominees must maintain valid status while PR is processed. Options include:

1. Employer-specific LMIA renewal.
2. LMIA-exempt work permit.
3. Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) (requires IRCC PR Acknowledgement of Receipt).
4. 204(c) Letter of Support: If options 1–3 are unavailable, nominees may apply via the AAIP portal for a support letter ($150 CAD fee). Employer must pay the $230 IRCC compliance fee.

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Nomination Extensions

• AAIP nominations are valid for 6 months.
• Extension requests must be submitted through the portal within 6 months of the original expiry date (unless delayed by IRCC processing, with proof).
• A $150 fee applies. Only one nomination extension may be granted.

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Reconsideration Requests

• Must be submitted within 30 calendar days of a decline decision.
• Limited to one request per application.
• Only assesses whether an error was made based on the documents on file at the time of decision. No new information or documents will be accepted.

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Important Warnings & Obligations

• No Representation Sharing: Do not share Alberta.ca login credentials with immigration representatives or third parties.
• Portal Maintenance: Routine system maintenance occurs weekly from Friday 11:00 pm to Sunday 7:00 pm.
• Reporting Changes: Applicants and nominees must update AAIP and IRCC immediately regarding changes to contact information, marital/family status, employment, work permits, or immigration status.
• Integrity & Audits: False or misleading information will result in refusal, possible revocation of nomination, and a ban from the AAIP.
• Portal Updates: Change of email requires updating the Alberta.ca Account. All other updates (employment, family, representative) must be completed via the "Create New Request" function in the portal.

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Required Forms & Resources

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