Alberta is one of the fastest-growing provinces in Canada. It is home to the two major urban centres – Calgary and Edmonton. It is becoming one of the major attractions for immigrants in Canada. From towering mountains to desert and glacial lakes – Alberta is blessed with numerous attractions for you to enjoy. Further, there are tons of job opportunities for immigrants in Alberta. Thus, living and working here means you can give a comfortable life to yourself and your family.
Are you thinking to migrate to Alberta, Canada? This guide is for you.
Here, we’ll discuss the different ways you can choose to immigrate to Alberta, Canada. The overall process might seem complicated to you. So, it’s advisable to hire Alberta immigration consultants for a smooth and hassle-free journey.
So, let’s get started.
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is a program targeted towards individuals who have the required experience and skills to fill up the labour shortage in Alberta. It is operated by the provincial government and the federal government’s department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
The final decision of accepting the applications for permanent residence is taken by the CIC and not by the provincial government. This is the main reason why this program is considered a ‘nominee’ program.
If you are interested, you have two follow these steps:
- Apply for the nomination to the provincial government.
- If nominated, apply for permanent residence to the federal government.
Alberta Immigration Nominee Program selects skilled workers under the Alberta Opportunity Stream and Express Entry System. It also accepts applications under three business programs. These streams are designed with a particular individual in mind.
- Alberta opportunity stream
- Express entry stream
- Self-employed farmer stream
Now, let’s discuss these three streams in detail.
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Alberta opportunity stream
This program is designed for temporary foreign workers who are doing a full-time job in Alberta or have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Other eligibility requirements include:
- A minimum score of 4 for each category on the Canadian Language Benchmark test for English or French.
- High school level education equivalent to Alberta standards
- Work experience for the specified months in an eligible occupation.
- A valid work permit, based on either –
– Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA),
– LMIA exemption via inter-company transferees, international trade agreements, International Experience Canada or Mobilité Francophone
– Post-Graduate Work Permit.
Ineligible candidates include:
- Temporary residents living out of Alberta
- Refugees who are under removal proceedings
- Temporary residents under implied or restoration status
All these requirements must be fulfilled at the time of application submission and when AINP assesses your application.
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Express Entry Stream
Under this stream, the provincial government can nominate a limited number of eligible candidates from the Express Entry System. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program selects the application directly from the Express Entry draw pool. The selected applicants receive a notification of interest before submitting the application.
The eligibility requirements include:
- The candidate must have an active Express Entry profile in the draw pool.
- The candidate has shown an interest in migrating permanently to Alberta.
- Have a minimum CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score of 300 points.
- Has work experience in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development.
If the candidate has a job offer from the Alberta employer in an eligible occupation, is graduated from the Canadian post-secondary institution, or has a relative living in Alberta – chances are high of receiving the notification of interest.
On the contrary, if the applicant is working in an ineligible occupation and their express entry profile will expire within the next three months – it might lower your chances of getting selected for AINP.
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Self-Employed Farmer Stream
Canada is considered the second-largest agricultural producer, resulting in numerous job opportunities in this section. The self-employed farmer stream is targeted towards individuals interested in settling in Alberta by starting a farming business. It is managed by the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program in close partnership with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. To qualify, you have to fulfill the following requirements:
- The applicant must have previous managerial experience with an existing farming company.
- They must have a proper business plan for the farming business to be set up in Alberta.
- Education, skill, and work experience to start a farming business in Alberta
- A minimum of CAD 500,000 of equity funds to invest in the farming venture
- A minimum net worth of CAD 500,000
- The candidate has to show evidence that the Canadian financial institution is ready to finance the farming business.
Now that you are aware of the different methods to immigrate to Alberta, it’s time to look for an immigration consultant who can guide you throughout the process. However, remember not all consultants are genuine. Some might be fake and dupe you into paying money and run away.
