The Alberta Opportunity Stream is a pathway that allows temporary foreign workers to move to Alberta and become Canada`s permanent residents. This program is open to foreign workers with a valid job offer from an Alberta employer and the skills, education and work experience needed to fill Alberta’s labour needs. Applicants must also meet other criteria such as language proficiency, education, etc.
Who is eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Stream?
To qualify for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, applicants must meet certain criteria when they submit their application and when the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) assesses them. Candidates must apply using the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program portal. These criteria are:
Legal status in Canada
Candidates must have a valid work permit at the time of application to the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Candidates must hold either a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), or an open work permit. Candidates without a valid work permit are not eligible to apply.
Occupation eligibility
Although most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) Categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are eligible under the AAIP, prospective applicants are advised to review the list of qualified occupations as they are required to work in an eligible occupation in Alberta. In addition, applicants must ensure to use the latest NOC 2021 version to assess their eligibility for this stream.
In addition to general occupation eligibility requirements, there are specific occupation requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders. To qualify for the program, PGWP holders must hold a related occupation to their field of study in Alberta. Those who started attending their Alberta credential programs since April 1, 2019, and graduates with a post-baccalaureate or post-diploma certificate approved by Advanced Education must also have a related post-secondary field of study outside Canada.
Language requirements
Candidates must demonstrate language proficiency in one of the official languages and provide English or French test scores. Applicants working in an occupation under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 must score at least five for each English or French language skill. In contrast, those working in a NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupations must submit a minimum of 4 for each English or French language skill. In addition, AAIP applicants can submit IELTS General Test or CELPIP General Test for English language proficiency and TCF Canada or TEF Canada for French language proficiency that is less than two years old at the application submission time.
Education requirements
All applicants must have completed a minimum of high school education equivalent to Canadian standards and provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove their highest level of education. If a submitted ECA report is not equal to the completion of a Canadian high school or the foreign educational institution is not recognized by IRCC, the applicant fails to meet the education requirement.
Those with a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution and those with a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) do not need to submit an ECA.
PGWP holders must also meet additional education requirements and have graduated from an approved Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution. Candidates must have graduated from a certificate or post-diploma certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate program of a minimum of one year, a diploma program of a minimum of two years, a bachelor’s degree, or a graduate-level certificate or diploma program to be eligible.
Work experience
All applicants must have Canadian or foreign work experience when submitting their application. To qualify, applicants must possess a minimum of 12 months of full-time employment experience in their current occupation obtained within the last 18 months in Alberta or a minimum of 24 months of full-time employment experience in their current profession abroad within the previous 30 months. PGWP holders must have worked full-time in their current occupation in Alberta for at least six months within the last 18 months. All applicants, including PGWP holders working in an industry that requires licensing, must have a valid certification from the province.
Job offer eligibility
Prospective applicants must be employed by an Alberta employer as full-time employees in their current occupation. In addition, the employer must be registered under an act of the legislature of the province or the Parliament of Canada and operate in Alberta. The job offer also must include continuous, paid full-time work (a minimum of 30 hours per week), employment for at least 12 months, work in an applicant’s current occupation, and wage and benefits equal to or higher than the provincial minimum wage.
Ineligible applicants
Refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process, temporary residents living or working outside Alberta, and individuals staying in Canada without valid temporary resident status cannot apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. In addition, those working part-time, casual or seasonal employees, independent contractors, business owners and home-based businesspeople are ineligible too.
Alberta Opportunity Stream Application Process
Immigration applicants can only have one application under the AAIP. In case when candidates have already applied under other streams and want to participate in the Alberta Opportunity Stream, they must withdraw their previous applications. The AAIP must confirm that Alberta has withdrawn the application before a new one can be submitted. AAIP only accepts online Alberta Opportunity Stream applications through the AAIP online portal. Province declines all Alberta Opportunity Stream mailed applications. All applications are processed in the queue order.
Candidates have to pay a C$500 fee. Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination from Alberta, and candidates will have six months to submit an application to IRCC for a PR in Canada.
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