The following is a summary of the basic requirements of each of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The AAIP has programs that are linked to Express Entry and programs that do not require applicants to have a valid Express Entry profile.

Please note that the following are only summaries of the basic essential requirements for each program. If you believe you meet the criteria of the program, you will need to review the full AAIP program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

Applicants must have the following to be eligible for consideration

• An active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool;
• Have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta;
• Are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification;
• Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300;
• If you have one or more of the following adaptability factors, this may increase your likelihood of receiving a Notification of Interest letter:
  • you have an Alberta job offer
  • you are a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
  • you have a parent, child, brother or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta
  • French is your first language

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the AAIP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of AAIP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

The following can make an applicant less likely to be selected:

• your Express Entry profile expires in 5 months or less
• your primary occupation in your federal Express Entry profile
• your primary occupation in your federal Express Entry profile falls within one of the NOC codes listed in the following section

Is there an AAIP Occupation in Demand List?

Only those with experience in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification may be chosen. AAIP has not released a set list of which occupations are in demand or NOC codes that guarantee being selected. AAIP only states that the following occupations are less likely to be selected:

AAIP states that the following occupations are ineligible to be selected:

New Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway

The AAIP has created a new substream under their Alberta Express Entry Stream. This pathway is specifically for those in the Express Entry system who have a valid job offer from an eligible Alberta employer. To be considered under this stream, eligible applicants need to complete an online electronic application form with the AAIP. 

Applicants must have the following to be eligible for consideration

• An active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool (which should not be expiring in the next three months);
• Have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta;
• Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
• you are working full-time in Alberta or have a job offer for full-time employment based in Alberta (full-time means a minimum of 30 hours per week)
• your employment or job offer is on the list of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations below AND
  • your employer is part of the Alberta tech industry as defined by the AAIP list of eligible North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes below
• the primary occupation in your EE profile is the same occupation as your current Alberta employment or job offer
• have completed an online electronic application form with the AAIP. 

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the AAIP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you, your employer, and your job offer meet all of AAIP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

List of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations

0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
0112 Human resources managers
0131 Telecommunication carriers manager
0211 Engineering managers
0212 Architecture and science managers
0213 Computer and information systems managers
0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
0601 Corporate sales managers
1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
1121 Human resources professionals
1223 Human resources and recruitment officers
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2161 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2221 Biological technologists and technicians
2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

2233 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2253 Drafting technologists and technicians
2281 Computer network technicians
2282 User support technicians
2283 Information systems testing technicians
3211 Medical laboratory technologists
3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
4163 Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants
5131 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
7242 Industrial electricians
7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers

AAIP list of eligible North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes

2211 Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
3251 Basic Chemical Manufacturing
3254 Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
3333 Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing
3341 Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
3342 Communications Equipment Manufacturing
3343 Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
3344 Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
3345 Navigational, Medical and Control Instruments Manufacturing
3346 Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media
3364 Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
4173 Computer and Communications Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
5112 Software Publishers
5121 Motion Picture and Video Industries
5171 Wired Telecommunications Carrier
5172 Wireless Telecommunications Carrier (except satellite)
5174 Satellite Telecommunications
5179 Other Telecommunications
5182 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
5191 Other Information Services
5413 Architectural, Engineering and Related services
5414 Specialized Design Services
5415 Computer Systems Design and Related Services
5417 Scientific Research and Development Services
5419 Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
7115 Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
8112 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

The AAIP Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is a points-based system which means that interested applicants will need to submit an Express of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP. They will then receive a score and wait to be chosen based on that score. Applicants need to meet the following requirements to apply under this program:

• Intention to reside in Alberta
• Have completed at least two years of full-time education, resulting in a degree or diploma from an eligible educational institution in Alberta
• Have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) issued by IRCC, which is valid at the time of your Expression of Interest (EOI) submission.
• Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your EOI is submitted to AAIP
• Must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership
• This is a points-based system which means that interested applicants will need to submit an Express of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP. You will then be scored based on the following factors, and those with the higher score will be selected:
  • Business Management or Ownership Experience
  • Economic Benefit of your proposed business in Alberta
  • Your total business investment (there is no minimum mandatory)
  • Your language proficiency
  • Your education completed in Alberta
  • Your age (no age limit)
  • Your accompanying spouse/common-law partner’s characteristics
  • If you have a qualifying relative living in Alberta

The following businesses are not eligible under this program:

• Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment).
• Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
  • pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
  • businesses trading in used goods
• Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including
  • property rental, investment and leasing activities
  • real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
  • coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations
• Project based or seasonal businesses
• Home-based businesses, including:
  • businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations
  • bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
• Businesses that are part of a succession plan. This includes businesses that:
  • are owned/operated by a close relative of the candidate
  • were previously owned/operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
  • have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to IGEIS application
• Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
• Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the AAIP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you, your employer, and your job offer meet all of AAIP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

The AAIP Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream is a points-based system which means that interested applicants will need to submit an Express of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP. They will then receive a score and wait to be chosen based on that score. Applicants need to meet the following requirements to apply under this program:

• Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent
• Have completed a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada within the last 10 years (must obtain an educational credential assessment to prove this)
• A complete business plan with projected financials is required
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 5 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than two years old at the time of EOI submission.
• Must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership
• The mandatory minimum investment for an urban centre is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000
• Must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency
• You must meet the following financial requirements:

The following businesses are not eligible under this program:

• Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment).
• Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
  • pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
  • businesses trading in used goods
• Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including
  • property rental, investment and leasing activities
  • real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
  • coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations
• Project based or seasonal businesses
• Home-based businesses, including:
  • businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations
  • bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
• Businesses that are part of a succession plan. This includes businesses that:
  • are owned/operated by a close relative of the candidate
  • were previously owned/operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
  • have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to IGEIS application
• Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
• Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the AAIP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you, your employer, and your job offer meet all of AAIP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

The AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Stream is a points-based system which means that interested applicants will need to submit an Express of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP. They will then receive a score and wait to be chosen based on that score.

All applicants to the AAIP Rural Renewal Stream must have the intention to purchase or open a business in an eligible community. All communities who participate must have a population that is less than 100,000. At this time AAIP has not released a list of the communities that will be participating. As part of this program, all applicants would need to make an exploratory visit to the community they intend to move to.

Applicants need to meet the following requirements to apply under this program:

• Minimum of 3 years of full-time work experience as an active business owner/manager or a minimum of 4 years of experience as a senior manager within the past 10 years;
• Have completed a minimum of a high school equivalent;
• Have a minimum net worth of $300,000;
• Are willing and able to invest $200,000 into the business;
• A complete business plan with projected financials is required
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 4 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than two years old at the time of EOI submission.
• Must establish a new business with 51% ownership or buy an existing business in Alberta with 100% ownership;
• If starting a new business in Alberta, the new business must create at least 1 full-time job for a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident;
• Community Support Letter from a participating rural Alberta community.

The following factors may increase an applicant’s chances of being selected for the program:

• They are purchasing an existing business;
• They are between the ages of 21 and 49;
• Their spouse/common-law partner have completed at least one year of full-time post-secondary education (Certificate, Associate Degree, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree or higher)
• Their spouse/common-law partner have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 4 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than two years old at the time of EOI submission.
• They have a father, step-father, mother, step-mother, child, step-child, sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother of candidate or spouse or common-law partner who is a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident who is a resident of Alberta.

The following businesses are not eligible under this program:

• Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment).
• Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
  • pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
  • businesses trading in used goods
• Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including
  • property rental, investment and leasing activities
  • real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
  • coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations
• Project based or seasonal businesses
• Home-based businesses, including:
  • businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations
  • bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
• Businesses that are part of a succession plan. This includes businesses that:
  • are owned/operated by a close relative of the candidate
  • were previously owned/operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
  • have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to IGEIS application
• Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
• Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the AAIP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you, your employer, and your job offer meet all of AAIP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.