The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

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

For all of the AAIP non-entrepreneurial streams, the first step is to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) to be considered for an invitation to apply to one of AAIP’s worker streams. As of April 7, 2026, anyone submitting a WEOI is required to pay a $135 application fee.

Please note that the following are only summaries of the basic essential requirements for each program. If you believe you meet the criteria of one of the AAIP streams, you will need to review the full AAIP program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the AAIP’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;

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

Is there an AAIP Occupation in Demand List?

The AAIP website currently states that the following individuals may be selected to submit an application:

• Those who have a job offer from an Alberta employer in the health care sector and are licensed to practice in one of the eligible health care professions under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway. Applicants may fall under Express Entry or Non-Express Entry options.
• Those with a job offer for an eligible tech occupation from an Alberta employer in an eligible tech industry under the Accelerated Tech Pathway. An initial Accelerated Tech Pathway web form is required as a first step.
• Those with a job offer from an Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police member in one of the eligible police services occupations under the Law Enforcement Pathway.
• Those with experience needed to help support labour needs in keys sectors, including construction, agriculture and aviation.

Ineligible individuals

The following individuals are currently ineligible to apply to the AAIP Express Entry stream:

• you are a refugee claimant or subject to a federal appeal or removal process, or
• you have an active nomination under any AAIP stream, or
• you are currently identified as ineligible to re-apply to the AAIP due to misrepresentation.

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

Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway

This pathway is specifically for those in the Express Entry system who have a valid job offer from an eligible Alberta employer.

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
• 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)
• Current employment or job offer is on the list of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations below AND
  • Employer is part of the Alberta tech industry as defined by the AAIP list of eligible North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes below
• Primary occupation in Express Entry profile is the same occupation as current Alberta employment or job offer

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

00012 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
10011 Human resources managers
10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations manager
10030 Telecommunication carriers manager
11200 Human resources professionals
11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
12101 Human resources and recruitment officers
20010 Engineering managers
20011 Architecture and science managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business system specialists

21222 Information systems specialists
21233 Web designers
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21231 Software engineers and designers
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
22110 Biological technologists and technicians
22212 Drafting technologists and technicians
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221 User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
22301 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
32120 Medical laboratory technologists
32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
41402 Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
60010 Corporate sales managers
72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 Industrial electricians
72205 Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians

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
5132 Software Publishers
5121 Motion Picture and Video Industries

5162 Media streaming distribution services, and other media networks and content providers
5173 Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carrier (except Satellite)
5174 Satellite Telecommunications
5179 Other Telecommunications
5182 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
5192 Web search portals, libraries and archives, and all other information services
5413 Architectural, Engineering and Related services
5415 Computer Systems Design and Related Services
5419 Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
8112 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

The Alberta Opportunity Stream provides a permanent residence pathway for qualified temporary foreign workers who are currently living and working full-time in Alberta with a valid job offer in an eligible occupation. The first step is to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) to be considered for an invitation to apply. The AAIP Opportunity Stream is not connected to Express Entry. This means that after submitting a complete application to the AAIP, if the AAIP approves the application, the applicant is issued with a provincial nomination certificate. They will then use that to apply for permanent residence through the non-Express-Entry stream.

Applicants must have a valid work permit for an eligible occupation based on one of the following: 

• a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment
• a Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption based on one of the following:
  • international trade agreement
  • workers transferred within a company
  • International Experience Canada
  • Mobilité Francophone
  • R205(d) for religious work
  • an open work permit issued by IRCC to:
    • vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or
    • the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
• a Post-Graduation Work Permit and the applicant graduated from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must also meet specific occupation, education and work experience requirements that may differ from the below
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders’ occupation must also be related to their field of study in Alberta.
• an open work permit issued under one of IRCC’s open work permit temporary public policies, except those that do not confer temporary residence, such as refugees, or those that are based on an existing application for permanent residence in process.

Applicants must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in their current occupation in Alberta, including:

• Applicants working in certain occupations at the time of their application and assessment of their application are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (see list below);
• Applicants must have completed a minimum of high school education;
• Applicants must be able to pass an approved language test in English or French with a minimum score at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking for NOC 0, A and B occupations. Those working in a NOC C or D occupation need to achieve a level 4 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking (or level 7 for NOC code 33102);
• Applicants must have either:
  • a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months; or
  • a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Canada and/or abroad within the last 30 months
    • This work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) and/or abroad.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders require 6 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months

AAIP states that the following occupations are ineligible to apply:

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. 

For the Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program’s Rural Renewal Stream, the first step is to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) to be considered for an invitation to apply. The AAIP Rural Renewal Stream is not connected to Express Entry. This means that after submitting a complete application to the AAIP, if the AAIP approves the application, the applicant is issued a provincial nomination certificate. They will then use that to apply for permanent residence through the non-Express-Entry stream.

The AAIP Rural Renewal Stream is a two-part process.

Part 1 – Community endorsement requirement

All applicants to the AAIP Rural Renewal Stream must have a valid Endorsement of Candidate Letter issued by the Economic Development Organization (EDO) of your designated rural community in Alberta. At this time, the following communities are designated:

Part 2 – Job offer that meets the following requirements: 

• Applicants must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer in one of the designated communities for a 12 month period or longer;
  • Most occupations under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3,4 and 5 are eligible under AAIP with the following conditions:
    • Eligible for TEERs 0–5:
      • Temporary workers who reside in Alberta and hold a valid work permit.
    • Eligible for TEERs 0–3 only:
      • Temporary workers who reside outside Alberta but within Canada and hold a valid work permit.
      • Individuals who reside outside Canada.
• The wages and benefits being offered need to meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta;
• Applicants working in certain occupations at the time of their application and assessment of their application are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (see list below);
• Applicants must have completed a minimum of high school education;
• Applicants must be able to pass an approved language test in English or French with a minimum score at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking for NOC 0, A and B occupations. Those working in a NOC C or D occupation need to achieve a level 4 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking;
• Applicants must have either:
  • a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation in Canada and/or abroad within the last 18 months
    • This work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) and/or abroad.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit holders who have completed a two-year post-secondary education program at an IRCC designated learning institution in their designated community are not required to meet the 12 months of work experience criterion.

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. 

Settlement Funds Requirement

Applicants not currently living and working in Alberta must demonstrate sufficient settlement funds based on family size and community population thresholds as follows:

In order to be eligible under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s Farm Stream, applicants need to:

• Have the intention to reside in Alberta;
• Have farm management skills shown by:
  • Financial documentation of your existing farm business
  • Documentation of your education, training and work experience related to farming
  • Proposed business plan
  • Proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance your proposed farming business
• Make a minimum investment of $500,000 Canadian Dollars in a farming business in Alberta;
• Have a minimum net worth of $500,000 Canadian Dollars or confirmation that you have access to a similar amount of funds from other sources;
• Invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta.

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 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.