Alberta Provincial Program

 Alberta Express Entry

Every couple of weeks the province of Alberta selects candidates from the federal pool of candidates whose professions, work experience, and skills will be beneficial to the province. The main requirement is to have at least 300 points in the Express Entry profile.

Factors that can increase your chances of receiving an invitation:

●      you have graduated from an educational institution in Alberta and have obtained a diploma

●      you have relatives in Alberta (parent, child, sibling) and you have a job offer. In 2023, the selection score for this category varied from 301 to 385. This is the second largest selection category in Alberta.

●      you have uploaded a French language test and you have a job offer (i.e., you are a French speaker) (in 2023, this group was selected only 2 times and only specialists in the field of agriculture with a score of 382 and 316)

●      you are a healthcare worker who has a job offer in the province of Alberta (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, clinical social workers, and even psychologists). This is the most common stream. It is conducted at least twice a month with a selection score from 302 to 401 based on the analysis for 2023.

●      you work in the construction industry and you have a job offer from an employer. The selection score vaied from 307 to 372 throughout 2023.

●      you work in the agriculture industry and you have a job contract from an employer. Selection scores in 2023 varied from 307 to 382.

●      you work in the tourism and hospitality business sector and you have a job offer from an employer. The score varied from 383 to 444. Selection in this category takes place once every 3-4 months. In any case, the province of Alberta will open a separate program for specialists in the tourism and hospitality industry from March 1, 2024.

 Pay attention: the job offer must be for skilled work only (!!!)

Note, there are requirements for the employer in Alberta, as well as salary requirements. If your salary is below the minimum set for your profession in the province, your job contract will not be valid for nomination.

To apply under this program, you first need to receive an invitation in your Express Entry profile from the province of Alberta and contact the province directly within 2 weeks so that they can grant you access to a separate platform where you will create your personal account and submit all the documents for nomination.

As you see the selection score varies. According to the program rules, you need to have from 300 points in Express Entry and above. In practice, see above, different categories have different winning score.

Remember, having a correctly filled profile in Express Entry is a half of a success to obtain PR! This is particularly important if you are applying for PR through provinces but using an Express Entry profile. The profile must be filled out correctly down to the details, so there are no discrepancies when applying for nomination. If discrepancies occur, the invitation for PR from the province will be refused and Alberta is very strict about that. The province is restricting the candidate discrepancies by banning them for 1 year from applying for nomination again.

Alberta Tech Pilot- a program for fast-tracking permanent residency (PR) based on a list of in-demand occupations in the province of Alberta. One of the requirements is to be employed and currently working or have a job offer (employment contract) with an employer whose business is related to the rapidly growing and technological sectors of the province's economy. This program is for those who are already working in Alberta as well as for those who are outside of Alberta or Canada. This is an accelerated PR program that typically takes only 6 to 9 months (!!!)
What are the industries on demand:

•       Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
•       Basic Chemical Manufacturing
•       Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
•       Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing
•       Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
•       Communications Equipment Manufacturing
•       Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
•       Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
•       Navigational, Medical and Control Instruments Manufacturing
•       Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media
•       Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
•       Computer and Communications Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
•       Software Publishers
•      Motion Picture and Video Industries
•       Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carrier (except Satellite)
•       Satellite Telecommunications
•       Other Telecommunications
•       Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
•       Other Information Services
•       Architectural, Engineering and Related Services
•       Specialized Design Services
•       Computer Systems Design and Related Services
•       Scientific Research and Development Services
•       Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
•       Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
•       Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

If you receive a job offer for one of the 23 occupations listed below, and your employer's business is related to the above-mentioned industry, you can apply for permanent residency through the province of Alberta under this stream.

•       Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services
•       Human resources managers
•       Advertising, marketing and public relations manager
•       Telecommunication carriers manager
•       Human resources professionals
•       Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
•       Human resources and recruitment officers
•       Engineering managers
•       Architecture and science managers
•       Computer and information systems managers
•       Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
•       Data scientists
•       Cybersecurity specialists
•       Business system specialists
•       Information systems specialists
•       Web designers
•       Database analysts and data administrators
•       Software engineers and designers
•       Computer systems developers and programmers
•       Software developers and programmers
•       Web developers and programmers
•       Civil engineers
•       Mechanical engineers
•       Electrical and electronics engineers
•       Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
•       Biological technologists and technicians
•       Drafting technologists and technicians
•       Computer network and web technicians
•       User support technicians
•       Information systems testing technicians
•       Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
•       Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
•       Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
•       Medical laboratory technologists
•       Other medical technologists and technicians
•       Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
•       Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
•       Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
•       Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
•       Graphic designers and illustrators
•       Corporate sales managers
•       Electricians (except industrial and power system)
•       Industrial electricians

Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
Please, pay attention on salary, as there are particular requirements to the salary for each position.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

The immigration program for workers who live and work in Alberta. Initially, it was created for ALL workers living and working in the province, regardless of whether the work is skilled or unskilled. Please note, this category is available to workers who have:

●      a work permit issued for a specific employer (LMIA)

●      a work permit issued after graduating from an educational institution in Alberta (post-graduation open work permit)

●      an open work permit issued to residents of Hong Kong

●      an open work visa issued to citizens of Ukraine under the CUAET program

To apply for a nomination from the province under this program, a worker must have at least 12 months of work experience in Alberta and a contract for permanent employment with the same employer. Or, have 24 months of work experience outside of Canada, a job contract for the same occupation in Alberta, and currently be working for this employer.

Requirements include having a language level of 4 or 5 and validation of diplomas by accredited institutions in Canada. Note, there are salary requirements. It must not be below the established minimum for the specific occupation.

Alberta Tourism and hospitality stream

As we know, from March 1st, 2024 the province of Alberta has launched a new immigration program - Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream. It turns out, the program has quotas, and for 2024, 659 spots were allocated (only), and it was closed just a couple of days after they began accepting applications.

To apply for permanent residency in Alberta under this program, you must be working for a specific eligible employer who meets the following requirements :

1. The Alberta employer you work for must be a member of an approved sector association at the time your application is filed, as listed below:

●      Accommodation (Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association – AHLA and Alberta Bed and Breakfast Association – ABBA)

●      Food and beverage (Restaurants Canada)

●      Indigenous Tourism (Indigenous Tourism Alberta)

●      Recreation and Entertainment (Canadian Association of Tour Operators – CATO, Canada West Ski Areas Association – CWSAA, Association of Canadian Mountain Guides – ACMG, Alberta Golf Association)

●      Meetings, Conventions, and Incentive Tourism (Convention Centres Canada – CCC)

●      Tourism and Hospitality (Tourism Industry Association of Alberta – TIAA, Alberta Hospitality Association, Tourism HR Canada, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada)

2. Your Albertan employer must be a member of an authorized sector association at the time your application is filed, as listed below (code WCB – worker compensation Board):

Museums, Art Galleries, Zoos/game farms, bowling alleys/billiard parlours, golf clubs/ranges, ski resorts/gondolas, casinos/dance halls, arenas/stadiums, travel agency/motor association, restaurants/catering, hotels/convention centres, sports and recreation, property management/hostels, private clubs, operation of a curling rink, operation of an Ice skating rink, operation of a cricket field, operation of a convention bureau, operation of an information bureau, sports and entertainment, professional sports.

And finally, full list of eligible occupations:

•         Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness
•         Restaurant and food service managers
•         Accommodation service managers
•         Food service supervisors
•         Chefs
•         Cooks
•         Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses
•         Bartenders
•         Hotel front desk clerks
•        Tour and travel guides
•        Outdoor sports and recreational guides
•         Food and beverage servers
•         Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
•         Support occupations in accommodation, travel, and facilities set-up services
•         Light-duty cleaners
•         Specialized cleaners
•         Janitors, caretakers, and heavy-duty cleaners
•         Dry cleaning, laundry, and related occupations

Requirements for applicants:

Applicants must live and work in Alberta at the time of application in the relevant industry and position. Additionally, applicants must have a closed work permit supported by LMIA, which means the applicant's employer must be listed on their work permit.

Requirements for the applicant's work experience, language, and education:

●      have a contract for permanent employment (for at least 12 months) on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week)

●      have at least six months of work experience or a minimum of 780 hours in the relevant position

●      have a salary that matches the average hourly wage in the industry and profession

●      have language proficiency of level 4 or higher (the language test must be taken no more than 2 years ago at the time of application)

●      have their diplomas validated based on Canadian standards (except for those who received their education in Canada)

Who is NOT eligible for this program?

●      applicants with part-time employment and seasonal workers

●      applicants who work through employment agencies

●      applicants who work from home

●      applicants who work for an employer with a "virtual office"

Tourism brings the significant profit to the province, and the demand for tourism industry in Alberta has doubled in the last 12 months.

Alberta alone contributes 11% from all Canadian profit in tourism industry.

If you have an open work permit, you can apply for another one – a closed work permit with LMIA support. In this case, you do not lose the open permit but acquire another one, which will allow you to apply for a nomination from the province of Alberta.