The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is a government immigration program that enables Alberta to nominate individuals for permanent residency in Canada. This program is tailored to assist Alberta in addressing its labor market demands by attracting and retaining immigrants with the skills and experience required in the province. Through the AINP, immigrants can apply for permanent residency in Canada if they possess the skills, education, and work experience necessary to contribute to Alberta's economy. The AINP provides several benefits for immigrants, including the opportunity to live and work permanently in Canada, access to Canada's public healthcare and education systems, and the ability to apply for citizenship after three years of permanent residency.

The AINP consists of three immigration programs:

Alberta Opportunity Stream

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Rural Renewal Stream

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is designed for temporary foreign workers who are currently employed full-time in Alberta and have a full-time job offer in an eligible occupation from an Alberta employer. Criteria for the Alberta Opportunity Stream may apply at the time of application submission, during assessment by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), or both.

Key eligibility requirements:

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required.

Education - secondary (high school) or post-secondary. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is needed for foreign education.

LMIA exemptions exist for certain categories like international trade agreements, intra-company transferees, International Experience in Canada, Mobilite Francophone, R205 (d) for religious work, an open work permit issued by IRCC, etc.

Minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience in the current occupation in Alberta.

Post-graduation work Permit holders require a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta.

Most occupations should fall under NOC Tier 1, 2, 3, or 4.

A minimum IELTS score of CLB 5 is required. For nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates, IELTS CLB 7 is needed.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream allows Alberta to nominate a limited number of qualified candidates from IRCC’s (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) Express Entry system. Candidates may receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter or be asked to submit an application under certain conditions, such as having an immediate family connection or experience in an in-demand occupation in Alberta. A job offer from an Alberta employer is required, particularly in tech occupations, the health sector, the tourism industry, agriculture, construction, etc. A minimum IELTS score of CLB 7 is compulsory. Education requirements include secondary (high school) or post-secondary education, with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) needed for foreign education. The job must fall under NOC Tier 1, 2, or 3, and the applicant should have an active Express Entry profile. A minimum CRS score of 300 points is required for this program.

The Rural Renewal Stream empowers rural communities to recruit and retain foreign nationals who can live, work, and settle in these communities. Communities recruit newcomers to fulfill labor needs and provide endorsement letters to selected candidates. The following are key requirements for this stream:

Full-time work in your designated community is essential.

Employment should be for 12 months or more.

A job offer from an Alberta employer is necessary.

If you are working as a childcare worker in Alberta, you must hold valid certification as a Child Development Worker (level -2) or Child Development Supervisor (level - 3).

Currently, all occupations are open for this stream.

A minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience is required at the time of application submission.

IELTS CLB - 5 is needed for NOC Tier 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs, while IELTS CLB - 4 is required for NOC Tier 4 or 5 jobs.

Education requirements include secondary (high school) or post-secondary education. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is necessary for foreign education.

If you are outside Canada, the funding requirement is approximately $12,000 for the main applicant and about $3,000 for each dependent (Note: Real estate property, jewelry, cars, and other personal assets are not considered).