Alberta creates new immigration program for tech workers

Alberta is introducing a new fast-track immigration program for tech workers.

Alberta's immigration minister, Tyler Shandro, announced the Accelerated Tech Pathway on January 13. The province had already began accepting applications to the new program in December.

In order to be eligible, tech professionals need to have a profile in the federal government's Express Entry system and be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

“Under this new pathway, tech professionals from across Canada and overseas can become permanent residents in as little as six months if they have a job offer in an in-demand tech industry occupation,” Shandro said, although Express Entry processing averaged nine months in 2020.

“Along with priority application processing, tech professionals will also receive a letter of support from the Government of Alberta if they require a work permit.”

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There are more than 3,000 technology companies in Alberta, according to the Alberta Enterprise Corporation. Alberta's tech sector has grown 233% since 2012, as per the 2021 Alberta Technology Deal Flow Study. However, tech companies still face challenges accessing workers, especially sales and technical talent.

Steps to applying for the Accelerated Tech Pathway

You have to first be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream in order to be selected for expedited processing under the Accelerated Tech Pathway. This Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has three steps:

1. Get a profile in the Express Entry system

The first step is to get into the Express Entry pool of candidates. You need to be eligible for one of the following three immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

To apply for the Accelerated Tech Pathway, you fill out and online form for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). Through the form, you send information about your Express Entry profile and your tech job in Alberta.

In order to be eligible for the tech pathway, Express Entry candidates need to have a job offer, or be currently working for an Alberta-based company in an eligible occupation. The 23 eligible occupations are listed below in order of their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:

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

2. AINP determines your eligibility

The AINP checks that you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. If so, the AINP will send you an email inviting you to apply for a provincial nomination. You cannot apply without this invitation, and you cannot use a nomination under a different AINP stream to apply.

3. Apply

Once you receive the email invitation from Alberta, you determine if you meet the assessment criteria. If the AINP discovers fraud or misrepresentation in an application, they could ban you from reapplying for up to five years.

Completed applications go into a pool of eligible applications. The AINP considers these applications for a provincial nomination.

If Alberta offers you a nomination you have 30 days to accept using your online Express Entry profile. You will then get 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points added to your Express Entry score.

The nomination does not guarantee that you will become a permanent resident, but it does boost you to the top of the Express Entry pool. You will get to apply for permanent residence once the federal government, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), sends you an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in an Express Entry draw.

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