Alberta has launched a new digital tool to help foreign nationals determine which Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) streams they may qualify for.
Users are prompted to complete a brief questionnaire about their circumstances, and within minutes the tool lists permanent residence pathways that could be a fit based on the answers provided.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
The Government of Alberta announced the launch of their new tool, the Eligibility Explorer, on its AAIP updates webpage on June 17.
The tool first requires prospective AAIP candidates to identify whether they intend to live and work in Alberta (or continue to do so), or start or buy a business in the province.
Once the tool identifies the stream(s) a foreign national may be eligible for based on their goal, users are provided with the option to review stream requirements and create an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Questions posed by the tool differ based on the foreign national’s immigration goal.
For candidates intending to work or continue working in Alberta, the tool asks questions about their job offer, Alberta residency status, work permit type (if residing in Alberta), and National Occupational Classification code.
For those interested in launching or buying a business in Alberta, the tool asks questions about their educational background, investment capacity, and interest in establishing a business in a rural part of the province.
Alberta emphasizes that the eligibility checker is for guidance only and does not confirm eligibility or guarantee an invitation after submitting an EOI.
As of the time of this writing, there is a $135 fee to submit a worker EOI, and a $200 fee to submit an EOI for an entrepreneur stream, with the exception of the Farm Stream (straight to application, $3,500 fee).
AAIP streams under which you may be considered
AAIP worker streams
The AAIP has four streams for workers:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream: Qualified candidates who live and work in Alberta and have a job offer from an Alberta employer.
- Alberta Express Entry Stream: Qualified candidates who have profiles in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300 and a primary occupation connected to a provincial economic, sector, or occupational priority.
- Under this stream, there are four pathways, including the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, Accelerated Tech Pathway, Law Enforcement Pathway, and the Priority Sectors Pathway.
- Rural Renewal Stream: Temporary workers who have a job offer from an Alberta employer in a designated community and an endorsement letter from that designated community.
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream: Qualified candidates who live and work in Alberta and have a full-time job offer from an employer in the province’s tourism and hospitality sector.
AAIP entrepreneur streams
The AAIP has four streams for entrepreneurs:
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream: Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community.
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: International graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business.
- Farm Stream: Experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta.
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Foreign graduates who have a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada and want to launch a start-up or innovative business.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams