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Alberta Opportunity Stream


Last Updated on February 7, 2020

Alberta Opportunity Stream

The Alberta Opportunity Stream launched in June 2018 and replaced the province’s Employer-Driven Stream and Strategic Recruitment Stream.

It is designed to simplify the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) application process, reduce waiting times and make the system fairer for candidates and employers.

What Are the Requirements for The Alberta Opportunity Stream?

Interested candidates must meet several categories of requirements to qualify for the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Unless otherwise specified, all requirements must be met at the time of submission of application and at the time AINP assesses the application.

1. Residency and Work Permit Requirements

Eligible candidates must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes them to work. 

  • The valid work permit must be based on either:
  • The candidates must work in an eligible occupation.

Ineligible candidates:

  • refugees, those under appeal or removal proceedings;
  • temporary residents living outside of Alberta;
  • temporary residents on implied status or restoration status

Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must also meet additional requirements:

  • Current occupation must be related to your field of study in Alberta.
  • If you are admitted and enrolled in your program before April 1, 2019, your credential must be issued by an approved institution and be one of the following:
    • Certificate or post-graduate certificate of minimum one year.
    • Diploma program of minimum two years.
    • Undergraduate bachelor’s degree.
    • Graduate-level degree, certificate or diploma.
  • If you are admitted and enrolled in your Alberta credential program on or after April 1, 2019, your credential must be on the Alberta Opportunity Stream approved list.

2. Occupation Requirements

To qualify for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, you must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta. 

Most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AINP.

Unlike some of the other provinces, the AINP does not reward candidates whose occupations appear on a certain list. Rather, the province publishes a list of ineligible occupations.

3. Language Requirements

At the time of your application, you must provide test results showing minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 for all language skills in English or in French (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC), for the majority of NOC codes.

Only those applying under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates) must provide a minimum language test score of CLB/NCLC level 7 for each language skill in English or in French.

Effective January 1st 2020, the language requirement will increase to CLB/NCLC level 5 for candidates applying under NOC 0, A and B.

4. Education Requirements

At the time of your application, you must have completed minimum high school education in your country of origin. 

Effective January 1st 2021, candidates will need to have completed a minimum of high school equivalent to Alberta standards.

5. Work Experience Requirements

At the time of your application, you must have:

  • Minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months; or
  • Minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your 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.

As a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder, you must have a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience:

  • in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months AND 
  • in an occupation related to your studies for an Alberta approved credential at an Alberta approved institution.

Additional requirements:

  • You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
  • You must have a bona fide full-time job offer from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta and be working full-time for that employer in Alberta in that occupation.
  • Your job offer must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:
    • Continuous, paid work,
    • Full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours/week for 12 months,
    • Work in your current occupation, and
    • Work for an eligible AINP occupation for which you have a work permit that meets AINP work permit requirements.

The following individuals are not eligible, even if they have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month period:

  • Part-time employees, regardless of their working hours,
  • Independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, or
  • Employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business
  • Employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a “virtual” location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.