Alberta Provincial Nominee Program

The fourth most populous province and is one of the three prairie provinces of Canada. Talking about the economy of Alberta, in 2013 Alberta’s per capita GDP exceeded that of the United States, Norway or Switzerland, thus being one of the strongest economies in the world. This economy is mainly supported by the burgeoning petroleum industry and to in minimum extent, agriculture, and technology.

Province of Alberta is looking for immigrants with the skills and work experience that is required by the local labor market as it is facing a shortage of capable individuals. To fill this gap of skilled labor, the provincial government of Alberta has a special agreement with the Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows them to nominate the skilled and capable immigrants for permanent residency in the province. This immigration pathway is known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

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What is AINP PNP 2020?

With the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), the province is able to target immigrants that are in high demand throughout the province and the fill the shortage of skilled labor with immigrants that have the training and experience needed. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of experience and skills to get an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate.

Being nominated and by applying via the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (Alberta PNP program 2020), will speed up the permanent residency application process by some time.

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Different categories in the Alberta PNP

Skilled and semi-skilled immigrants can apply for Alberta PNP 2020 and there are also options for immigrants to apply with or without any employer support. Alberta PNP is mainly broken into three main immigration streams:

➤ Alberta Opportunity Stream : This stream is for the immigrants who are able to meet the streams requirements and are working in Alberta in an eligible occupation to apply for Alberta provincial nomination. Alberta Opportunity stream has replaced AINP’s Strategic Recruitment and Employer-Driven streams from June 14, 2018

➤ Alberta Express Entry Stream : Via this stream the province of Alberta is able to search for the capable immigrants in the Federal Government’s Express pool. This stream allows the express entry registered candidates to apply for provincial nomination via AINP PNP 2020

➤ Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream : This stream of AINP’s is to allow the immigrants with farming experience and personal funds to purchase and develop a farm in the province to apply for permanent residence. Candidates whose application will be successfully processed will be able to live in the province in order to purchase and manage their farming business

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Alberta PNP Process

The process to apply for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (Alberta PNP program 2020) mainly depends under which stream candidate has applied for. Everystream of AINP PNP 2020 has different requirements. We will look into the process for each stream under AINP.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

This stream provides a pathway to Canada PR visa for immigrants who are working in Alberta and international graduates who have completed their studies at a recognized Alberta educational post-secondary institution. Eligibility for this stream is based on the following factors:

i. Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements Candidate must have:

➤ Valid temporary status in Canada that authorizes eligibility to work in Canada

➤ A valid work permit (not implied status or restoration status) for an eligible occupation based on either:

A Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

An LMIA exemption for workers

An LMIA exemption as a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder

ii. Language Proficiency

The minimum requirement for language proficiency under this stream is to have Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4. It can be in either language whether it is in English or French. Candidates have to prove their knowledge of the language in four sections – Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

iii. Education requirements

At the time of applying under this stream, the candidate needs to have completed at least a Canadian high school or its equivalent in their country of the region. The foreign education needs to be verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

iv. Work Experience Candidate must have:

➤ Have a minimum of 12 months of work experience for a “current occupation” in Alberta within the last 18 months.

➤ Have a minimum of 24 months of work experience in “current occupation” in Canada and/or outside of Canada within the last 30 months.

v. Occupation requirements For an eligible occupation, at the time of AINP assess the application, the candidate must:

➤ Work in an eligible occupation in the province

➤ Work in an occupation that matches the previous work experience

Mostly all the occupations that are categorized under National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, B, C, and D are eligible under AINP. There are some ineligible occupations under AINP’s Opportunity stream and they are as follows:

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Express entry process of Alberta immigration nominee program (AINP)

This stream allows the AINP to nominate skilled and capable immigrants from the federal government’s express entry program. For express entry candidates to apply under AINP, they must be invited by the province to do so. To get invited, the candidate must show strong ties to the province or can be the one that will support the province’s economic growth and diversification priorities. International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions can also be asked to submit under this stream.

How to get Notification of Interest and get selected from the express pool for AINP?

Based on the credentials submitted by the candidate to the AINP, the province can select the candidate and send them a Notification of Interest (NOI). In order to get an NOI letter, the candidate:

➤ Must have an active express entry profile

➤ Must show an intention to immigrate to province and settle their permanently

➤ Must be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification

➤ Must have minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300 points

In case the candidate is able to follow one or more of the following adaptability factors, it will increase the likelihood of getting an NOI:

➤ Alberta job offer and/or work experience

➤ A graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution

➤ A relative that is living in the province: parent, child, brother and/or sister

Once the candidate’s application is approved, they will receive a nomination certificate via the IRCC Express entry portal. Candidate must accept the nomination within 30 days after it is issued in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

After getting an ITA, the candidate has 60 days to submit their application for a permanent residence visa to the IRCC.

What is Alberta PNP application fees?

For this year, 2021, Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP PNP program 2022) can issue maximum 6000 nominations. So far, a total of 2,251 nominations have been issued. Candidates do not have to pay fees for applying for provincial nomination under AINP i.e Alberta PNP application fees. They have to pay the following fees:

➤ Processing Fee – $550 CAD

➤ Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) – $490 CAD

➤ Including a dependent child – $150 CAD

What is Alberta PNP occupation list 2020?

Province of Alberta AINP PNP 2022 occupation in-demand list. But there are some professions/occupations that are having priority this year. Following is a list of occupations that are most sought after in Alberta. If the profession of the candidate falls within any of the following categories, their chances will increase for getting a nomination from the province:

➤ Trades, Transport, and Equipment Operators, and Related

➤ Unique to the Primary Industry (oil and gas)

➤ Sales and Services

➤ Business, Finance, and Administrative

➤ Management

➤ Restaurant and Food Service Managers, Cooks, Attendants, and Kitchen Helpers

➤ Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related workers

➤ Contractors and supervisors, trades and related workers

➤ Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics

➤ Heavy equipment operators

➤ Metal forming, shaping and erecting trades

➤ Finance and insurance clerks

➤ Retail managers, salespersons, sales clerks, and cashiers

➤ Automotive service technicians

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