The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic immigration program operated by the Government of Alberta with the Government of Canada’s Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It supports Alberta’s economic growth by attracting and retaining work-ready people to the province.

How Does It Work?

Individuals nominated by the Government of Alberta, together with their spouse/common-law partner and dependent children, can apply for permanent residence through IRCC as a provincial nominee. For all permanent resident applications, the IRCC makes final decisions.

The AINP offers options for both skilled and semi-skilled workers. You may be able to apply on your own, or with your employer. Review the streams and categories below and choose the best option for you. Also, review who is not eligible.

AINP nominations will not be issued for obtaining temporary work permit extensions.

You must maintain a valid work permit throughout the AINP application and assessment process. The only applicants that are exempt from this requirement are applicants under the Strategic Recruitment Stream Engineering Occupations Category. At the time of assessment, you must provide the AINP with a valid work permit or implied status based on either:

-A positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or

-A LMIA exemption as determined by IRCC

Some LMIA exceptions from IRCC are not eligible under the AINP. They are as follows:

-International students studying in Canada, including students doing co-op work placements or internships as part of their study program

-People doing charitable or religious work

-People who need to support themselves while they are in Canada (e.g. those who are waiting on a refugee claim)

You must meet all the criteria for the category under which you applied.

Application recruitments differ on the stream and the category

AINP Streams and Categories Accepting Applications

Strategic Recruitment Stream:

Apply on your own (without an employer) under one of three different category options:

1. Compulsory and Optional Trades Category
   • You may qualify if you are a temporary foreign worker and have a valid trade certificate in a compulsory or optional trade in Alberta issued or recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).
2. Engineering Occupations Category
   • You may qualify if you are a temporary foreign worker and have Alberta work experience in an eligible engineering occupation.
3. Post-Graduate Worker Category
   • You may qualify, if you have a Post-Graduation Work Permit, are currently working in Alberta, and have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Alberta.

Employer-Driven Stream

Apply on your own (without an employer) under one of three different category options:

1. Skilled Worker Category
   • You may qualify if you have been offered a permanent and full-time job by an Alberta employer in an eligible skilled occupation.
2. International Graduate Category
   • You may qualify if you recently graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada, have a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and have been offered a permanent and full-time job by an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation.
3. Semi-Skilled Worker Category
   • You may qualify for nomination if you have been offered a permanent and full-time job by an Alberta employer in an eligible semi-skilled occupation, and you are a temporary foreign worker.
   • Select key industries and occupations are eligible in this category
   • Candidates must meet minimum language standards

Self-Employed Farmer Stream

You may qualify if you have the financial resources and farm management experience to purchase and establish a farm in Alberta.

Who is not eligible?

• Clergy, Elementary and Secondary School Teachers, Professional Athletes and Dental Laboratory Bench Workers
• Refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process
• Live-in Caregivers currently working in Canada
• Temporary Foreign Workers working and residing in a province other than Alberta
• International Students studying in Canada. This includes students doing co-op work placements or internships as part of their study program.