The following are frequently asked questions concerning immigrating or considering immigrating to Alberta.

Frequently asked questions about the Provincial Nominee Program

What is the Provincial Nominee Programs?

The Provincial Nominee Programs were established by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC) to allow Canada’s different provinces and territories to select individuals who indicate an interest in settling in a particular province/territory and who will be able to contribute to that province/territory’s economic development.

The following provinces participate in the Provincial Nominee Program:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Frequently asked questions about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

What is the Alberta Immigrant Nominee program?

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is a process by which Alberta nominates candidates to immigrate and settle in the province.

How Does the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program Work?

The AINP system consists of three main categories:

1. Strategic Recruitment Stream
2. Employer-Driven Stream
3. Self-Employment Farmer Stream

What is the Strategic Recruitment Stream?

This stream is a process in which the province of Alberta nominates people to become permanent workers in Alberta according to the province’s needs. A job offer from an Alberta employer is not required. There are three categories in this stream:

1. Compulsory and Optional Trades Category
2. Engineering Occupations Category; and
3. Post Graduate Worker Category

What is the Employer Driven Stream?

This stream is a process in which employers from Alberta can nominate the workers they need from outside Canada if they have been unable to fill vacant permanent positions with Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents. If an employer has extended a permanent job offer to a candidate, and the candidate has accepted the job offer, they can apply for a Provincial Nomination Certificate.

The stream has 3 main immigration categories:

1. The Skilled Worker Category. The position to be filled is a skilled occupation that falls under the “0,” â€œA,” or “B” skill levels in the National Occupation Classification (NOC).
2. The International Graduate Category. An employer is filling a position (in the “A,” “0,” or “B” skill levels) with a foreign student who has completed post-secondary education at a publicly funded institution in Canada.
3. Semi-Skilled Worker Category. The position to be filled is a specific industry but does not fall under the “0,” “A,” or “B” skill levels, but rather under the “C” or “D” skill levels.

What is the Self-Employed Farmer Stream?

This stream is a process in which individuals with sufficient farming experience and personal funds to purchase and develop a farm in the province of Alberta can apply for permanent residence. These applicants must be farm owners/operators and they must plan to reside in Alberta where they will purchase or manage a farming business.

Is an individual required to live and reside permanently in Alberta once he or she immigrates?

As part of any PNP application, applicants are required to submit a Settlement Plan indicating why they wish to live in the province and how they intend to settle. Applicants are also required to sign an ‘intention to reside’ document with their application. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensured that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to work and reside in any location across Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions about Studying in Alberta

How can a potential international student apply to study in Alberta?

In order to apply for a Canadian study permit, prospective international students must first obtain a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). As each institution may have different admission requirements and application processes, interested applicants may contact the desired institution(s) individually.

What are the top universities in Alberta?

• University of Alberta. Considered a top-five University in Canada, and in the top 100 globally, the University of Alberta combines excellent instruction, state-of-the-art facilities, well-funded programs, and world-renowned research. University of Alberta is based in Edmonton, with a campus in Camrose.
• University of Calgary. Consistently landing on global ranking lists, the University of Calgary recently scored first in Canada and 13th in the world in the “Top 50 under 50,” a system that evaluates universities less than 50 years old.
• University of Lethbridge. Consistently ranking as one of the top undergraduate schools in the country, the University of Lethbridge is known for its research reputation and mentorship. The smaller size of the university allows for intimate class sizes and low teacher to student ratios.

What are the top colleges in Alberta?

• NorQuest College. A college with a strong industry reputation for its healthcare programs. With a primary focus on preparatory and career-oriented courses, the college is popular with older students — over 60 percent of students are over 25 years old, with an average age of 31. The college has four campuses, two in Edmonton, one in Stony Plain, and one in Wetaskiwin. Interestingly for prospective international students, more than half of NorQuest’s students are born outside Canada.
• The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). This college offers over 100 programs to several thousand students. NAIT may grant Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees, Certificates, and Diplomas. It is also the largest apprenticeship institute in Canada, training over 15,000 apprentices a year.
• The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. This college offers over 100 vocational programs leading up to a Bachelor, Associate degree, Certificate, or Diploma. SAIT trains its students with a career goal in mind, and graduates have a 95% job placement rate.

What are the employment prospects for international students after graduation in Alberta?

The high-tech industry is currently booming in Alberta, with significant growth in the professional, scientific, and technology sector between June 2015 and September 2016. Employment in the finance, insurance, and real estate, and information, culture and recreation sectors also grew significantly over the same period.

The top industries in Alberta by employment figures, as of September 2016, are:

• Wholesale and retail trade
• Construction
• Health care and social assistance

How can an international graduate work in Alberta?

Graduates from a DLI in Alberta may apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit after graduating from an eligible study program.