Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements
When the application is postmarked and assessed by AINP, you should have a valid resident status (temporary) in Canada. This authorizes you to work as a temporary foreign worker in Canada.
Eligible Applicants
The valid work permits for eligible applicants is based on the following:
• An approved LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).
• Workers get an LMIA exemption based on the following:
- - International trade agreements
- - International experience Canada
- - Workers transferred within a company
• Mobilite Francophone
• PGWP (Post-Graduate Work Permit) holder
The post-graduate work permit holder should also meet extra occupation and educational requirements:
• The current occupation should be related to the field of study in Alberta.
• The credentials for the approved Alberta private and public secondary school should be issued by Alberta Advanced Education. This is done if you are enrolled or admitted before April 1, 2019.
The education approved credentials is given for the following:
- Post-graduate certificate or certificate (it should be for a minimum of one year in length)
- - Undergraduate bachelor’s degree
- - Diploma program (minimum of two years)
- - Graduate level diploma
- - Graduate level certificate
- - Graduate level degree
If you are enrolled or admitted in the Alberta credential program after April 1, 2019, you should ensure that the credentials are approved by Alberta Advanced Education.
Ineligible Applicants
The following individuals will not be able to apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream:
• Individuals or refugee claimants involved in a federal removal or appeal process.
• Temporary residents working or living in a territory or province of Canada other than Canada.
• Foreign nationals working or living in Canada and who don’t have a valid temporary status. When the application is postmarked and assessed by AINP, you should have a valid resident status (temporary) in Canada. This authorizes you to work as a temporary foreign worker in Canada.
Occupation Requirements
Eligible Occupations
When the application is postmarked and assessed by AINP you should:
• Should be working in Alberta in an eligible occupation.
• Work in an occupation that matches the previous work experience.
Ineligible Occupations
Individuals who work in the following occupations are ineligible for the Alberta Opportunity Stream:
• Legislators
• School principals, secondary school teachers, kindergarten and elementary school teachers.
• Actors, comedians, singers, musicians.Writers and authors.
• Occupations in religion.
• Home child-care providers.
• Athletes.
• Mine and harvesting labourers.
• Hunters and trappers.
• Casino occupations.
• Chauffeurs, limousine and a taxi driver.
• Home child care providers.
• Real estate salespersons and agents.
• Housekeepers and home support workers.
• Marine and aquaculture labourers.
• Mine labourers.
• Attendants and operators in recreation, amusement, and sport.
• Sculptors, painters and other visual artists.
• Massage parlor managers and escort agency managers.
• Dental laboratory assistants.
Post-Graduation Work Permit Holders
The occupation that you choose should be related to the field of study in Alberta. The post-graduation work permit holders will not be eligible to apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream if the occupation they choose is on the list of low wage and high wage occupations in the province of Alberta.
Language Requirements
A minimum language test score of 4 is necessary for English or French. If you apply for jobs in the NOC code 3413 categories (patient service associates, orderlies, and nurse aides) the minimum score necessary in French or English is 7.
The official language test results should be less than 2 years old at the time the application is postmarked.
Education Requirements
Eligible Applicants
The minimum education requirement is high school education in your country of origin. From January 1, 2021, all candidates except those who are post-graduation work permit holders will need to have completed at least high school. High school education should be equivalent to Alberta standards.
Work Experience Requirements
The current occupation should match the work experience at the time the application is postmarked and AINP assesses the application.
Qualifying Work Experience
At the time of application, you should have a work experience:
• Full-time work experience of at least 12 months in the current occupation in Alberta. The minimum work experience should be within the last 18 months; or
• Full-time work experience of at least 24 months in the current occupation in Alberta. The minimum work experience should be within the last 30 months in Canada or abroad.
Post-graduation work permit holders should have a work experience of at least 6 months in the current occupation in Alberta. The minimum work experience should be within the last 18 months.
Eligible Job Offers
An employment contract or a full-time job offer is necessary when AINP assesses the application for nomination. The employment contract should be from an Alberta employer to work in Alberta in your current occupation.
The Alberta employer should be registered or incorporated under or by an act of the legislature of a territory or province. The employer can also be registered or incorporated under or by an act of the Parliament of Canada.
The employer should be operating as a business and have an established place of business, plant, or production facility in Alberta.
The employment contract or job offer signed by the employer and you should offer:
• Full-time work (minimum of 30 hours per week).
• Paid, continuous work.
• Employment for at least 12 months or more in the current occupation.
• The benefits and wages should meet the provincial minimum wages.
• Have a work permit for an eligible AINP occupation.
Job Offer Based Ineligible Occupations
The following individuals are ineligible based on their job offer:
• Seasonal, casual or part-time employees, irrespective of their working hours.
• Temporary agency workers, business owners, or independent contractors including those individuals listed as shareholders, directors, or agents of the Alberta employer.
• Employees working in Alberta in a place of employment not zoned for industrial or commercial operations.
• Employees who don’t work on a premise on Alberta.
