Alberta Opportunity Stream

 

Alberta Opportunity Stream

Alberta Opportunity Stream

Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for foreign nationals who are working in Alberta. The international graduates who have completed their studies from an approved Alberta post-secondary institutions. 

The Individuals interested in the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) must meet the eligibility requirements for the following factors i.e.

  1. Residency status and work permit requirements;
  2. Language;
  3. Education;
  4. Work experience in an occupation that is not part of the ineligible occupations list; and 
  5. Income level. 

International Graduates and Post Secondary Institutions

International Graduates of Alberta Post-secondary Institutions 

International students can benefit from the Alberta Opportunity Stream if they have completed their studies from approved Alberta post-secondary institution and are employed in Alberta on a Post-Graduation Work Permit. 

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) urges student applicants who demonstrate education and skills that are aligned with Alberta’s labor market needs to make use of Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS).

To apply, international students must need to do the following:

  • Show that they have at least 6 months of work experience in Alberta, the occupation must be related to their field of study (this is less than the requirement for other applicants).
  • Must meet the same minimum language requirements and income requirements listed on this page.

It is important to note that international students who have studied in other Canadian provinces will not be eligible for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) as Post-Graduation Work Permit holders. However, they can be considered for the program if they have a different type of work permit.

Residency Status and Work Permit

Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements

The applicants to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) must meet the following residency requirements both at the time their application is postmarked and at the time their application is assessed i.e.

  • The applicants must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes eligibility to work in Canada (i.e. temporary foreign worker);
    • The residency status considered ineligible under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) which includes the below:
      • The refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process;
      • The temporary residents residing or working in other Canadian provinces and or
      • The foreign nationals residing or working in Canada without a valid temporary resident status.
  • The applicants must have a valid work permit (not implied status or restoration status) for an eligible occupation based on either:

Language Proficiency

Language Proficiency

The applicants to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) must have a minimum of a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 4 in either English or French for each language skill: listening, reading, writing, and speaking in English or French.

The individuals who are applying under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) require a minimum of CLB 7 in English or French. 

Note: On January 1, 2020, the candidates in NOC 0, A, and B occupations will need a minimum of CLB 5 in each language skill. Learn more about the upcoming Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS language proficiency changes. 

Education Requirements

Education Requirements

At the time of applying for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), the individuals must have completed at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent in their country of origin. The highest level of foreign education must be verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-recognized organization that confirms the education requirements are met as per the Canadian government.

The Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is not required from the applicants with a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college, or secondary institution. The Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is also not required from the applicants with work experience that qualifies an individual for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) in a compulsory or the optional trade and who have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate. The trade certificate must be recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit holder applying for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) must meet the minimum requirements for graduation for an Alberta Advanced Education approved credential issued by an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary institution in the province.

Note: As of July 10, 2018, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) says if an applicant who has been admitted to an Alberta Advanced Education approved post-secondary program before April 1, 2019, may be eligible to apply to this stream. 

Note: Starting January 1, 2021, applicants (excluding Post-Graduation Work Permit holders) will be required to have completed at minimum a high school level education (equivalent to Alberta standards) to be considered for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). Learn more about upcoming AOS education requirement changes. 

Work Experience

Work Experience Requirements 

Note: ‘Current occupation’ refers to the occupation for an individual who is working in at the time of the application.

Individuals who are interested in submitting an application to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) must meet the following work experience conditions i.e.

  • The applicants must currently be employed in the occupation listed as his or her ‘current occupation’ when submitting to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).
  • The applicant must be working in an occupation that matches his or her work experience at the time of applying and at the time the Alberta Immigration Nominee Program (AINP) processes the application.

In order to meet the work experience of an applicant, the requirements for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), individuals must meet the following: 

  • The Individual must have a minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience in the ‘current occupation’ in Alberta within the last 1 ½ years or
  • The Individual must have a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in the ‘current occupation’ in Canada and/or outside Canada within the last 2 ½ years.
    • This work experience of an individual can be a combination of experience gained in the province of Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) and/or outside Canada.

If an individual applicant is a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder, he or she:

  • The individual must have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in his or her current occupation in Alberta within the last 1 ½  year, and
  • The individual currently is in an occupation related to his or her field of study in Alberta based on an approved Alberta educational credential from an Advanced Education-approved Alberta post-secondary institution. Also, if the applicant has completed an Advanced Education-approved one-year post-graduate certificate, the occupation must also be related to his or her previous undergraduate or graduate field of study in Canada.

In addition to meeting the time frame requirements above, the work experience below includes:

  • The applicant must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours/week (part-time work will not be considered);
  • The applicant must have been in the same occupation as the ‘current occupation’ listed in the application;
  • The applicant must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada;
  • The applicant cannot be completed while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit holders who have work experience from paid co-op placements as part of a study program at an Alberta post-secondary institution may use that experience as part of the work experience requirement. For these applicants, the work experience must meet the following conditions i.e.

  1. The applicant has a paid co-op work term must have been full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week).
  2. The applicant work experience must be directly related to a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder’s ‘current occupation’ and
  3. The applicant’s work experience must have been in Alberta. 

Job Offer

Job Offer Requirements

To apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), the applicant must have a valid job offer from an Alberta employer to work in his or her current occupation. The applicant must be working full-time for the employer in Alberta and the applicant must possess the required licensing, registration, or certification to work in his or her current occupation in Alberta. 

The job offer must include:

  • The applicant must be for continuous, paid work, full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours/week for 1 year or more for an eligible Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) occupation;
  • It should be signed by the applicant and the Alberta employer;
  • The offer of employment for 1 year or more;
  • They offered work in the applicant’s current occupation; and
  • They offered work in an eligible (AINP) occupation for which an applicant has a work permit that meets the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program work permit requirements. 

The job offers for the following conditions are considered as ineligible:

  • The part-time employees, regardless of their working hours;
  • The independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as Directors, Shareholders or Agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES);
  • The 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; and or

The 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.

Occupation Requirements

Occupation Requirements

At the time of applying, the individuals must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta that matches their previous work experience. 

The Post-Graduation Work Permit holders with an approved Alberta Advanced Education approved post-secondary credential issued by an Advanced Education approved Alberta public and private post-secondary institution need to be employed in an occupation which is must be related to their field of study in Alberta.  The Applicants who have completed an Alberta approved one-year post-graduate certificate must be employed in an occupation that is related to their previous undergraduate or graduate field of study outside Canada. Most occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C, and D are eligible under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). 

Ineligible Occupations

Ineligible Occupations List

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) that provides 2 ineligible occupations lists for applicants to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). The 1st list that applies to all applicants to the stream and the 2nd list that applies to all applicants to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) who are on a Post-Graduation Work Permit. 

If an applicant is working in any of the following applications, he or she may be ineligible to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS).

 

NOC NOC Skill Level The Occupation Title
0011 0 The Legislators
0422 0 The School Principals and Administrators of Elementary and Secondary Education
0423 0 The Managers in Social, Community and Correctional Services
0432 0 The Fire Chiefs and Senior Firefighting Officers
0651 0 The Escort Agency Managers, Massage Parlour Managers
4031 A The Secondary School Teachers
4032 A The Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers 
4154 A The Professional Occupations in Religion 
5121 A The Authors and Writers
5133 A The Musicians and Singers
5135 A The Actors and Comedians
5136  A The Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists
1227 B The Court Officers and Justices of the Peace
3223 B The Dental Laboratory Bench Workers
4214 B The Early Childhood Educators and Assistants (only those without certification as a Child Development Worker (Level 2) or Child Development Supervisor (Level 3) through Alberta Children’s Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office)*
4216 B Other Instructors
4217 B The Other Religious Occupations
5232 B The Other Performers, n.e.c.
5244  B The Artisans and Craftspersons
5251 B The Athletes
6232 B The Real Estate Agents and Salespersons
4411 C The Home Child Care Providers
4412 C The Home Support Workers, Housekeepers, and Related Occupations
4413 C The Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants
6533 C The Casino Occupations
6564 C The Other Personal Service Occupations
7513 C The Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs
8442 C The Trappers and Hunters
6623 C The Other Sales Related Occupations
6722 C The Operators and Attendants in Amusement, Recreation, and Sport
6742 D The Other Service Support Occupations, n.e.c.
8611 D The Harvesting Labourers
8612 D The Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Labourers
8613 D The Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers
8614 D The Mine Labourers

There are additional occupations that are considered ineligible for applicants on a Post-Graduation Work Permit. These occupations are not in demand in Alberta and can be filled by Albertans and Canadians. If the applicant’s occupation is on the Government of Canada’s list of high-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta, he or she is not eligible to apply for AINP.

Income level Requirements

NOTE: The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program removed the minimum income requirement for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), which is effective from November 1, 2018. This change will be applied to all applications issued to the program since June 14, 2018.

 

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