Alberta Opportunity Stream

Alberta Opportunity Stream

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

Individuals interested in the AOS must meet the eligibility requirements for the following factors:

 

International Graduates of Alberta Post-secondary Institutions

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

The AINP urges student applicants who demonstrate education and skills that are aligned with Alberta's labour market needs to make use of the AOS.

To apply, international students must:

  • show that they have at least six months of work experience in Alberta in an occupation related to their field of study (this is lessthan the requirement for other applicants).
  • meet the same minimum language 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 AINP as Post-Graduation Work Permit holders. They can, however, be considered for the program if they have a different type of work permit.

 

Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements

Applicants to the AOS must meet the following residency requirements both at the time their application is postmarked and at the time their application is assessed:

 

Language Proficiency

Applicants to the AOS must have a minimum of 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.

However, individuals 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, candidates in NOC 0, A and B occupations will need a minimum of CLB 5 in each language skill. Learn more about upcoming AOS language proficiency changes. 

 

Education Requirements

At the time of applying for the AOS, 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.

ECAs are not required from applicants with a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution. ECAs are also not required from applicants with work experience that qualifies an individual for the AINP in a compulsory or optional trade and who have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or trade certificate that is recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

A Post-Graduation Work Permit holder applying for the AOS must meet the 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 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. However, if the applicant has been admitted to his or her Alberta post-secondary study program on or after April 1, 2019, the Alberta post-secondary study program must be on the Alberta Opportunity Stream List of Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials.

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 AOS. Learn more about upcoming AOS education requirement changes. 

 

Work Experience Requirements

Note: 'Current occupation' refers to the occupation an individual is working in at the time of the application.

Individuals interested in submitting an application to the AOS must meet the following work experience conditions:

  • The applicant must currently be employed in the occupation listed as his or her 'current occupation' when submitting to the 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 AINP processes the application.

In order to meet the work experience requirements for the AOS, individuals must:

  • have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in the 'current occupation' in Alberta within the last 18 months; or
  • have a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in the 'current occupation' in Canada and/or outside Canada within the last 30 months
    • This work experience can be a combination of experience gained in the province of Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) and/or outside Canada.

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

  • must have a minimum of six months full-time work experience in his or her current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, and
  • must currently be 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 Canada.

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

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

*Post-Graduation Work Permit holders who have work experience from paid co-op placements as part of 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:

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

 

Job Offer Requirements

To apply for the AOS, an 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. Also, the applicant must possess the required licensing, registration or certification to work in his or her current occupation in Alberta.

The job offer must:

  • be for continuous, paid work, full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours/week for 12 months or more for an eligible AINP occupation;
  • be signed by the applicant and the Alberta employer;
  • offer employment for 12 months or more;
  • offer work in the applicant's current occupation; and
  • offer work in an eligible AINP occupation for which an applicant has a work permit that meets the AINP work permit requirements.

Job offers for the following conditions are considered ineligible:

  • part-time employees, regardless of their working hours;
  • 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);
  • 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; or
  • 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

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

Post-Graduation Work Permit holders with an 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 related to their field of study in Alberta. Applicants who have completed an Alberta approved one year post-graduate certificate must be employed in an occupation 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 AINP.

 

Ineligible Occupations List

The AINP provides two ineligible occupations lists for applicants to the AOS. The first list applies to all applicants to the stream and the second list applies to all applicants to the 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 AOS.

NOC NOC Skill Level Occupation Title
0011 0 Legislators
0422 0 School Principals and Administrators of Elementary and Secondary Education
0423 0 Managers in Social, Community and Correctional Services
0432 0 Fire Chiefs and Senior Firefighting Officers
0651 0 Escort Agency Managers, Massage Parlour Managers
4031 A Secondary School Teachers
4032 A Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers
4154 A Professional Occupations in Religion
5121 A Authors and Writers
5133 A Musicians and Singers
5135 A Actors and Comedians
5136 A Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists
1227 B Court Officers and Justices of the Peace
3223 B Dental Laboratory Bench Workers
4214 B 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 Other Religious Occupations
5232 B Other Performers, n.e.c.
5244 B Artisans and Craftspersons
5251 B Athletes
6232 B Real Estate Agents and Salespersons
4411 C Home Child Care Providers
4412 C Home Support Workers, Housekeepers and Related Occupations
4413 C Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants
6533 C Casino Occupations
6564 C Other Personal Service Occupations
7513 C Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs
8442 C Trappers and Hunters
6623 C Other Sales Related Occupations
6722 C Operators and Attendants in Amusement, Recreation and Sport
6742 D Other Service Support Occupations, n.e.c.
8611 D Harvesting Labourers
8612 D Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Labourers
8613 D Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers
8614 D 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 following list, he or she is not eligible to apply.

 

National Occupational Classification code Ineligible occupations
0112 Human resources managers
0211 Engineering managers
1215 Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations
1225 Purchasing agents and officers
1523 Production logistics coordinators
2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronic engineers
2212 Geological and mineral technologists and technicians
2231 Civil engineering technologists and technicians
2253 Drafting technologists and technicians
7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
7237 Welders and related machine operators
7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
7242 Industrial electricians
7251 Plumbers
7271 Carpenter
7293 Insulators
7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment
7311 Industrial mechanics
7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
7322 Motor vehicle body repairers
7371 Crane operators (except all-terrain crane operators)
8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
8412 Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators
8615 Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
9232 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

 

Income level Requirements

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