The Alberta Express Entry Stream is an immigration pathway under the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that targets candidates who are already in the federal Express Entry pool and have the skills and experience to contribute to Alberta’s economy. This stream allows the province to nominate eligible candidates for permanent residency in Canada.
There are two Express Entry pathways:
General Alberta Express Entry Stream
Accelerated Tech Pathway
General Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Alberta Express Entry Stream is an immigration pathway under the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that targets candidates who are already in the federal Express Entry pool and have the skills and experience to contribute to Alberta’s economy. To be eligible, candidates must have an active Express Entry profile and meet the minimum criteria for at least one of the three federal economic immigration programs. They must also have work experience in an eligible occupation and meet the language proficiency requirements. Nominated candidates will receive an additional 600 points towards their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which significantly increases their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
Who may apply
Demonstrated strong ties to Alberta
Who can help support the government’s economic development
International graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions
Accelerated Tech Pathway
The Accelerated Tech Pathway is a new immigration program launched by the Alberta government under the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to attract foreign workers with experience and skills in the technology sector. To be eligible, candidates must have a job offer in a designated technology occupation from an Alberta employer, meet the minimum language proficiency requirements, and have completed at least one year of post-secondary education. The program is expected to attract top global talent to the province and contribute to the growth of the technology sector in Alberta.
Who may apply
Who are currently working for, or have a job offer with, an Alberta-based tech industry employer in an eligible tech occupation.
Application process of Express Entry
Must have an Express Entry profile with the Government of Canada
General EE- must receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter from AAIP.
Tech pathway – must send information about their Express Entry profile and their Alberta employment or job offer with an Alberta tech employer.
Who meet minimum eligibility criteria will receive an email inviting them to submit an application.
Complete applications go into a pool of eligible applications for consideration.
Note: Candidates:
Cannot apply directly to the Alberta Express Entry Stream
Must be invited to submit an application.
Cannot use a nomination under a different AAIP stream to apply under the Alberta Express Entry Stream or the Federal Express Entry system.
If fraud or misrepresentation – will be banned for up to 5 years
Eligibility Alberta Express Entry Stream
1. General Express Entry
You may receive a Notification of Interest letter if:
You have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
Your primary occupation in your Federal Express Entry profile is an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
You have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta.
You have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300.
To increase your chances
You have an Alberta job offer.
Signed by your Alberta employer.
Continuous, paid work
Full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Employment for 12 months or more
Wages and benefits that meet or exceed provincial minimum wage.
Work in a location in Alberta (If working at a home-base business in Alberta your employer must be authorized to operate that business location from a personal residence.)
You are a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution.
You have a parent, child, brother or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta,
French is your first language.
Disqualification
Are a refugee claimant or individual involved in a federal appeal or removal process.
Have an active nomination under any AAIP stream. An active nomination is a nomination that has not expired and/or that is eligible for extension.
Have a letter from a previous AAIP application stating you are currently not eligible to re-apply to the AAIP due to past misrepresentation.
Express Entry Profile
Yes
Connection to Province
No
Job Offer
No
Language Proficiency
Express Entry requirement
Level of Education
Express Entry requirement
Work Experience
Express Entry requirement
Investment Requirement
No
2. Accelerated Tech Pathway
You may be invited to submit an application if:
You have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300.
You are working full-time in Alberta or have a job offer for full-time employment based in Alberta (full-time is a minimum 30 hours per week)
Contract or job offer signed by you and your Alberta employer.
Continuous paid work under an employer-employee relationship
Full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Employment for 12 months or more
For work in a location in Alberta (if you will be working or are currently working at a home-based business in Alberta your employer must be authorized to operate that business location from a personal residence)
A base monetary wage or salary that: meets the provincial minimum wage, and meets or exceeds the requirements set out in your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or if you are LMIA exempt or do not have an LMIA, meets or exceeds the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta.
Note, non-wage compensation, including but not limited to compensation from company ownership, is not considered as part of the applicant’s base monetary or salary.
In an occupation on the list of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations
For an employer that is part of the Alberta tech industry as defined by the AAIP list of eligible North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes
The primary occupation in your Express Entry profile is the same occupation as your current Alberta employment or job offer.
Have valid immigration status (work permit or implied status), if you are working in Alberta for your Alberta employer at the time of AAIP application.
Intend to and be able to live and work in Alberta.
Disqualification
Are a refugee claimant or individual involved in a federal appeal or removal process.
Have an active nomination under any AAIP stream. An active nomination is a nomination that has not expired and/or that is eligible for extension.
Have a letter from a previous AAIP application stating you are currently not eligible to re-apply to the AAIP due to past misrepresentation.
Part-time, casual or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
Independent contractors or temporary agency workers
Employees who do not work in Alberta, such as those who work online from a location outside Alberta or who work at a premises outside of Alberta.
Application process Alberta Express Entry Stream
Step 1:
General Express Entry candidates –
Receive a Notification of Interest letter from Alberta,
Email a copy of the letter to the AAIP at albertaexpressentry@gov.ab.ca within 2 weeks of receiving it in your federal Express Entry profile.
Provide your Express Entry profile number.
Provide the email address you will use for all future AAIP correspondence. If you are selected to apply, you will need to have a MyAlberta Digital ID (MADI) account using the same email.
Provide status information about current and past AAIP applications/nominations (if applicable)
Accelerated Tech Pathway candidates
Complete the Accelerated Tech Pathway form
Step 2:
Receive a request from the AAIP to apply to this stream
Step 3:
Read the terms and conditions
Step 4:
Review the assessment criteria
An application fee
$500 applies to all online applications.
Need to pay your fee within 24 hours of submitting your complete application
The $500 fee must be paid online using a single credit or debit card.
