Alberta is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The quality of life is excellent and the province offers many opportunities for skilled workers. If you want to live and work in Alberta, you may be eligible for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).
The application process is relatively simple and straightforward, and there are many resources available to help you through the process. This article will outline the steps of the AINP application process through Express Entry.
So, let’s get started!
What is the AINP?
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program is a provincial nomination program that allows the Government of Alberta to nominate individuals for permanent residence in Canada. The AINP is designed to attract and retain skilled workers and professionals who will contribute to the Albertan economy.
The AINP provides an opportunity for eligible individuals to live and work permanently in Alberta. If you are nominated by the AINP, you will be able to apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Candidates who have strong ties to Alberta, who have the skills and experience that are in demand in the province, and who can contribute to the economy are most likely to be asked to apply to the AINP.
A similar process to express entry
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is aligned with the Express Entry system. To be eligible for the AINP, candidates must first meet the criteria of the Express Entry system and apply using an express entry profile.
You may also be eligible for the AINP if you have a valid job offer from an Alberta employer. If you are eligible, you will be placed in a pool of candidates and will be given a score based on the information in your Express Entry profile, including your:
- Age
- Level of education
- Official language proficiency
- Work experience
You will be ranked against other candidates in the pool and the highest-ranked candidates will be invited to apply to the AINP. However, invitations from other provinces or territories are not transferable to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.
Who is invited to apply?
AINP officials will primarily focus on inviting candidates who are currently working in the Alberta-based tech industry, as well as recent graduates of eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions.
To be eligible for the AINP Express Entry Program, you must have a valid job offer from an Alberta employer in an occupation that is listed on the Eligible National Occupational Classification List. The list of in-demand occupations is based on Alberta’s current economic needs and labor market conditions.
The list of occupations includes:
- Computer and information systems managers
- Software engineers and designers
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- Web designers and developers
- Database analysts and data administrators
- Telecommunication carriers managers
- Telecom technicians
- Civil engineers
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Electrical and electronics engineer
- And more!
To search for a job in an eligible occupation, you can use the Alberta Alias website which includes job postings from the Government of Alberta, as well as from private sector employers.
To use the website, you will need to create an account and then you can search for jobs by keyword, location, or job title. You can also set up alerts so that you will be notified when new jobs are posted that match your criteria.
Once you have found a job that you are interested in, you can apply for it through the website and wait for a job offer from the employer. Once you have received the job offer, you can then proceed to the next step which is applying for permanent residence through the AINP Express Entry Program.
However, the job offer must be in an occupation that is listed on the Eligible National Occupational Classification List.
How do I apply?
Let’s take a look at the steps you need to take to apply for permanent residence through the AINP:
Step 1: Create an Express Entry Profile
The first step is to create an online Express Entry profile. You will need to provide your personal information, skills, work experience, education, and language ability in this profile.
Step 2: Respond Notification of Interest letter
In the second step, you will need to indicate your interest in applying for the AINP Express Entry Program by selecting “Alberta” as your province of interest. If you are found to be eligible, you will receive a Notification of Interest letter from Alberta Immigration.
You will need to respond to the Notification of Interest letter within 2 weeks and provide your consent to have your Express Entry profile shared with the AINP.
Step 3: Recieve a request to submit an AINP application
If you are eligible, you will receive a request to submit an AINP application. You will need to log in to your Express Entry account and click on the link provided in the request. If ANIP doesn’t contact you, it’s possible that you haven’t been selected for a nomination.
Step 4: Read the instructions and gather the required documents
Once you have clicked on the link, you will be directed to the AINP Online Application System. Here, you will find detailed instructions on how to complete the application, as well as a list of required documents.
You also need to make sure that you meet the minimum criteria for the AINP Express Entry Stream. Each program/occupation has different requirements, so be sure to review the criteria for the program you are interested in.
Step 5: Submit the completed application and pay the application fee
Once you have gathered all of the required documents, you can then submit your completed application online. You will also need to pay a CAD 500 application fee within 24 hours of submitting your application. This fee is non-refundable and covers the cost of processing your application.
Step 6: Receive a decision on your application
The AINP will review your application and supporting documents to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for the program. If you are found to be eligible, you will be nominated for permanent residence by the AINP.
You will then receive an email notification from Express Entry with instructions on how to accept your provincial nomination.
If your application is unsuccessful, you will receive an email notification from the AINP with the reason for the decision. You have the right to appeal the decision if you feel that your application was unfairly rejected.
Congratulations! You are now one step closer to becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
The AINP is just one of the many programs available through Express Entry. If you are not eligible for the AINP, you may still be eligible for another program. Be sure to explore all of your options and consult with a qualified immigration lawyer to ensure that you are applying for the best program for your needs.
Tips for those interested in this application stream
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you explore the possibility of applying for permanent residence through the AINP.
Alberta is currently prioritizing making space for Ukrainian refugees
Alberta is currently prioritizing making space for Ukrainian refugees.
There are a few temporary processing measures in place to fast-track applications from Ukrainian refugees. For example, application fees will be reimbursed and requests for post-decision service will be processed as quickly as possible.
Incomplete applications will also be considered. However, you’ll have to provide a written explanation as to why your application is incomplete.
This is in recognition of the fact that many Ukrainian refugees are fleeing conflict and violence and need a safe place to rebuild their lives. Alberta is committed to providing support and assistance to all those who choose to make its province their home.
The stream uses the 2021 NOC system
The AINP has also started to use the new 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to assess eligible work experience and help decide if an applicant meets the criteria for immigration to Canada.
The NOC system groups together occupations with similar job duties, skills, and educational requirements. There are 162 minor occupational groups in the 2021 NOC system, and each occupation has a 4-digit NOC code.
This stream is also expected to add and remove some NOCs in the future, as the federal government updates the NOC system.
The new NOC is called TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) system and it’ll replace the former skill levels in the NOC system.
The 5 occupational categories under TEER are:
- TEER 0: Management occupations.
- TEER 1: Occupations that usually need a university degree or college diploma.
- TEER 2: Occupations that usually need post-secondary education, training, or apprenticeship.
- TEER 3: Occupations that usually need the completion of post-secondary education, and on-the-job training.
- TEER 4: Occupations that usually need secondary education and on-the-job training of several weeks.
- TEER 5: Occupations that don’t usually need any formal education or on-the-job training.
So, if you are planning to apply for permanent residence in Canada through the AINP, your occupation will need to fall under one of these five categories.
Express Entry gets you where you need to go
The process of immigrating to Canada can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
At Express Entry PR, we specialize in helping people immigrate to Canada through programs like the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). We work with you to understand your unique situation and guide you through every step of the application process.
So if you’re ready to start your journey to Canadian permanent residency, don’t wait any longer. Visit our website today and let’s get started.