Alberta Opportunity Stream

Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements

From the time of AAIP application submission through assessment completion, you must reside in Alberta and hold a valid work permit. ※Applicants on “Maintained status” (formerly “Implied status”) waiting for a new permit after their previous permit expires are not eligible.

Eligible Work Permits

• Work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• LMIA-exempt work permits under the following categories:
  • International trade agreements (e.g., CPTPP, GATS)
  • Intra-company transferees
  • International Experience Canada (e.g., Working Holiday, RO Visa)
  • Mobilité Francophone
  • R205(d) for religious work
  • Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) issued following graduation from an eligible Alberta public post-secondary institution ※The field of study must be directly related to the current occupation
  • Work permits issued under Temporary Public Policies (e.g., measures for Ukraine)

Ineligible Applicants

• Refugee claimants, individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal order process
• Individuals residing or working outside of Alberta
• Individuals working in Canada without valid temporary resident status

Job Offer

• Must be full-time employment of at least 30 hours per week
• Must be for continuous employment of 12 months or more
• Must already be working full-time in Alberta and hold a full-time job offer in an eligible occupation from an Alberta employer
• Must hold a positive LMIA or an LMIA-exempt work permit
• Must receive a wage offer that meets or exceeds the provincial minimum wage requirement

• The employer’s head office and business operations must be physically located in Alberta
• The employer must provide the applicant with a full-time, paid position in their current occupation for at least 12 months
• The applicant’s work location (company facility) must be within Alberta. Home offices and virtual offices are not eligible
• The employer must have been operating the business in Alberta for at least 2 years at the time of application
• Demonstrate the need for the position by providing the applicant’s valid work permit or evidence the employer made reasonable efforts to fill the position with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident if the applicant is not working in Alberta
• The employer must show a minimum gross revenue of $400,000 on the most recent business tax return
• The employer must have employment of a minimum of 3 full-time (or full-time equivalent) employees in Alberta
  • Independent contractors are not considered as indeterminate employees and do not count
  • Two part-time employees may be considered as 1 full-time equivalent position, as long as the total hours add up to at least an average of 30 hours per week

※If the employer cannot meet the minimum employee count (3 or more) or revenue requirements, AAIP support is still possible, but the number of nominations will be limited.