Last Updated:September 30, 2026
Supervised by Yuki Shiraishi (Immigration Consultant)
What is the Tourism and Hospitality stream?
The Tourism and Hospitality Stream is for foreign workers currently working full-time in Alberta's tourism and hospitality sector for an eligible employer. Candidates with an approved LMIA can apply if they meet requirements for eligible occupation, language ability, education, work experience, and a full-time job offer from an eligible Alberta employer.
Eligible Occupations:
List of eligible occupations for Tourism and Hospitality Stream
54100
Skill Level 4 / Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness*
60030
Skill Level 0 / Restaurant and food services managers
60031
Skill Level 0 / Accommodation service managers
62020
Skill Level 2 / Food service supervisors
62200
Skill Level 2 / Chefs
63200
Skill Level 3 / Cooks
64300
Skill Level 4 / Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses
64301
Skill Level 4 / Bartenders
64314
Skill Level 4 / Hotel front desk clerks
64320
Skill Level 4 / Tour and travel guides
64322
Skill Level 4 / Outdoor sport and recreational guides
65200
Skill Level 5 / Food and beverage servers
65201
Skill Level 5 / Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations*
65210
Skill Level 5 / Support occupations in accommodation, travel, and facilities set-up services
65310
Skill Level 5 / Light duty cleaners*
65311
Skill Level 5 / Specialized cleaners*
65312
Skill Level 5 / Janitors, caretakers, and heavy-duty cleaners*
65320
Skill Level 5 / Dry cleaning, laundry, and related occupations*
Tourism and Hospitality Stream Requirements (Applicant)
Current Employment Status
- Reside in Alberta and be working in an eligible occupation under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream.
- Hold a valid work permit supported by an approved LMIA in an eligible occupation.
※Maintained status (waiting for a decision after applying for a work permit) is not considered a valid work permit for this stream.
Work Experience
- Must be full-time employment of at least 30 hours per week.
- Have at least 6 months (780 hours) of continuous work experience with your current employer.
- Currently working for the same Alberta employer who is providing your job offer.
- The work experience must be paid.
- Must have been authorized by IRCC and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada.
Education
- Must have completed high school education or higher.
- For education completed outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an IRCC-designated organization must be submitted, except in the following cases:
- You hold a degree, diploma, or certificate from a Canadian post-secondary, technical, or secondary institution that is listed in the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials directory of educational institutions as recognized, accredited, registered, or licensed. However, you must confirm with the institution or the relevant advanced education authority whether the institution was authorized to grant your credential.
- You hold a valid Alberta trade certificate or an occupational certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).
Language Proficiency
You must demonstrate a minimum score of CLB 4 on an IRCC-designated English or French language test taken within 2 years prior to application.
| Test | Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 | IELTS | English | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| CELPIP | English | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| PTE Core | English | 33-41 | 41-50 | 28-38 | 42-50 | |
| TEF Test date Oct 1, 2019 – Dec 10, 2023 |
French | 300-349 | 300-349 | 300-349 | 300-349 | |
| TCF | French | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
Job Offer
- Must hold a genuine full-time job offer or employment contract.
- Must be in an eligible occupation under the stream.
- Must be employed by the same Alberta employer where you accumulated at least 6 months (780 hours) of work experience.
The job offer or employment contract must be signed by a lawfully established, verifiable Alberta employer and must meet the following criteria:
- Continuous, paid employment under an employer-employee relationship.
- Full-time work of at least 30 hours per week.
- Employment duration of 12 months or more.
- Wages that meet or exceed the provincial minimum wage requirement.
- Must meet or exceed the minimum requirement of the LMIA or the starting wage rate for the occupation in Alberta as published on the Alis website.
- Non-wage compensation (such as company ownership shares) is not considered part of the basic wage or salary.
Under this stream, receiving a nomination from the Alberta government to IRCC makes obtaining permanent residence almost certain.
Eligibility requirements for the Tourism and Hospitality Stream (Employer side)
The employer’s primary business activities must belong to an eligible industry, as defined by the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) – Alberta industry code or exempt activities. You must demonstrate that your employer has valid WCB coverage or is exempt from needing coverage through a WCB clearance letter at the time your application is submitted.
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) list
80701
Museums/Art Galleries / e.g., Art Galleries, Art Museums, Interpretive Centres, Museums
80703
Zoos/Game Farms / e.g., Game Farms, Zoos
85300
Bowling Alleys/Billiard Parlours / Billiard Parlours, Bowling Alleys, Pool Halls
85900
Golf Clubs/Ranges / Operation of Driving Ranges, Golf Courses
85904
Ski Resorts/Gondolas / Operation of Chairlifts, Gondolas, Ski Instruction, Ski Resorts
85916
Casinos/Dance Halls / Casino Halls, Dance Halls
85919
Arenas/Stadiums / Arenas, Stadiums, Race Tracks
85925
Travel Agency/Motor Association / Operation of Wildlife and Wilderness Associations, Tour Guides, Tourist Promotion, Park Associations
87501
Restaurants/Catering / Operation of Coffee Shops, Drive-In Restaurants, Restaurants, Take-Out Services, Bartending Services
87503
Hotels/Convention Centres / Operation of Bed and Breakfast, Cabins and Motels, Convention Centres
87600
Sports and Recreation / Operation of Amusement Parks and Rec Resorts, Hot Air Ballooning, Boats, Pleasure and Water Tours, Campsites
89702
Property Management/Hostels / Operation of Hostels, Bingo Halls, Airports
87508
Private Clubs / Private Clubs, Sporting Clubs, Fitness Clubs and Gun Clubs
Multiple
Operation of a Curling Rink / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Multiple
Operation of an Ice Skating Rink / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Multiple
Operation of a Cricket Field / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Multiple
Operation of a Convention Bureau / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Multiple
Operation of an Information Bureau / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Multiple
Promotions, sports and entertainment / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Multiple
Professional sports / Multiple WCB industries and codes apply
Sector association and Travel Alberta membership requirements
At the time your application is submitted, your employer must be a member of an eligible sector association listed below. If they do not meet the eligibility criteria for membership, they must be listed as an Experience Provider on the Travel Alberta website and meet Travel Alberta’s requirements.
| Sector | Sector association |
|---|---|
| Accommodations | Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) |
| Accommodations | Alberta Bed and Breakfast Association (ABBA) |
| Food and Beverage | Restaurants Canada |
| Indigenous Tourism | Restaurants Canada |
| Recreation and Entertainment | Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) |
| Recreation and Entertainment Recreation and Entertainment | Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) |
| Recreation and Entertainment Recreation and Entertainment | Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) |
| Recreation and Entertainment Recreation and Entertainment | Alberta Golf Association |
| Meetings, Conventions, and Incentive Tourism | Convention Centres Canada (CCC) |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Alberta Hospitality Association |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Tourism HR Canada |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association |
Application process for the Tourism and Hospitality Stream
The application method changed on September 30, 2024, with the introduction of the EOI system: Introduction of EOI System to Alberta Advantage Immigration Program [Registration starts September 30, 2024]
01Register on the AAIP Online Portal
Register your profile in the EOI (Expression of Interest) online system on the AAIP portal. The information you enter will be scored based on the EOI points grid. Once your EOI is submitted, you will enter the selection pool, where candidates are selected based on their score, the province’s labour market needs, and the number of available spots in each stream. A fee of $135 is required for registration.
02Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
The AAIP processing office conducts regular draws and issues ITAs to those with the highest scores. Applicants who receive an ITA via email will also be sent further instructions for the application process.
03Apply online for the AAIP
Once an ITA is received, the applicant must complete and submit the online application, along with the $1,500 application fee, to the AAIP processing office.
04Receive a Nomination from the Province
Once the AAIP processing office completes the review, the applicant will receive the results. Being approved is referred to as receiving a “nomination.”
05Apply for permanent residence to IRCC
After being nominated, the applicant must submit their permanent residence application (Provincial Nominee Class) online to IRCC within six months.
06Review by IRCC
Once the permanent residence application has been submitted and IRCC has completed its review, the applicant will be issued a letter called the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR), and the review of the permanent residence application is complete.
07Landing
Once the permanent residence application is approved, applicants who are in Canada will be able to download their CoPR (virtual landing). Your status becomes permanent resident (PR) the moment you download the CoPR. Applicants who are outside Canada must complete the process to receive their CoPR by mail and must arrive in Canada before their visa expires.
08Receive your Permanent Resident (PR) card
A few months after landing, your PR card will be delivered to your designated address in Canada.
Free Consultations and Inquiries
Feel free to get in touch!
Immigration Consultant
Yuki Shiraishi
Born in Japan. After earning a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, she worked for six years in New York as a marketing consultant at a major travel agency, while also studying in an MBA program at the City University of New York. After returning to Japan, she managed the visa center of the same travel company, handling various international visa applications for foreign clients.
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