Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an immigration pathway that is aimed at welcoming graduates, entrepreneurs, and a wide range of workers to settle in Alberta on a permanent basis. The AINP is one of Canada’s provincial programs.
After the successful submission to AINP, the applicant gets a provincial nomination from Alberta. With this nomination, the applicant and the accompanying family, if applicable, can then apply for a permanent residency visa to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Alberta has always been an attractive destination for new immigrants over recent years. As per the database of the Canadian government in 2016, Alberta and British Columbia have always been the rivals in the second most popular destination for immigration after Ontario. The number of permanent residents in Alberta has increased from 6.9% in 2001 to 17.1 in 2016 as per the census.
The reason for immigrants are attracted to Alberta is because of the pool of great opportunities and high living standards. Edmonton, the provincial capital, Calgary, and a host of small communities across provinces have rendered economic growth in the past recent years.
AINP Streams
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program has five immigration streams, namely:
The Opportunity Stream
The Express Entry Stream
Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa
International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
Self-Employed Farmer Stream.
The Opportunity Stream:
This stream is for temporary workers that are already working in Alberta full-time and are in possession of a job offer letter from an employer in an eligible occupation. This stream is an opportunity for these workers to become permanent residents in Canada.
The Express Entry Stream:
This is a pathway for Express Entry applicants who Alberta has invited to apply for the provincial nomination. The applicants are invited through their Express Entry profile with selection criteria that are not made public.
Express Entry applicants who get a provincial nomination through this Express Entry-aligned program are eligible to get 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to apply for a permanent residency in the upcoming Express Entry draw.
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream (IGEIS):
This stream is for international students who have graduated from a post-secondary institute in Alberta and are now willing to permanently settle in Alberta by either starting a new business or purchasing an existing one.
The Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa Stream (FGSVS):
This stream is for recent graduates from a post-secondary institute outside of Canada and is now willing to settle in Alberta and start a new business.
Self-Employed Farmer Stream:
This stream is for experienced farmers that have demonstrated their capability of operating a farm in Alberta.
Tips while applying for AINP
Just like any application, it must be kept in mind that the applicant must be prepared while submitting their AINP application. So here are some tips that the applicant should focus on while submitting the application.
Readout all the AINP terms and conditions:
The availability of AINP categories and streams depends on labour market needs and application volume. The criteria for AINP streams are subject to change at any time and without notice. So the applicant should be prepared for all these circumstances as possible.
AINP selection criteria review:
Each stream of AINP has its own selection criteria. So the applicant must be familiar with all these requirements before applying to their respective stream.
Language proficiency requirement:
It is necessary for the applicant to show their language proficiency in English or French. This is can be done by taking an approved language proficiency for Canadian Immigration.
Follow the AINP website for recent updates:
Applicants applying through the Express Entry and Opportunity stream must apply through the use of the AINP online portal. The applicant must always refer to the official government website for recent updates.
Overview of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
Given below is a detailed overview of all the streams in the AINP program:
Stream
Express Entry Alligned
Job Offer Requirement?
Recent update
Current Status
Express Entry
Yes
No
Apr 20: 200 applicants were invited with CRS scores of 301 points
Open (candidates must receive an invitation before applying).
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Alberta is issuing NOIs to applicants in Alberta only.
As of now, this stream is only open for candidates that are already living in Alberta.
Opportunity Stream
No
Yes
Apr 27: Approx. 2,050 candidates are queued for processing AINP applications and staff are assessing applications received before the time of Nov 6, 2020
Open
International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
No
No
Oct 27, 2020: This stream was launched as a brand new PNP stream.
Open
Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa
No
No
This stream was launched as a brand-new PNP stream on Jan 28, 2021.
