The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for foreign nationals working in Alberta and international graduates who have completed their studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution.
Individuals interested in the AOS must meet the eligibility requirements for the following factors:
International students can benefit from the Alberta Opportunity Stream if they have completed their studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution and are employed in Alberta on a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
The AINP urges student applicants who demonstrate education and skills that are aligned with Alberta's labour market needs to make use of the AOS.
To apply, international students must:
It is important to note that international students who have studied in other Canadian provinces will not be eligible for the AINP as Post-Graduation Work Permit holders. They can, however, be considered for the program if they have a different type of work permit.
Applicants to the AOS must meet the following residency requirements both at the time their application is postmarked and at the time their application is assessed:
Applicants to the AOS must have a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 4 in either English or French for each language skill: listening, reading, writing and speaking in English or French.
However, individuals applying under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates) require a minimum of CLB 7 in English or French.
At the time of applying for the AOS, individuals must have completed at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent in their country of origin. The highest level of foreign education must be verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-recognized organization that confirms the education requirements are met.
ECAs are not required from applicants with a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution. ECAs are also not required from applicants with work experience that qualifies an individual for the AINP in a compulsory or optional trade and who have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or trade certificate that is recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
A Post-Graduation Work Permit holder applying for the AOS must meet the requirements for graduation for an Alberta Advanced Education approved credential issued by an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary institution in the province.
Note: As of July 10, 2018, the AINP says if an applicant who has been admitted to an Alberta Advanced Education approved post-secondary program before April 1, 2019, may be eligible to apply to this stream. However, if the applicant has been admitted to his or her Alberta post-secondary study program on or after April 1, 2019, the Alberta post-secondary study program must be on the Alberta Opportunity Stream List of Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials.
Note: 'Current occupation' refers to the occupation an individual is working in at the time of the application.
Individuals interested in submitting an application to the AOS must meet the following work experience conditions:
In order to meet the work experience requirements for the AOS, individuals must:
In addition to meeting the time frame requirements above, the work experience:
*Post-Graduation Work Permit holders who have work experience from paid co-op placements as part of study program at an Alberta post-secondary institution may use that experience as part of the work experience requirement. For these applicants, the work experience must meet the following conditions:
To apply for the AOS, an applicant must have a valid job offer from an Alberta employer to work in his or her current occupation. The applicant must be working full-time for the employer in Alberta. Also, the applicant must possess the required licensing, registration or certification to work in his or her current occupation in Alberta.
The job offer must:
Job offers for the following conditions are considered ineligible:
At the time of applying, individuals must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta that matches their previous work experience.
Post-Graduation Work Permit holders with an with an approved Alberta Advanced Education approved post-secondary credential issued by an Advanced Education approved Alberta public and private post-secondary institution need to be employed in an occupation related to their field of study in Alberta. Applicants who have completed an Alberta approved one year post-graduate certificate must be employed in an occupation related to their previous undergraduate or graduate field of study outside Canada.
Most occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AINP.
The AINP provides two ineligible occupations lists for applicants to the AOS. The first list applies to all applicants to the stream and the second list applies to all applicants to the AOS who are on a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
If an applicant is working in any of the following applications, he or she may be ineligible to apply for the AOS.
NOC | NOC Skill Level | Occupation Title |
---|---|---|
0011 | 0 | Legislators |
0422 | 0 | School Principals and Administrators of Elementary and Secondary Education |
0423 | 0 | Managers in Social, Community and Correctional Services |
0432 | 0 | Fire Chiefs and Senior Firefighting Officers |
0651 | 0 | Escort Agency Managers, Massage Parlour Managers |
4031 | A | Secondary School Teachers |
4032 | A | Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers |
4154 | A | Professional Occupations in Religion |
5121 | A | Authors and Writers |
5133 | A | Musicians and Singers |
5135 | A | Actors and Comedians |
5136 | A | Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists |
1227 | B | Court Officers and Justices of the Peace |
3223 | B | Dental Laboratory Bench Workers |
4214 | B | Early Childhood Educators and Assistants (only those without certification as a Child Development Worker (Level 2) or Child Development Supervisor (Level 3) through Alberta Children's Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office)* |
4216 | B | Other Instructors |
4217 | B | Other Religious Occupations |
5232 | B | Other Performers, n.e.c. |
5244 | B | Artisans and Craftspersons |
5251 | B | Athletes |
6232 | B | Real Estate Agents and Salespersons |
4411 | C | Home Child Care Providers |
4412 | C | Home Support Workers, Housekeepers and Related Occupations |
4413 | C | Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants |
6533 | C | Casino Occupations |
6564 | C | Other Personal Service Occupations |
7513 | C | Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs |
8442 | C | Trappers and Hunters |
6623 | C | Other Sales Related Occupations |
6722 | C | Operators and Attendants in Amusement, Recreation and Sport |
6742 | D | Other Service Support Occupations, n.e.c. |
8611 | D | Harvesting Labourers |
8612 | D | Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Labourers |
8613 | D | Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers |
8614 | D | Mine Labourers |
There are additional occupations that are considered ineligible for applicants on a Post-Graduation Work Permit. These occupations are not in demand in Alberta and can be filled by Albertans and Canadians. If the applicant's occupation is on the following list, he or she is not eligible to apply.
National Occupational Classification code | Ineligible occupations |
---|---|
0112 | Human resources managers |
0211 | Engineering managers |
1215 | Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations |
1225 | Purchasing agents and officers |
1523 | Production logistics coordinators |
2113 | Geoscientists and oceanographers |
2131 | Civil engineers |
2132 | Mechanical engineers |
2133 | Electrical and electronic engineers |
2212 | Geological and mineral technologists and technicians |
2231 | Civil engineering technologists and technicians |
2253 | Drafting technologists and technicians |
7202 | Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
7231 | Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors |
7237 | Welders and related machine operators |
7241 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
7242 | Industrial electricians |
7251 | Plumbers |
7271 | Carpenter |
7293 | Insulators |
7301 | Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades |
7302 | Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment |
7311 | Industrial mechanics |
7312 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
7322 | Motor vehicle body repairers |
7371 | Crane operators (except all-terrain crane operators) |
8222 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
8232 | Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers |
8412 | Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators |
8615 | Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers |
9232 | Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators |
NOTE: The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program removed the minimum income requirement for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, effective November 1, 2018. This change will be applied to all applications issued to the program since June 14, 2018.