AAIP Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)

The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is a route to Canadian permanent residence for foreign nationals working in the province of Alberta and international students who have completed their studies at an approved post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta.

Institutions eligible for the AOS

If the AOS candidate is an international student, they may benefit from the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) if they have completed their studies at anapproved post-secondary institution in the province of Albertaand if they are working in Alberta on aPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) encourages student candidates whose education and skills match the labour market needs of the province of Alberta to make use of the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS).

To apply to the AOS, candidates must:

• Demonstrate at least 6 months of work experience in the province of Alberta in an occupation relating to their field of study (a lower requirement than for other candidates).
• Meet the same minimum language and income requirements listed on this page.

It is important to note that if the candidate studied in another Canadian province, an AOS candidate is not eligible for the AAIP as a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder. The candidate may, however, be considered for the programme if they hold another type of work permit.

Residency status and work permit requirements

AOS candidates must meet the following residency requirements both at the time their application is postmarked and at the time it is assessed:

• Hold valid temporary resident status in Canada permitting eligible work in Canada (that is, as a temporary foreign worker). Residency statuses treated as ineligible under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) include:
  • Asylum claimants, or individuals engaged in a federal appeal or removal process;
  • Temporary residents residing or working in other Canadian provinces; or
  • Foreign nationals residing or working in Canada without valid temporary resident status.
• Hold a valid work permit (not maintained or restored status) for an eligible occupation based on:
  • An activeLabour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
  • An LMIA exemption for workers protected under international trade agreements,Intra-Company Transfers (ICT), or participants inInternational Experience Canada (IEC)at the discretion ofImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • An LMIA exemption as a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder. Candidates must:
    • Have met the graduation requirements for a credential approved byAlberta Advanced Educationissued by anAlberta Advanced Education-approved public or private post-secondary institution.
    • Currently be working in an occupation relating to their field of study in the province of Alberta.
    • Note: if the AOS candidate was admitted to and enrolled on an Alberta-approved post-secondary credential programme on or after 1 April 2019, their current occupation must also relate to their previous undergraduate or postgraduate field of study outside Canada.

Language requirements

AOS candidates must have aCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)) score of at least 4 in either English or French for each language skill: listening, reading, writing and speaking in English or French.

If the candidate is applying underNational Occupational Classification (NOC)code 3413 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), however, they need a minimum CLB of 7 in English or French.

If an AOS candidate is applying under occupations at NOC skill levels 0, A and B, they will need a minimum CLB of 5 for each language skill.

Education requirements

At the time of applying to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), candidates must have completed at least a Canadian secondary school qualification or its equivalent in their country of origin. The highest level of foreign education must be verified through anEducational Credential Assessment (ECA)from an IRCC-recognised organisation confirming that the education requirements have been met.

An ECA is not required where the candidate holds a Canadian degree, certificate or diploma from a recognised Canadian post-secondary institution, technical school or secondary school. An ECA is also unnecessary where the AOS candidate has AAIP-eligible work experience in a compulsory or optional trade and holds a valid Alberta certificate or a trade certificate recognised by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

If the candidate holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and is applying to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), they must have met the graduation requirements for a credential approved by Alberta Advanced Education and issued by an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary institution in the province.

Note: as at 10 July 2018, the AAIP states that a candidate admitted to an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary programme before 1 April 2019 may be eligible to apply to this stream.

If the candidate was admitted to an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary programme before 1 April 2019, they may be eligible to apply to this stream.

AOS candidates are required to have completed at least a secondary school qualification to be considered for this stream, unless they hold a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Work experience requirements

Please note:The current occupation refers to the occupation an individual is working in at the time of application.

Candidates must meet the following work experience conditions if they are interested in applying to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS):

• The candidate must currently be working in the occupation listed as their ‘current occupation’ when applying to the AAIP.
• The candidate must be working in an occupation consistent with their work experience both at the time of application and at the time the AAIP processes the application.

To meet the work experience requirement for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), candidates must:

• Have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in the province of Alberta within the past 18 months; or
• Have a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Canada or outside Canada within the past 30 months.
  • This work experience may be a combination of experience gained in the province of Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) or outside Canada.

If the AOS candidate holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP):

• They must have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in the province of Alberta within the past 18 months.
• They must currently be working in an occupation relating to their field of study in the province of Alberta, based on an approved Alberta educational credential from an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary institution. In addition, where the candidate has completed a one-year postgraduate certificate approved by Alberta Advanced Education, the occupation must also relate to their previous undergraduate or postgraduate field of study outside Canada.

In addition to meeting the duration requirements above, work experience under the AOS must:

• Be full-time work of at least 30 hours a week (part-time work is not considered);
• Be in the same occupation as the ‘current occupation’ listed in the application;
• Have been authorised by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and held with valid temporary resident status where completed in Alberta or Canada;
• Not have been completed while studying in Canada and working under a work placement or internship forming part of the programme of study.

If the candidate holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and has work experience from paid work placements forming part of a programme of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution, they may use that experience as part of the work experience requirement. Work experience under the AOS must meet the following conditions:

• The paid work placement must have been full time (at least 30 hours a week).
• The work experience must relate directly to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder’s ‘current occupation’.
• The work experience must have been gained in the province of Alberta.

Job offer requirements

To apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), candidates must hold a valid job offer from an Alberta employer to work in their current occupation. Candidates must work full time for the employer in the province of Alberta. Candidates must also hold the licence, registration or certification required to work in their current occupation in the province of Alberta.

The job offer must:

• Be for continuous, paid, full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours a week for 12 months or more, in an AAIP-eligible occupation.
• Be signed by the candidate and the Alberta employer.
• Provide employment for 12 months or more.
• Provide work in the candidate’s current occupation.
• Provide work in an AAIP-eligible occupation for which the candidate holds a work permit meeting the AAIP work permit requirement.

The following job offers are treated as ineligible:

• Part-time employees, whatever their hours of work.
• Independent contractors, business owners or workers from temporary agencies, including individuals listed as a Director, Shareholder or Agent of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES).
• Employees working in the province of Alberta at a location not zoned for commercial or industrial activity, such as a home-based business.
• Employees not working at premises in the province of Alberta, such as those working in a “virtual position” or serving the employer remotely from a location outside the province of Alberta.

Occupation requirements

At the time of applying to the AOS, candidates must be working in an eligible occupation in the province of Alberta consistent with their previous work experience.

If the candidate holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) with apost-secondary credential approved by Alberta Advanced Educationissued by an

Alberta Advanced Education-approved public or private post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta, the candidate needs to be working in an occupation relating to their field of study in the province of Alberta.

If the candidate has completed aone-year postgraduate certificate approved by the province of Alberta, they must be working in an occupation relating to their previous undergraduate or postgraduate field of study outside Canada.

Most occupations at National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AAIP.

List of occupations ineligible for the AOS

The AAIP publishes 2 lists of occupations ineligible for candidates applying to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). The first applies to all candidates to the stream, and the second to all Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) candidates holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

If the candidate is working in any of the following, they may not be eligible to apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS).

NOC code	NOC skill level	Occupation title
0011	0	Legislators
0422	0	Primary and secondary school principals and administrators of education
0423	0	Managers in social, community and correctional services
0432	0	Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers
0651	0	Managers of escort agencies and massage parlours
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 the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office)
4216	B	Other instructors
4217	B	Other religious occupations
5232	B	Other performers
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	Hunters and trappers
6623	C	Other sales related occupations
6722	C	Attendants in recreation, sport and fitness
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 treated as ineligible for candidates holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). These occupations are not in demand in the province of Alberta and can be filled by Albertans and Canadians. If the candidate’s occupation appears on theGovernment of Canada high-wage and low-wage occupations list for the province of Alberta, the candidate is not eligible to apply.