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AAIP - Alberta PNP - Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
One of the PNP streams of Alberta that requires a job offer as an eligibility requirement.
Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) > AAIP - Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
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The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is one of Alberta's PNP streams that requires the candidate to hold a job offer from an employer in Alberta to be eligible.
When receiving a nomination under the AOS, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The AOS does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates do not need to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
The AOS does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates do not need to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
Eligibility Requirements
There are 5 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You can apply to the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) if you, your employer, and your job offer satisfy to all the requirements below. Again, there is no settlement funds required for this stream.
1. Language requirements:
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 4 or 5 either in French or in English.
If you are working in an NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 ou 3 occupation, the minimum requirement is CLB5 for each language skill.
The language requirement for NOC TEER Category 4 or 5 occupations is CLB4 for each language skill.
If you apply under NOC code 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), the minimum required language test score is CLB7 (instead of CLB4) for each language skill.
2. Education requirements:
If you are not a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holder, you only need to have completed a minimum of high school education in your country of origin. Beginning January 1, 2021, you will need to have completed a minimum of high school equivalent to Alberta standards. You must provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your highest level of education, unless (i) you have a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution, or (ii) you have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).
If you have a PGWP, there are additional criteria:
3. Work experience requirements:
Your “current occupation” is the occupation you are working in at the time you apply to the AOS. Your current occupation must also match your work experience at the time you apply and the AAIP assesses your application.
At the time your application is received by the AAIP, you need:
To be considered valid, the work experience:
You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta. For example:
4. Job offer requirements:
To apply for the AOS, you must have a valid job offer from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation. You must be working full-time for the employer in Alberta.
To be eligible to the AOS, the job offer must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer the following conditions :
The following job offer conditions and individuals are not eligible to the AOS:
5. Occupation requirements:
Most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) (TEER Category 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) are eligible under the AOS. There are however a list of ineligible occupations. Below is the list of ineligible occupations that apply to all AOS candidates:
1. Language requirements:
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 4 or 5 either in French or in English.
If you are working in an NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 ou 3 occupation, the minimum requirement is CLB5 for each language skill.
The language requirement for NOC TEER Category 4 or 5 occupations is CLB4 for each language skill.
If you apply under NOC code 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), the minimum required language test score is CLB7 (instead of CLB4) for each language skill.
2. Education requirements:
If you are not a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holder, you only need to have completed a minimum of high school education in your country of origin. Beginning January 1, 2021, you will need to have completed a minimum of high school equivalent to Alberta standards. You must provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your highest level of education, unless (i) you have a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution, or (ii) you have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).
If you have a PGWP, there are additional criteria:
- Your current occupation must be related to your field of study in Alberta.
- If you are admitted and enrolled in your Alberta credential program:
- before April 1, 2019, your credential must be issued by an Alberta Advanced Education approved publicly funded post-secondary institution and must be one of the following Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials:
- certificate or post-diploma certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate (minimum 1 year in length)
- diploma program (minimum 2 years in length)
- undergraduate bachelor's degree
- graduate level degree
- graduate level certificate
- graduate level diploma
- on or after April 1, 2019, your credential must be Alberta Advanced Education approved publicly funded post-secondary institution and must be one of the following Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials:
- post-diploma certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate (minimum 1 year in length)
- diploma program (minimum 2 years in length)
- undergraduate bachelor's degree
- graduate level degree
- graduate level certificate
- graduate level diploma
- before April 1, 2019, your credential must be issued by an Alberta Advanced Education approved publicly funded post-secondary institution and must be one of the following Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials:
3. Work experience requirements:
Your “current occupation” is the occupation you are working in at the time you apply to the AOS. Your current occupation must also match your work experience at the time you apply and the AAIP assesses your application.
At the time your application is received by the AAIP, you need:
- a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months,
- a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada and/or abroad within the last 30 months (this work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) and/or abroad), or
- a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, if you hold a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP).
To be considered valid, the work experience:
- must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours a week,
- must be for the same occupation as your current occupation,
- must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada, and
- cannot have been gained while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program. The exception to this rule is for PGWP holders: work experience completed during paid co-op work terms that were part of a program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution can be used as long as the work experience was full-time (minimum 30 hours per week), was directly related to your current occupation, and was all gained in Alberta.
You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta. For example:
- If you are working in a compulsory trade in Alberta you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate.
- If you are working as childcare worker, you must have valid certification as a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker) or Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor).
4. Job offer requirements:
To apply for the AOS, you must have a valid job offer from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation. You must be working full-time for the employer in Alberta.
To be eligible to the AOS, the job offer must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer the following conditions :
- Continuous, paid work.
- Full-time work (minimum of 30 hours/week).
- Employment for at least 12 months.
- Work in your current occupation.
- Wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:
- meet or exceed the requirements set out in your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or
- if you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta.
- There are exceptions for NOC 41302 (Religious leaders) and NOC 42204 (Religion workers):
- If your job offer is LMIA exempt, your wages and benefits must meet or exceed minimum wage.
- Meal and lodging deductions that meet Employment Standards are permitted. Proof of employee authorization of deductions is required.
- Work for an eligible AAIP occupation for which you have a work permit that meets AAIP work permit requirements.
The following job offer conditions and individuals are not eligible to the AOS:
- Part-time, casual or seasonal employment, regardless of working hours.
- Independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as Directors, Shareholders or Agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES).
- Employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business.
- Employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a “virtual” location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta.
5. Occupation requirements:
Most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) (TEER Category 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) are eligible under the AOS. There are however a list of ineligible occupations. Below is the list of ineligible occupations that apply to all AOS candidates:
- NOC 00010 - Legislators
- NOC 40021 - School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education
- NOC 40030 - Managers in social, community and correctional services
- NOC 40041 - Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers
- NOC 60040* - Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers
- NOC 41100 - Judges
- NOC 41220 - Secondary school teachers
- NOC 41221 - Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- NOC 51111 - Authors and writers (except technical)
- NOC 51122 - Musicians and singers
- NOC 42200* - Justices of the peace
- NOC 42202* - Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children's Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant)
- NOC 43100 - Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- NOC 43109 - Other instructors
- NOC 53121 - Actors, comedians and circus performers
- NOC 53122 - Painters, sculptors and other visual artists
- NOC 53124 - Artisans and craftspersons
- NOC 53200 - Athletes
- NOC 63101 - Real estate agents and salespersons
- NOC 33100* - Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers
- NOC 44100 - Home child care providers
- NOC 44101 - Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
- NOC 64321 - Casino occupations
- NOC 55109 - Other performers
- NOC 65109 - Other sales related occupations
- NOC 65211 - Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport
- NOC 65229 - Other support occupations in personal services
- NOC 65329 - Other service support occupations
- NOC 75200 - Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
- NOC 85101 - Harvesting labourers
- NOC 85102 - Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
- NOC 85104 - Trappers and hunters
- NOC 85110 - Mine labourers
- NOC 85121 - Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
Application Process Summary
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). Candidates must:
- Apply to the AOS stream when the stream is open in the AAIP portal by completing the online application uploading all requested documents.
- Apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC) within 6 months of receiving the nomination (after AAIP processes their application). Candidates need to apply on paper to IRCC, and include the nomination documentation received from the AAIP.
Required Supporting Documents
All required documents must be uploaded through the AAIP portal . Specific requirements for documents are explained in detail here.
Application Fees
The fee for the Alberta Opportunity Stream is set at 500 CAD. It can only be paid by a credit or debit card. Application fees are non-refundable.
Processing Times
As of March 14, 2023, there are approximately 1,490 applications still pending in the queue. Applications received before December 20, 2022 are actually being processed.
Processing times could be longer depending on multiple factors such as the application quality (completeness, eligibility, outdated application information/documents), volume of applications received, etc.
Processing times could be longer depending on multiple factors such as the application quality (completeness, eligibility, outdated application information/documents), volume of applications received, etc.
Stream Opening History
The Alberta Opportunity Stream is usually always open. You can check out our awesome Live PNP Monitor to see if the stream is currently open and its latest news, as well as for all the other PNP streams.
Do I have to stay in the Province?
This is a tricky question and there are multiple situations that can happen. You can learn more about this subject on our dedicated article: Can I move to another province?
Does the Stream have In-Demand Jobs?
Some streams target specific NOC codes, meaning that if you have experience in those in-demand jobs, you either (i) have more chances to be invited or (ii) that you can be eligible to the stream. In the case of the Alberta Opportunity Stream, there is no in-demand list. Instead, a job offer is needed to be eligible to the stream and there is an ineligibility list of NOC codes that will not be processed by the AAIP.
You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
