Express Entry stream

The Express Entry stream of Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is aligned to the federal Express Entry. To be eligible under this program, a candidate must have TEER 3 level work experience, which is equal to Skill Level B.

It is not possible for a candidate to apply directly to Alberta Express Entry stream. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program selects eligible candidates from the federal Express Entry pool of Canada and issues them Notifications of Interest to apply for provincial nomination from Alberta. But for this, the candidate must have expressed their interest in settling in Alberta in their Express Entry profile. Once a candidate receives a Notification of Interest in an Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s Express Entry stream draw, they may apply for provincial nomination from Alberta. If they receive a provincial nomination, they will have 600 additional CRS score points added to their total CRS score, which will guarantee them an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

Alberta has set aside 50% of the total provincial nomination allocations for 2023, around 4875, for the Express Entry stream.

Express Entry stream draw selection

Alberta Advantage Immigration Stream selects candidates from the Express Entry pool based on various factors such as the volume of candidates, the occupations of the candidates and the number of applications pending to be processed. Alberta gives high priority to those candidates who have close family connections to the province and also those who have work experience in an occupation that is high on demand in the province. These include occupations in healthcare, technology, agriculture, construction, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Eligibility requirements for Express Entry stream

• An active Express Entry profile
• Meet eligibility requirements under any of the three federal economic immigration programs, which are:
  1. Canadian Experience Class
  2. Federal Skilled Trades Program
  3. Federal Skilled Worker Program
• The primary occupation you have mentioned in your Express Entry profile must be an occupation in demand in the province of Alberta.
• You have mentioned your interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta in your Express Entry profile
• Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System(CRS) score of 300
• Your primary occupation is not included in the list of Ineligible Occupations for Alberta Opportunity Stream
• You do not have an active nomination under any other AAIP stream

Factors that increase your chances of selection

• A job offer from an Alberta employer
• Being a graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution
• Have a close relative such as parent, child or sibling living in Alberta as a permanent resident or Canadian citizen
• Your first language is French
• Your Express Entry profile is valid for more than 5 months

Factors that may decrease your chances of selection

• Your Express Entry profile is about to expire soon, in three months or less
• Your work experience is in an occupation featured in the list of ineligible occupations
• Your work experience is in an occupation that has a high volume of submissions across all AAIP streams.

Occupation-based pathways under Alberta Express Entry stream

Alberta has dedicated pathways for healthcare and tech workers under the Alberta Express Entry stream. They are:

Dedicated Healthcare Pathway

In order to be eligible under the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, a candidate must have obtained recognition of their ability to practise their profession in Alberta from the organisation designated for the same. Following is the list of eligible occupations and organizations which are responsible to certify that a candidate has the ability to practice their profession in Alberta.

Accelerated Tech Pathway

Accelerated Tech Pathway targets foreign workers who are currently working in Alberta in a job under tech industry or has a job offer from an Alberta employer from tech industry.

Eligible Occupations under Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

Eligibility requirements for Accelerated Tech Pathway:

• An active Express Entry profile and a minimum CRS score of 300.
• A full-time job or job offer with an Alberta employer in the technology sector.
• Having updated information about your tech job or job offer in your Express Entry profile.
• The application process for Alberta Express Entry stream.

One major pre-requisite for Alberta Express Entry stream is obviously that you should have created an Express Entry profile. In the profile, you must also have indicated your interest to settle in the province of Alberta. If you are selected by the Alberta you may submit your application for provincial nomination online along with necessary documents and pay the application fee. Now your application will go to a pool of Alberta Express Entry stream applications to be assessed. You may also update your information on the profile while it is processed. If you receive a provincial nomination, you will be informed about the same by email.

Do you wish to know more about moving to Canada and check if your occupation makes you eligible to apply under the Alberta Express Entry stream? Talk to the Canada immigration experts of CanApprove. Contact us now!