Alberta Opportunity Stream

The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is for temporary foreign workers who are already working full-time in Alberta and have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Candidates must have a positiveLabour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or hold one of the accepted LMIA exemption work permits. Candidates must also meet other minimum eligibility criteria for residency and work permit type, occupation, language, education, Alberta job offer and work experience.

Residency, work permit requirements

At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program(AAIP) assesses your application, you must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada, that is, a temporary foreign worker permit.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants

At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must have a valid work permit – not status maintained during processing (formerly implied status) or restoration status.

Valid work permits are based on one of the following:

• A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• A LMIA exemption for workers based on one of the following exemptions as determine by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
  • International trade agreements
  • Workers transferred within a company
  • International Experience Canada
  • Mobilité Francophone
  • An open work permit issued by IRCC to vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
• A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
• An open work permit issued under IRCC’s open work permit public policy for former or current PGWP holders held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution

Work Experience

At the time the application is postmarked and at the time AAIP assesses the application, the applicant must be working in an occupation in Alberta which matches their previous work experience. PGWP holders must also be working in an occupation which matches their Alberta educational credential. The applicant must meet one of the three following scenarios for work experience

• A minimum of 12-months full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months; or
• A minimum of 24-months full-time work experience in their current occupation in the last 30 months (can be obtained in Canada and/or abroad); or
• For Post-Graduation Work Permit holders: A minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months. This occupation must be related to their Alberta education.

Ineligible applicants

The following individuals cannot apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS):

• Refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process – the AAIP does not intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process
• Temporary residents living or working in a province or territory of Canada other than Alberta
• Foreign nationals living or working in Canada who do not have valid temporary resident status

Occupation requirements

At the time your application is submitted, and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta. Occupation requirements also apply to your work experience and job offer.

The occupation you are working in at the time your application is submitted is your ‘current occupation'.

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

Individuals working in the following occupations at the time of submission and assessment are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the AOS.