PNP Contents

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers an economic immigration pathway for in demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs who can contribute economically to the province.

Individuals nominated by the BC PNP are eligible to apply to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence for themselves and their dependants.

For More Information
The BC PNP is only one way of applying for permanent resident status in Canada. See the IRCC website for further information of other immigration pathways.

For complete program requirements, please refer to;

• BC PNP Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC Program
  • Skilled Worker Category
  • International Graduate Category
  • Health Care Professional Category
  • International Post-Graduate Category
  • Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category
• BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Program
  • Entrepreneur Category
  • Strategic Projects Category

For more information about how to complete the online registration and application, please refer to the BC PNP Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC Technical Guide.

Information on the BC PNP website is for general information purposes only. Please refer to the BC PNP Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC Program Guide and the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide for complete program information and requirements. In the event of a discrepancy between the BC PNP website and the BC PNP program guides, the information in the program guides shall be considered correct. Please check our website regularly to ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of the applicable program guide.

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The AAIP is an economic immigration program operated by the Government of Alberta with the Government of Canada’s department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It supports Alberta's economic growth by attracting and retaining work-ready immigrants to the province.

Individuals nominated by the Government of Alberta, together with their spouse/common-law partner and dependent children, can apply for permanent residence through IRCC as a provincial nominee. IRCC makes final decisions on all permanent resident applications.

The AANP offers options for both skilled and semi-skilled workers. You may be able to apply on your own, or with your employer. Review the streams and categories below and choose the best option for you. Also review who is not eligible.

AINP nominations will not be issued for the purpose of obtaining temporary work permit extensions. See the FAQ section for more information.

Reminder:
You must maintain a valid work permit throughout the AAIP application and assessment process. Only applicants under the Strategic Recruitment Stream Engineering Occupations Category are exempt from this requirement. At the time of assessment, you must provide the AINP with a valid work permit or implied status based on either:

• a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or
• a LMIA exemption as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Some LMIA exemptions from IRCC are not eligible under AINP. The AINP will not consider the following exemptions:

• international students studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of their study program
• people doing charitable or religious work
• people who need to support themselves while they are in Canada, such as those waiting on a refugee claim

Program streams

Compulsory and optional trades category

These criteria apply to all supervisors, foremen and tradespeople working in a compulsory or optional trade (PDF) in Alberta.

The criteria for the Compulsory and Optional Trades Category include but are not limited to:

• You must intend to and be able to live and work permanently in Alberta.
• You must have
  • a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate in a compulsory or optional trade (PDF), or
  • a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Recognized Trade Certificate in a compulsory or optional trade (PDF)
    If you do not have an Alberta Qualification Certificate or an AIT Recognized Trade Certificate when you apply to the AINP, your application will be declined. The AINP will verify that your trade certificate is valid and qualifies.
• You must be residing in Alberta at the time of application and show that you have a valid work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to work in Alberta in the trade in which you are certified.
• You must show, at the time of application, that you are either currently working in your trade for an Alberta Employer or have previously worked in your trade with an Alberta Employer for a minimum of six months in the past two years.
• If you are working as a Parts Technician (see AIT definitions for this occupation here and here), you are working in a NOC C (semi-skilled) level occupation. You are required to meet language requirements for semi-skilled occupations. The minimum language scores you must meet are set out on the Semi-Skilled Worker Category criteria page. There are three accepted language tests you can choose from. Your test result cannot be more than two years old at the time you submit your AINP application.

If you meet these criteria, make sure you review the How to Apply section before you submit your application. If your application does not meet AINP criteria, it will be declined. If your application is not complete, it will be returned to you and it will not be processed.

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Engineering occupations criteria

 The criteria for the Engineering Occupations Category include but are not limited to:

• You must be currently residing in Alberta.
• You must intend to and be able to live permanently in Alberta.
• You must provide evidence of related education/training and experience as an engineer, designer or drafter.
• You must be currently working or have worked within the last two years in Alberta either directly or on contract for an Alberta Employer.
• Your occupation in Alberta must be on the AINP Strategic Recruitment Stream Engineering Occupations List.
• If you have engineering credentials and you are working in an occupation under NOC 0211, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2141, 2143, 2144, or 2145, you must provide a "Letter of No Objection" from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) or show that you are registered with APEGA as a foreign licensee.
• If you are working in an occupation under NOC 2231, 2232, 2241 or 2253 you do not require a "Letter of No Objection" from APEGA.

If you meet these criteria, make sure you review the How to Apply section before you submit your application. If your application does not meet AINP criteria, it will be declined. If your application is not complete, it will be returned to you and it will not be processed.

If you are an engineer but your NOC code is not on the Engineering Occupations List, you may qualify to submit an AINP application under the Skilled Worker category of the Employer-Driven Stream. Visit the Skilled Worker criteria to see if you qualify.

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Post-Graduate Worker criteria

Post-Graduate Worker Category criteria include but are not limited to:

As a Candidate, you must:

Clearly show in the application that you are able to and intend to live permanently in Alberta.
Be working full-time in Alberta, at the time of application, for an Alberta employer.
An Alberta employer is defined as, being incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
Please note, the AINP will not approve an application if there is a labour dispute in progress that may involve, directly or indirectly, either the employer or the candidate.
Have obtained a certificate, diploma, degree, or have completed a graduate level program from one of these AINP approved Alberta public and private post-secondary institutions.
The program of study in Alberta must have been at least one year (i.e. minimum of two semesters of full-time study, or equivalent) in duration.
Have a current and valid Post-Graduation Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Be working in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels:
NOC 0: Management occupations
NOC A: Occupations that usually require university education
NOC B: Occupations that usually require college education
NOC C: Occupations that usually require specific training and/or secondary education.
Some occupations are not eligible for consideration under the AINP. Please review the list of ineligible occupations (list updated June 20, 2014). If your occupation is on this list, you are not eligible to apply to the AINP under this category.
If working in a NOC C occupation, you must submit official test results showing that you meet the minimum language standards, and your test results cannot be more than two years old at the time of application to the AINP. The only official test results that the AINP will accept are listed below, along with the minimum language standards. If you do not have test results or your test results are more than two years old, go to the Language Test Centre section of the AINP website for up-to-date information on testing availability:
A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or before March 31, 2014, with minimum scores of
Listening: 2H
Reading: 2H
Writing: 2H
Speaking: 2H
A Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test taken on or after April 1, 2014, with minimum scores of
Listening: 4
Reading: 4
Writing: 4
Speaking: 4
An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test with minimum scores of
Listening: 4.5
Reading: 3.5
Writing: 4
Speaking: 4
A Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) with minimum scores of:
Listening: 145
Reading: 121
Writing: 181
Speaking: 181
Supervisors, foremen and tradespeople working in a Compulsory or Optional Trade in Alberta (including Chefs, Cooks and Line Cooks) must apply under the Strategic Recruitment Stream Compulsory and Optional Trades Category.

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Skilled Worker Category

Alberta Employer criteria

As an Alberta Employer, you must:

• Be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
• Provide a job offer to the Candidate for permanent, full-time employment in a skilled occupation. A skilled occupation is an occupation that falls under one of the following skills levels under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system:
  • NOC 0: Includes management occupations that usually require a university degree (bachelor's, master's or doctorate) or a professional designation.
  • NOC A: Includes occupations that usually require university education.
  • NOC B: Includes occupations that usually require college education.
• Provide a job offer to the Candidate that:
  • meets Alberta's employment and wage standards
  • does not conflict with existing collective bargaining agreements. The AINP will not approve an application if there is a labour dispute in progress that may involve, directly or indirectly, either the employer or the candidate.
• Provide proof of your authorization to hire a foreign worker by showing either the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or evidence of the LMIA exemption.
  • If there is an LMIA in place for the Candidate, you must show that you are following all the conditions of the LMIA (including salary).
  • If the Candidate is exempt from an LMIA, you must show you are offering wages and benefits to the Candidate that meet industry standards. Visit the ALIS website for wage and benefit standards in Alberta by occupation.
• Clearly show the need for the position and that you have made a significant effort to hire a Canadian or permanent resident of Canada for the position only if the Candidate is not currently working in Alberta (is abroad).
  
  • The Employer-Driven Stream is not intended to be used as a substitute for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
• Meet additional criteria if the Candidate's occupation is in:
  
  • Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Staff

Candidate criteria

As a Candidate, you must:

• Clearly show in the application that you are able to and intend to live permanently in Alberta.
• Have related education, training, previous work experience, and any Alberta licensing needed for the position and to meet AINP criteria.
• Provide a copy of your valid work permit if you are already working in Alberta.
• Provide proof of your legal status in your country of residence only if you are not currently working in Alberta (you are living abroad).
• Meet additional criteria if your occupation is in Early childhood educators and child care staff

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Additional criteria - Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Staff

As an Alberta Employer of an Early Childhood Educator, you must also:

• Be accredited, or have applied for accreditation, with the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services and be approved for funding under the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program

As an Early Childhood Educator Candidate, you must also:

• Hold a work permit under the NOC code 4214 and be residing in Alberta
• Have completed a minimum of high school education
• Be certified as a Child Development Worker (Level 2) or Child Development Supervisor (Level 3) through Alberta Human Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office.
• Be employed in Alberta for a minimum of six (6) months with a pre/accredited daycare program or family day home agency before applying to the AINP

Preference will be given to Candidates who have completed a first aid course.

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.