Overview
The premise is simple. You are already working in Alberta on a valid permit, your employer wants to keep you, and the province nominates you for permanent residence in the job you are already doing.
Two things make it harder than that sounds. The occupation must be off a list of thirty four that Alberta refuses, and the competition is severe: roughly six and a half candidates in the pool for every nomination available this year.
Status is the requirement people fail on. Alberta requires a valid work permit. Maintained status, implied status and restoration do not qualify, even though they are lawful ways to be in Canada. Someone whose renewal is pending is not eligible while it is pending, and that timing question is worth resolving before anything is filed.
Eligibility
- Living and working in Alberta. At the time you apply and again when Alberta assesses it.
- A valid work permit. Based on a positive labour market impact assessment, a qualifying exemption such as an international trade agreement, intra company transfer, International Experience Canada or Mobilite Francophone, an open permit for vulnerable workers, a post graduation work permit from an Alberta publicly funded institution, or an open permit under a qualifying federal public policy.
- A job offer in your current occupation. Full time, from your Alberta employer, in the occupation you are already working in. Required both when you apply and when it is assessed.
- Work experience. Twelve months full time in that occupation in Alberta within the previous eighteen months, or twenty four months in that occupation in Canada or abroad within the previous thirty. Holders of a post graduation work permit need only six months in Alberta within eighteen.
- An eligible occupation. Off the list of thirty four Alberta excludes, at both stages. The list.
- Licensing. Whatever Alberta requires to work in the occupation. Compulsory trades need the provincial trade certificate. Early childhood educators need level 2 or level 3 certification, and level 1 is expressly not enough.
- Language. The minimum depends on the skill level of your occupation. Test results must be under two years old and Alberta uses a single test result rather than combining them.
- Education. High school at minimum, with an educational credential assessment where it was obtained abroad. Post graduation work permit holders need a credential from an Alberta approved institution.
- Settlement funds. Not required, because you are already working in the province.
Requirements checker
A structured way to see where you stand against the published criteria. It returns an indication only, not an eligibility decision, not legal advice, and not a prediction that you will be invited.
Your situation
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