Canada · Work
Canada Alberta Opportunity stream
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program: Alberta Opportunity Stream
Checked against official sources on Record corrected 11 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Alberta Opportunity stream is a work route for Canada. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- CAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110 · +2 more
- Processing
- 180 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: 180 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesCAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110 · +2 more
- CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110)IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110).
- CAD 135 (≈ $95)Worker Expression of Interest fee, payable within 24 hours of submitting the WEOI (from 7 April 2026); the WEOI stays in the pool for 12 months.
- CAD 270 (≈ $190)IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application.
CitizenshipAfter 3 years as a permanent resident
Needs 1,095 days physically in Canada in the 5 years before applying, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Each day as a temporary resident before permanent residence counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.
Processing180 days
After nomination the federal service standard is 180 days for Express Entry-linked applications and 11 months for other (paper) provincial nominee applications.
Presence rulesAt least 730 days
A permanent resident must be physically in Canada at least 730 days in any 5-year period to keep the status.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Canada
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Canada
What you'll need
Who can apply8
- The applicant lives and works in Alberta and holds a valid work permit that is not on maintained or restored status.
- The permit is based on a positive LMIA or an accepted LMIA-exempt or open work permit; PGWP holders must be graduates of an Alberta publicly funded institution.
- The applicant works in an eligible occupation and has a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in that occupation.
- Experience: 12 months full-time in the occupation in Alberta within 18 months, or 24 months in Canada or abroad within 30 months; PGWP holders need 6 months in Alberta.
- Language: CLB 5 in each skill for TEER 0 to 3 occupations and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5 occupations, from a single test result.
- Alberta publishes a list of ineligible occupations, such as real estate agents and salespersons; people working in them cannot apply.
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102) need CLB 7 in each English skill or NCLC 7 in each French skill.
- Part-time, casual or seasonal employees, independent contractors, business owners, temporary agency workers, people working from a home-based business and people who do not work on premises in Alberta are not eligible.
What you must show1
- IRCC charges CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for permanent residence for the principal applicant, CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for a spouse or partner and CAD 270 (≈ $190) per child.
Steps2
- Apply on your own through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program portal; employers cannot charge fees for a job offer.
- Submit a Worker Expression of Interest and pay the CAD 135 (≈ $95) fee; AAIP scores it on a 100-point grid and invites candidates by email.
After you arrive1
- After nomination, apply to IRCC for permanent residence or extend the work permit.
What happens at day 183
How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a calendar yearDay count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it.
- At least 183 days in a tax yearA person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a))
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents
All tax rules for Canada Tax records checked
Full official text
Alberta nominee stream for temporary foreign workers already working full-time in Alberta in an eligible occupation, with a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) · IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). 4
- A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190) · IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application. 4
- A fee of CAD 135 (≈ $95) · Worker Expression of Interest fee, payable within 24 hours of submitting the WEOI (from 7 April 2026); the WEOI stays in the pool for 12 months. 5
Requirements
- The applicant lives and works in Alberta and holds a valid work permit that is not on maintained or restored status. 3
- The permit is based on a positive LMIA or an accepted LMIA-exempt or open work permit; PGWP holders must be graduates of an Alberta publicly funded institution. 1 3
- The applicant works in an eligible occupation and has a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in that occupation. 3
- Experience: 12 months full-time in the occupation in Alberta within 18 months, or 24 months in Canada or abroad within 30 months; PGWP holders need 6 months in Alberta. 3
- Language: CLB 5 in each skill for TEER 0 to 3 occupations and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5 occupations, from a single test result. 3
- Alberta publishes a list of ineligible occupations, such as real estate agents and salespersons; people working in them cannot apply. 3
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102) need CLB 7 in each English skill or NCLC 7 in each French skill. 3
- Part-time, casual or seasonal employees, independent contractors, business owners, temporary agency workers, people working from a home-based business and people who do not work on premises in Alberta are not eligible. 3
- IRCC charges CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for permanent residence for the principal applicant, CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for a spouse or partner and CAD 270 (≈ $190) per child. 4
- Apply on your own through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program portal; employers cannot charge fees for a job offer. 1
- After nomination, apply to IRCC for permanent residence or extend the work permit. 1
- Submit a Worker Expression of Interest and pay the CAD 135 (≈ $95) fee; AAIP scores it on a 100-point grid and invites candidates by email. 5 6
Stay
- Permanent residence on nomination approval and federal processing.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Continue working in Alberta; permanent residence once granted.
Family
Spouse and dependent children can be included.
Official sources
- Alberta Opportunity Stream · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program streams · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- Alberta Opportunity Stream: eligibility · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-12
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How to apply to AAIP worker streams (Worker Expression of Interest) · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- AAIP Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) points grid · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-09-28
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Alberta Opportunity stream and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity stream | – | – | – |
| Atlantic Immigration | – | – | Limited |
| BC PNP Skills Immigration | Needs income from CAD 26k a year ≈ $18k | – | – |
| Employer work permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Express Entry · Trades | Needs savings from CAD 15k ≈ $11k | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Alberta Opportunity stream?
A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190). IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application. A fee of CAD 135 (≈ $95). Worker Expression of Interest fee, payable within 24 hours of submitting the WEOI (from 7 April 2026); the WEOI stays in the pool for 12 months.
How long can I stay on the Alberta Opportunity stream?
Permanent residence on nomination approval and federal processing.
How long does the Alberta Opportunity stream take to process?
After nomination the federal service standard is 180 days for Express Entry-linked applications and 11 months for other (paper) provincial nominee applications.
Can I work on the Alberta Opportunity stream?
Continue working in Alberta; permanent residence once granted.
Can I bring my family on the Alberta Opportunity stream?
Spouse and dependent children can be included.
More in Canada
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 9 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Alberta Opportunity Stream · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program streams · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- Alberta Opportunity Stream: eligibility · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-12
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How to apply to AAIP worker streams (Worker Expression of Interest) · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- AAIP Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) points grid · Government of Alberta · checked 2026-10-10
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.