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 Alberta
- PNP
What is
the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program?
The Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program is an immigration program
that allows the Province of Alberta to choose a limited
number of immigrants to meet critical skill shortages
being experienced by Alberta employers. Where there is a
shortage of qualified workers in Alberta, the Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program may provide eligible Alberta
employers with certificates to fill critical skill
occupations.
Who is
eligible to apply to the Alberta Provincial Nominee
Program?
Employers can
apply to the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program to
recruit individuals who meet critical skill shortages.
Individuals that are recruited by a pre-approved
employer may be eligible for nomination as a skilled
worker under the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program.
Individuals
cannot apply directly to the program without a
guaranteed job offer from a pre-approved employer.
How is the
Alberta Provincial Nominee Program different than other
Provincial Nominee programs?
Each province
establishes its own criteria. Under the Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program, the pre-approved employer
recruits the skilled workers and nominates them to the
Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. A person who is
successfully nominated by the Alberta Provincial Nominee
Program can then apply for permanent resident visa
through Citizenship and Immigration Canada [CIC] under
the Provincial Nominee immigration category. This
process varies in other provinces.
I would
like to immigrate to Alberta/Canada but I do not have an
employer or a job offer, can I apply to the Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program?
No.
Individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada but do not
have a job offer from an approved Alberta employer may
contact
Citizenship and
Immigration Canada to apply for
immigration.
Please do not
send a completed Alberta Provincial Nominee Skilled
Worker/ Professional Application to the Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program Unit without a pre-approved
employer, as your application will not be processed.
I am an
independent class immigrant and would like to immigrate
to Canada; can I apply to the Alberta Provincial Nominee
Program in addition to, or rather than Citizenship and
Immigration Canada [CIC]?
The Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program requires that candidates have
a valid job offer from a pre-approved Alberta employer
and possess the skills, knowledge and other
qualifications required by the employer and approved by
the Government of Alberta.
I would
like to apply to the Provincial Nominee Program but I do
not have an employer or job offer. Can you assist me
with finding an employer?
The staff
with the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program cannot
provide you with a list of potential employers. Only
applicants with a pre-approved employer may submit an
application to the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program
for consideration. Industry associations may be able to
provide you with information regarding the industry and
some of the organization's operating businesses.
If a
skilled worker is nominated and approved for an Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program certificate, is a visa
automatically issued by Citizenship and Immigration
Canada?
All
individuals approved as Alberta Provincial Nominees, and
their accompanying dependents, are subject to the
standard Citizenship and Immigration Canada assessment
which includes, but is not limited to, Federal statutory
requirements for criminal, security and health checks.
An approval by the Alberta Nominee Program does not
ensure a visa.
Do I need
to meet all licensing/regulatory requirements before
applying to the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program?
Yes.
Applicants should be "employee-ready" when they apply.
This means they are fully qualified for the position and
have met all licensing/regulatory requirements. They
should provide proof with photocopies of necessary
permits or licenses.
Where can
I find out about foreign qualifications?
You can
contact professional associations in Canada for more
information on foreign qualifications and also the for
detailed requirements about specific occupations.
Can my
family members accompany me to Canada?
Yes. As an
approved Alberta Provincial Nominee Candidate, immediate
family members may immigrate with you - your spouse and
your dependent children. Just be sure immigration
processing fees are paid for all your dependents.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada [CIC] will process
the dependent's applications at the same time as yours,
also making sure they meet all mandatory Federal
immigration requirements such as criminal, security and
health checks. All immediate family members should be
included on your CIC application form (whether they
accompany you or not). All accompanying family members
18 and over must submit separate application forms.
Is there a
fee for submitting my application to the Alberta
Provincial Nominee Program?
No. The
Alberta Provincial Nominee Program is a no-fee service.
However, successful candidates will need to pay a
processing fee to Citizenship and Immigration Canada
when they apply for their immigrant visa(s) They will
also need to pay a "Right of Permanent Residence Fees"
in order to gain final permanent resident status.
How would
my application be assessed under the Alberta Provincial
Nominee Program? What factors are considered?
An applicant
must have a guaranteed job offer from an approved
Alberta employer in order to be considered by the
Alberta Provincial Nominee Program. If these
requirements are met, the Program Unit considers several
factors in the decision to nominate or decline an
applicant. Primarily, they focus on the applicant's
ability to fill critical skill shortages in Alberta. The
applicant's assessment factors include:
o
related work
experience
o
qualifications as required by the employer and industry
standards
o
applicant's
ability to settle in Alberta
Which
family members can accompany me to Canada?
Your spouse
and dependent children may accompany you. Dependent
children are defined as unmarried children who are 18 or
younger. The definition extends who are 18 or older and
who are not married and who have been continuously in
school.
How long
will it take for me to receive a Canadian Permanent
Resident Visa?
Processing
times vary. Delays in processing may be due to:
incomplete or unsigned application forms; missing
documents; insufficient postage; missing fees; unclear
photocopies; documents not accompanied by a certified
English translation; a medical condition which may
require additional tests; involvement in criminal
activity; family situations such as divorce; custody or
maintenance issues; or failure to notify the visa office
of a change of address. Your application will be
processed faster if these problems are avoided.
Cost of Living
When it comes
to cost of living, the province of Alberta has a lot to
brag about. Whether you're looking at the prices of
goods and services or utilities and housing, Alberta is
a great place to make your home. Alberta is unique as
the only province that does not have a provincial retail
sales tax.
Albertans
have the lowest personal taxes in Canada
·
Alberta's
personal tax advantage results from a low single rate
tax sysem, including the highest basic and spousal
exemptions in the country, no general sales tax, the
lowest gasoline tax rate among the provinces, and low
property taxes.
·
Alberta
businesses have among the lowest business taxes in
Canada
·
Alberta's
business tax advantage results from low corporate income
tax rates, no capital tax, no general sales tax, no
payroll tax, and the lowest gasoline tax among the
provinces.
Alberta is an
attractive place for businesses. Thanks to Alberta's
abundance of natural resources, like low sulfur coal and
natural gas, Alberta maintains competitive pricing and
services for the business community.
Thanks to
Alberta's balanced budget, achieved without raising
taxes, Alberta is the only province in Canada with no
net debt.
Qualifying
Occupations:
The PNP
considers skilled workers - in occupational levels O, A
or B as defined by the National Occupational
Classification Code (NOC) as corporate management,
professionals and trades with post-secondary education
and certification, deemed as critical to the Alberta
economy.
How it
works:
The Alberta
PNP is a two-step process. The first step is for an
employer to apply for an occupation (skill level 0, A or
B). If the employer and occupation are approved, the
employer nominates a candidate who must have the
relevant education, training and experience required for
the occupation.
How to
apply to the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program:
Step #1:
Employer Eligibility and Criteria:
Employers may
apply to the PNP to retain skilled workers already
working in Alberta under a federal Temporary Foreign
Worker Authorization.
Employers
unable to fill skilled occupations - in occupational
levels O, A or B as defined by the National Occupational
Classification Code (NOC) - with Canadian residents may
also present their application to the PNP and apply for
an allocation to recruit skilled foreign workers.
The
employer's application will be considered by the PNP if
the occupation:
·
cannot be
filled by a permanent resident
·
is for
permanent, full-time employment in Alberta
-
has a
positive Labour Market Opinion Capitalize (Human
Resources & Social Development Canada)
-
meets
provincial employment and wage standards
-
does not
conflict with existing collective bargaining
agreements, and is offered to an individual who has
the required qualifications and certifications
-
Employer
information and application forms:
Employer
Checklist:
Print these
instructions to refer to while you are completing
application forms ABPNP 001 and ABPNP 002:
Step #2:
Employee Nominnes – Cndidates Eligibility and Criteria:
Individuals
cannot apply directly to the Alberta PNP. Candidates
will only be considered if their employer has been
previously approved by the Alberta PNP, and:
-
are skilled
workers - in occupational levels O, A or B as defined
by the National Occupational Classification Code (NOC).
-
have been
offered a permanent, full-time occupation
-
relevant
qualifications, work experience, certification and
work permit
-
have met
the employer's probationary requirements
-
With the
employer's application and subsequent approval, the
successful employee candidates may then be nominated
by the Alberta PNP to Citizenship Immigration Canada (CIC)
for expedited permanent residency processing.
Nominated
employee candidates must then submit their application
to Citizenship Immigration Canada (CIC) and meet all
federal statutory immigration requirements.
DO NOT
submit the Skilled Worker/Professional application
unless you are working for an employer that has been
approved to nominate candidates (pre-approved employer)
and have been offered a permanent, full-time position.
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