Managed under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is designed to help foreign workers in the Express Entry pool who have a job offer from a tech company in Alberta – get nominated faster.
Alberta invites candidates depending on the selection factors or pathway design. In 2023, the AAIP will send Express Entry Notification of Interest (NOI) letters based on the following priorities:
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Family Connection and Primary Occupation In Demand In Alberta – 1,220 allocations
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Dedicated Healthcare Pathway – 75 allocations
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Accelerated Tech Pathway – 1,750 allocations
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Priority Sectors – Agriculture, Construction, Tourism, and Hospitality – 805 allocations
Alberta Express Entry total allocations in 2023 – 3,900
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway Eligibility
You are eligible to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter under the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway if:
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You have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
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You meet the eligibility criteria of at least one Express Entry-managed stream: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
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Your primary occupation is mentioned on the Canada Occupation in Demand List.
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You have a minimum CRS score of 300.
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You intend to work and live in Alberta.
In addition to the Alberta Express Entry Stream requirements mentioned above, you also need to meet the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway invitation to apply criteria. You may be invited to submit an application if:
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You meet the Alberta Express Entry Stream set above.
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You have a valid job offer from an employer in Alberta (full-time 30 hours/week). The primary business activities must belong to the Alberta Tech industry.
The primary occupation in your Express Entry profile must be the same occupation as your job offer in Alberta.
The job offer should be signed by you and your Alberta employer and include details about your job. It must be full-time, ongoing, and at least 12 months long. The salary must be at or above the provincial minimum wage and any requirements set out in an LMIA if applicable. If you don’t have an LMIA, your wage must be at or above the starting wage for your job in Alberta.
Selection Draws
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets the limit for nominations AAIP can issue each year. For 2023, AAIP will be able to issue 9,750 nominations in 2023. These numbers are expected to cross 10,000 nomination allocations in both 2024 and 2025.
Alberta frequently searches IRCC’s Express Entry pool to find candidates that meet the criteria of one of AAIP’s streams. The size & frequency of the Alberta Express Entry draws are determined by the AAIP’s application backlog at that time. AAIP draws are usually held on a weekly basis – with some exceptions.
If you receive a NOI from Alberta, you must send a copy of the letter, along with additional information to the AAIP by email within 2 weeks.
Accuracy Of Information
When the AAIP selects candidates, it expects that the information contained in the application package is accurate. The documents identified throughout the process must also be submitted accurately.
The documents and information provided in the AAIP application and the federal Express Entry portal must be the same. If there are discrepancies between the information in the federal portal and the information the AAIP receives, your submission may be declined.