Employer Frequently Asked Questions
About the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
What is the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)?
Who is eligible to apply to the AINP?
What is the step-by-step process of the AINP?
Employer's business case
Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the AINP
What is the difference between the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the AINP?
Which government department administers the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
Status of AINP applications
How much time does it take the AINP to process applications?
Fees
Other
About the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
What is the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)?
The AINP is an immigration program operated by the Government of Alberta with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The program helps candidates gain permanent residence and helps employers gain needed workers.
Who is eligible to apply to the AINP?
Alberta companies that are eligible to apply to the AINP are defined as:
Incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada, operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant, or place of business in Alberta.
What is the step-by-step process of the AINP?
- Steps for Skilled Workers and International Graduate Categories
| Condition | Agent and Action |
| If the employer has selected a qualified candidate who is not a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident... | ...the employer and candidate complete the Employer-Driven Application for a Skilled Occupation (AINP 005) together. The candidate completes the Employer-Driven Application for Nomination (AINP 003). Application forms and all accompanying documents, including a photocopy of the candidate's completed permanent residence application forms, are submitted to the AINP. |
| If the offer of employment meets the AINP eligibility and criteria, and if the candidate meets the qualifications for the job... | ...the AINP approves the candidate as a Provincial Nominee. |
| If the candidate is approved as a Provincial Nominee... | ...he or she then forwards the federal permanent residence application forms to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Visa Office abroad. |
| If the Provincial Nominee and their dependents meet the federal statutory requirements, including health, criminality and security checks... | ...Citizenship and Immigration Canada may issue the permanent resident visa(s) for immigration to Alberta. |
- Steps for Semi-Skilled Worker Category
| Condition | Agent and Action |
| If the employer has hired, or has a need to hire, qualified candidates who are not Canadian Citizens or permanent residents in a selected semi-skilled occupation under the AINP... | ...the employer completes the Employer-Driven Application – Semi-Skilled Worker Category (AINP 001) to request a specified number of candidates to be considered for an AINP Nomination. The application form and all accompanying documents are submitted to the AINP.* |
| If the employer is approved for an allocation and/or has selected a qualified candidate*... | ...the employer and candidate complete the Employer-Driven Application for a Semi-Skilled Occupation (AINP 002) together. The candidate completes the Employer-Driven Application for Nomination (AINP 003). Application forms and all accompanying documents, including a photocopy of the candidate’s completed permanent residence application forms, are submitted to the AINP.* |
| If the candidate is approved as a Provincial Nominee... | ...he or she then forwards the federal permanent residence application forms to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Visa Office abroad. |
| If the Provincial Nominee and their dependents meet the federal statutory requirements, including health, criminality and security checks... | ...Citizenship and Immigration Canada may issue the permanent resident visa(s) for immigration to Alberta. |
* All application forms and supporting documents may be submitted together at the same time.
What are the advantages to using the AINP?
The AINP:
- With provincial and federal support, helps skilled workers and selected semi-skilled workers gain permanent residence.
- Helps employers gain needed workers to fill a skill shortage in Alberta.
- Maintains a strong economy by helping employers retain labour resources in industries and sectors that add value to Alberta's economic growth.
- Helps workers get their application for permanent residence processed, on average, in six - 18 months.
What occupations are eligible under the AINP?
Occupations listed under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) Code in Skill Levels 0, A, B are eligible under the AINP. In addition, selected occupations in Skill Levels C and D are also eligible under the AINP. Please visit the Semi-Skilled Worker section of the website for information on eligible NOC C and D occupations.
Employer's Business Case
A business case demonstrates the company's need for the job, and its inability to fill the position with a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. This information should be provided in the Skilled Worker, International Graduate and Semi-Skilled Worker categories. The information in the application forms, and the supporting documents required, help to establish the business case. The AINP reserves the right to request additional information to support the business case.
How will the business case be assessed?
The AINP assesses the business case to decide on jobs that will benefit the Alberta economy and meet skill shortages. The request to nominate individuals through the AINP must demonstrate that the company made efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
Is the employer required to submit financial statements?
No. You do not have to submit financial statements; however, the AINP reserves the right to request additional information to support the company's business case.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the AINP
I have an employee who is a temporary foreign worker and I would like to retain him or her for a permanent position. Does the AINP accept applications for candidates who are temporary foreign workers?
Yes. The temporary foreign worker must be working in an occupation listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code in Skill Levels 0, A, B. In addition, some NOC C and D occupations are also eligible under the AINP. Please visit the Semi-Skilled Worker section of the website for information on eligible NOC C and D occupations.
Important note: It is the responsibility of the employer and the temporary foreign worker (TFW) to ensure that the work permit of the TFW is valid throughout the AINP process and until receiving permanent residence status from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). An application to the AINP or a nomination from the AINP is not a work permit renewal and does not give you status in Canada. All applications for work permit renewals must be made through CIC and should be made well in advance of the work permit expiry date.
It is not guaranteed that a candidate’s AINP application will be assessed or an individual will receive permanent residence prior to a work permit expiry date.
I have an employee who is a temporary foreign worker (TFW) and we have submitted an application to the AINP. My employee’s work permit is going to expire soon. Will the AINP application be assessed before the work permit expiry?
It is not guaranteed that your AINP application will be assessed prior to the work permit expiry. Employers and candidates should be aware of AINP Processing Times. The AINP does not grant priority processing for applications where work permits are due to expire soon.
What is the difference between the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the AINP?
Both the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the AINP are designed to help employers meet shortages of workers in skilled and selected semi-skilled jobs.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows a person, who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, to work in Canada temporarily with a Work Permit. The person may work in Canada until his or her Work Permit expires. A person may be eligible to apply for a renewal of their Work Permit, before it expires, from within Canada.
The AINP helps candidates gain permanent residence. It is designed to:
- Give support to employers who need to fill permanent positions with persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
- Meet Alberta's long-term labour market needs.
Which government department administers the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
The program is primarily administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
- Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
An employer applies to HRSDC for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) confirmation on behalf of the potential temporary foreign worker.
If the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is positive, the potential temporary foreign worker applies to:
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
The potential temporary foreign worker applies to CIC for a work permit. If CIC approves the application for a work permit, they then issue the work permit to the temporary foreign worker to allow him or her to work in Canada.
Status of AINP applications
How much time does it take the AINP to process applications?
Please note the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program is a two-step process.
In the first step, an employer who is unable to fill skilled or select semi-skilled positions with Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada may apply to the program to have a foreign worker candidate nominated on the employer's behalf.
The second step involves assessing the provincial nominee candidate, identified by the employer, to ensure that he or she has the required education, training and work experience relevant to the occupation. The candidate is only assessed once the employer is approved for the occupation.
Processing times may vary depending on the volume of applications received. Current processing times for the AINP Employer-Driven Stream, Strategic Recruitment Stream and Family Stream are posted on the AINP processing times page. Applications will be assessed in the order in which they are received. Complete applications with all required supporting documents will result in expedited processing times.
How will I know the status of my application?
The AINP will inform employers and their authorized representatives, if using a representative, of approvals or declines.
How will the employer know the status of their selected candidate's application for provincial nomination?
The AINP will advise the employer of an approval or decline of their candidate's application for provincial nomination.
We also inform the candidate's authorized representative, if he or she is using a representative, of approvals or declines by the AINP.
Fees
Is there a fee for submitting an application to the AINP?
No. The AINP is free.
Other
Does an approval for a nomination by the AINP ensure that Citizenship and Immigration Canada will issue a permanent resident visa to a Provincial Nominee?
No. Issuing a provincial nomination does not ensure that a Provincial Nominee will receive a permanent resident visa or permanent residence. A Provincial Nominee, and their dependents, must still meet Citizenship and Immigration Canada's statutory requirements, which include, but are not limited to, health, criminality and security checks.
How does the AINP differ from other Provincial Nominee Programs?
Each province that operates a Provincial Nominee Program establishes its own criteria. If you wish to find out more information about other Provincial Nominee Programs operating in Canada, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada's "Provincial Nominees: Who can apply."
Date Updated: Jun 24, 2009
RDP-623
