Alberta’s AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway is a stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) for Express Entry candidates who are currently working for an Alberta employer or hold an Alberta job offer in one of 38 in-demand tech occupations. Candidates who are selected through the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway receive expedited processing on their applications.
The AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway is an initiative launched in 2022 in an effort to strengthen Alberta’s workforce by providing a fast-track to permanent residence to highly skilled tech workers who want to live and work in Alberta.
Jump to:
- Check your eligibility for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Which occupations are eligible for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway?
- How to apply for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway
Check your eligibility for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway
In order to be eligible for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway, candidates must meet the criteria listed below.
Notably, the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway does not list any requirements for language proficiency or education. However, all candidates must have active Express Entry profiles which include their own minimum requirements for language and education.
Active Express Entry Profile
Candidates must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry pool with a minimum CRS score of 300 points. Candidates with Express Entry profiles that expire within the next three months may be less likely to be asked to submit an application.
Alberta employment or job offer
Candidates must meet one of the following two criteria:
- Current employment in Alberta: Be working full-time in Alberta in an eligible tech occupation for an employer in an eligible industry (see below).
- Alberta job offer: Have a job offer for full-time employment based in Alberta in an eligible tech occupation for an employer in an eligible industry (see below).
To meet the employment requirement, candidates must submit a current Alberta employment contract or job offer signed by the Alberta employer that provides:
- Continuous paid full-time employment (at least 30 hours per week) for a period of at least 12 months;
- For work located in Alberta;
- A base monetary wage or salary that either:
- Meets Alberta’s provincial minimum wage; or
- Meets or exceeds the requirements set out in the candidate’s LMIA. LMIA exempt workers must meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for their occupation across all industries in Alberta;
- The candidate must not hold more than 10 percent of the overall voting shares for the business; and
- Both the occupation and the employer’s industry must be in eligible tech fields — full lists included below.
Primary occupation matches Alberta employment/job offer
The National Occupational Classification code (NOC code) listed as the primary NOC code in a candidate’s Express Entry profile must be the same as the NOC code of the candidate’s current employment in Alberta or Alberta job offer.
Valid immigration status (if applicable)
If a candidate is currently employed in Alberta at the time of their AAIP application, they must have valid immigration status in Alberta (work permit or implied status).
Intention to reside in Alberta
Candidates must have the intention to live and work in Alberta.
Ineligible types of applicants
The following individuals are not eligible to be nominated through the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway, even if they meet the criteria listed above. Ineligible types of applicants include:
- Part-time, casual, or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours;
- Independent contractors or temporary agency workers; and
- Employees who do not work in Alberta, like those who work online from a location outside Alberta or at a premises outside Alberta.
Which occupations are eligible for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway?
In order to be eligible for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway, a candidate’s Alberta occupation must be on the eligible tech occupation list and their Alberta employer must be part of an eligible tech industry.
Check these lists to ensure that your Alberta occupation and employer are both eligible for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway:
Eligible Occupations List — AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway
| AINP Accelerated Tech Pathway — Eligible Occupations List |
|---|
| 0013 Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services |
| 0112 Human resources managers |
| 0131 Telecommunication carriers manager |
| 0211 Engineering managers |
| 0212 Architecture and science managers |
| 0213 Computer and information systems managers |
| 0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts |
| 0601 Corporate sales managers |
| 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations |
| 1121 Human resources professionals |
| 1223 Human resources and recruitment officers |
| 2131 Civil engineers |
| 2132 Mechanical engineers |
| 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers |
| 2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 2161 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants |
| 2172 Database analysts and data administrators |
| 2173 Software engineers and designers |
| 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers |
| 2175 Web designers and developers |
| 2221 Biological technologists and technicians |
| 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians |
| 2233 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians |
| 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
| 2253 Drafting technologists and technicians |
| 2281 Computer network technicians |
| 2282 User support technicians |
| 2283 Information systems testing technicians |
| 3211 Medical laboratory technologists |
| 3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants |
| 3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) |
| 4163 Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants |
| 5131 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations |
| 5241 Graphic designers and illustrators |
| 7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
| 7242 Industrial electricians |
| 7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers |
Eligible Employer Industries — AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway
| AINP Accelerated Tech Pathway — Eligible Employer Industries |
|---|
| 2211 Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution |
| 3251 Basic Chemical Manufacturing |
| 3254 Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
| 3333 Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
| 3341 Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing |
| 3342 Communications Equipment Manufacturing |
| 3343 Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
| 3344 Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
| 3345 Navigational, Medical and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
| 3346 Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media |
| 3364 Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
| 4173 Computer and Communications Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| 5112 Software Publishers |
| 5121 Motion Picture and Video Industries |
| 5171 Wired Telecommunications Carrier |
| 5172 Wireless Telecommunications Carrier (except satellite) |
| 5174 Satellite Telecommunications |
| 5179 Other Telecommunications |
| 5182 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services |
| 5191 Other Information Services |
| 5413 Architectural, Engineering and Related services |
| 5414 Specialized Design Services |
| 5415 Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| 5417 Scientific Research and Development Services |
| 5419 Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
| 7115 Independent Artists, Writers and Performers |
| 8112 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance |
How to apply for the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway
In order to apply to the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway, candidates must begin by filling out the Accelerated Tech Pathway form. This form can be accessed here.
Filling out the form does not guarantee that a candidate will be able to submit an official application for provincial nomination. Rather, the AAIP will review the information submitted in the form and will contact candidates by email if they are deemed eligible to submit an application.
Application details and next steps will be included in the AAIP email.
The AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway is aligned with the federal Express Entry system. This means that applicants who successfully receive a provincial nomination through this stream will be awarded 600 additional points for their Express Entry CRS score.
A 600-point boost virtually guarantees that an applicant will receive an Express Entry invitation to apply allowing them to apply for Canadian permanent residence through the expedited Express Entry system. IRCC aims to process 80 percent of Express Entry applications in less than 6 months.
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