Alberta Express Entry

Alberta Express Entry lets candidates in the federal Express Entry pool get a provincial nomination from Alberta. In 2025, Alberta uses a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) to invite profiles; most successful files include a valid full-time Alberta job offer and an Employer Declaration. A nomination adds +600 CRS and usually leads to an IRCC invitation to apply for PR.

What is Alberta Express Entry, exactly?

It’s a worker stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) that selects people already in IRCC’s Express Entry pool using a Worker EOI points grid.

If Alberta invites you and later nominates you, you accept the nomination in your EE account and gain a CRS points boost (provincial nominations add 600 points under the CRS), which typically leads to an IRCC invitation to apply for PR. For the AAIP Express Entry stream, a valid, full-time Alberta job offer and a signed Employer Declaration are required with your application; AAIP currently lists IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF as accepted tests and does not accept PTE.

Eligibility Criteria

You must first qualify for Express Entry under FSW, CEC, or FST. Alberta then uses a Worker EOI to score your profile (max 100 points). Factors include an Alberta job offer (extra points for rural), Alberta/Canadian study or work, regulated trades, French/English, and family in Alberta. The minimum to submit an EOI is CLB/NCLC 4 across abilities.

Reality check: Alberta’s Express Entry stream expects a valid, full-time Alberta job offer and an Employer Declaration with your application. Applications missing the Employer Declaration are declined. (AAIP also confirms PTE is not accepted.)

How the Alberta Express Entry Stream Works (Step-by-Step)

1. Create your EE profile (FSW/CEC/FST)
2. Open a Worker EOI in the AAIP portal (CLB/NCLC 4+)
3. Wait for an AAIP invite. Draws target Alberta’s labor needs (rural, trades, tech, healthcare, etc.)
4. Apply to AAIP (Express Entry stream). Upload the Employer Declaration, job offer/contract, and required evidence; pay $1,500
5. Get nominated. Accept in your EE account to add +600 CRS.
6. IRCC PR stage. Submit within the EE deadline (usually 60 days) and pay PR fees; IRCC aims to process ~6 months for 80% of Express Entry PR once complete.

Documents You’ll Need

• Identity: Passport(s) (you + spouse, if applicable)
• Language: IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF (no PTE)
• Education: ECA if claiming foreign education (or for spouse points)
• Employer package: Employer Declaration & Authorization, job offer/contract (title, wage, hours, location, duration, duties)
• Experience proof: Letters with duties/dates/hours/wages; pay records if requested
• Regulated role: Alberta trade certificate/license where required
• Connections (if claimed): Proof of close family in Alberta
• IRCC stage: Medicals, police certs, biometrics & PR fees

Job Offer & Employer Declaration

What Alberta Expects? Let’s see

• Employer Declaration: Must be signed by an authorized company official; without it, AAIP declines the file
• Job offer/contract: Full-time, non-seasonal, with clear duties, wage, hours, location, and contact details. Alberta may contact the employer for tax/payroll/business legitimacy records
• Permanent full-time employment is reflected in EOI scoring and program language

Fees & Typical Timing

• AAIP: $1,500 application fee (worker streams; as of Apr 1, 2025)
• IRCC PR: $1,525/adult (processing + RPRF), $260/child; biometrics $85/person (family cap $170)
• Timelines: EOI wait varies; AAIP processing depends on draw strategy and volumes. IRCC aims for 80% within service standards and cites ~6 months for Express Entry once a complete PR file is received

How Alberta Scores Your Worker EOI (Max 100 points)

Human Capital (max 69)

• Education (max 22)
  • Level (max 12):
    • Doctorate (12)
    • Master’s (10)
    • Bachelor’s (7)
    • Trades certificate/diploma (7)
    • Diploma/Certificate (4)
    • Secondary or lower (0)
  • Where completed in Canada (max 10):
    • Alberta (10)
    • other provinces/territories (6)
• Language (max 13)
  • Single-language score (max 10): Based on the lowest ability for that test:
    • CLB/NCLC 6+ → 10 (EN) / 8 (FR)
    • CLB/NCLC 5 → 8 (EN) / 5 (FR)
    • CLB/NCLC 4 → 5 (EN) / 3 (FR)
    • < CLB 4 or no test → 0
  • Bilingual bonus (3): CLB/NCLC 4+ in both English and French
• Work experience (max 21):
  • Total experience (max 11):
    • 12+ months (11)
    • 6–11 months (7)
    • <6 months (3)
  • Canadian experience (max 10)
    •  ≥6 months in Alberta (10)
    • ≥6 months in another province/territory (6)
• Age (max 5):
  • 21–34 (5)
  • 35–49 (4)
  • 18–20 (3)
  • 50+ (3)
• Family in Alberta (max 8): Parent/child/sibling who’s a PR or citizen and 18+ (8)

Economic Factors (max 31)

• Alberta job offer (max 16):
  • Base: Permanent, full-time Alberta job offer (10)
  • One add-on (max 6):
    • Rural Renewal Stream endorsement (6)
    • Tourism & Hospitality eligible association employer (6)
    • Law enforcement employer (AACP member) (6)
• Job location (max 5):
  • Rural Renewal designated community (5)
  • Other Alberta communities (outside Calgary/Edmonton CMAs and outside RRS) (5)
  • Calgary CMA (0)
  • Edmonton CMA (0)
• Regulated occupation + Alberta certification/licence (10):
  • e.g., Alberta Qualification Certificate (AIT) or recognized professional/trade licence (10)

Notes: AAIP also collects (but does not score) extra info like your IRCC status, NOC (2021), and employer NAICS (2022) to guide draw selection. Family points for grandparent/aunt/uncle/niece/nephew are grandfathered only if your Worker EOI was created on or before Jan 29, 2025.

Final note

Scoring helps AAIP invite candidates, but you’re assessed against the official stream criteria when you apply. Ensure that your job offer and Employer Declaration comply with AAIP rules, and that your language test is one that AAIP accepts.

📌 Policies change; always verify against the official PDFs before submitting. This isn’t legal advice.

FAQs

Source: Alberta.ca