Alberta's New AAIP Tourism and Hospitality Stream

Alberta is launching a new immigration stream on March 1, 2024, focused on tourism and hospitality workers in the Province. Although the complete eligibility details will not be released until March 1, we are happy to share some clues as to who will qualify for this immigration stream, and what the eligibility criteria will be. Now that the program has opened, we have updated our post with the new information below. UPDATE: Alberta has closed this program for the first intake effective March 2, 2024. The program was open for less than 24 hours.

Missed the Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream Intake?

UPDATE March 2, 2024: Now that the first intake for the Alberta Tourism Stream has closed, here is what you need to know:

• Alberta will still accept applications for those who managed to start their application during the time window that the program was open. If you have started an application, keep working to complete and submit it.
• There will be another intake in the future. If you meet the criteria below, and will still have a valid work permit for the next several weeks or months, it is a good idea to still prepare to submit an application when the intake stream re-opens at some point in the future. If the current intake is any indication, you will need to act super fast if you hope to get a spot when the program opens again.

Who is eligible for the AAIP Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

This original blog was written before the program opened. We are now updating it to reflect the reality of the program that was announced on March 1, 2024. To start off, we have for you the 30 second overview that tells you the big picture of what you need to know about who is eligible for the Tourism and Hospitality Stream:

• There are only 500 spots currently available. A total of 659 spots will be available in 2024.
• Only those working in Alberta with an LMIA based work permit are eligible to apply. You must have a valid work permit when you apply and when Alberta assesses your application.
• The 6 consecutive months of required work experience and the permanent job offer must be with the same Alberta employer.
• Both work experience and job offer must be for at least 30 hours per week.
• Your employer must belong to one of the Industry Associations listed by Alberta. This news is a bit surprising and may cause an issue for some applicants.
• You are only eligible if you are working in an eligible occupation and in an eligible industry.
• Your salary must meet LMIA requirements.
• Your education level must be equivalent to a Canadian High School diploma, with a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) (less than 5 years old) or Canadian education
• Your language skills must be a min of CLB 4 in either English or French, with a valid language test (less than 2 years old)

The program itself has a limited number of spots, and once that number of applications are received, it will close. For that reason, it's important to apply as soon as possible, and ensure that your application is prepared correctly.

What occupations are eligible for Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

Alberta has released a list of 18 occupations that will be eligible for the Tourism and Hospitality stream.

• Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness. NOC 54100
• Restaurant and food service managers. NOC 60030
• Accommodation service managers. NOC 60031
• Food service supervisors. NOC 62020
• Chefs. NOC 62200
• Cooks. NOC 63200
• Maitres d'hotel and hosts/hostesses. NOC 64300
• Bartenders. NOC 64301
• Hotel front desk clerks. NOC 64314
• Tour and travel guides. NOC 64320
• Outdoor sport and recreational guides. NOC 64322
• Food and beverage servers. NOC 65200
• Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations. NOC 65201
• Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities setup services. NOC 65210
• Light duty cleaners. NOC 65310
• Specialized cleaners. NOC 65311
• Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners. NOC 65312
• Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations. NOC 65320

What are the eligible industries for the Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

Your employer must have valid Worker's Compensation Board coverage (or be exempt from needing WCB) and the industry code that is used for their WCB registration will determine whether you are eligible to apply for this program. The following industry codes are eligible:

• Museums / Art Galleries 80701
• Zoos / Game Farms 80703
• Bowling Alleys / Billiard Parlours 85300
• Golf Clubs / Ranges 85900
• Ski Resorts / Gondolas 85904
• Casinos / Dance Halls 85916
• Arenas / Stadiums 85919
• Travel Agency / Motor Association 85925
• Restaurants / Catering 87501
• Hotels / Convention Centers 87503
• Sports and Recreation 87600
• Property Management / Hostels 89702
• Private Clubs 87508
• Operation of a Curling Rink
• Operation of an Ice Skating Rink
• Operation of a Cricket Field
• Operation of a Convention Bureau
• Operation of an Information Bureau
• Promotions, sports and entertainment
• Professional Sports

It's important to note that your employer has to be operating in an eligible industry AND a member of one of the related industry organizations that AAIP has designated.

How to prepare for the Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

You should prepare scanned copies of the following documents that are needed for your application:

• passport photo page
• current work permit, past work permits
• copy of LMIA
• language test results
• educational credential assessment result along with copies of degrees, diplomas and transcripts
• payslips for the past three months

You will need to request specific documents from your employer for your application, including:

• a WCB clearance
• proof of membership in the relevant industry association
• a reference letter
• a job offer letter

There is specific information required in these letters - read the Tourism and Hospitality stream document checklist carefully for details.

How to apply for AAIP Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

Most AAIP applications start out in the AAIP application portal. Candidates need an Alberta digital ID in order to access the portal and prepare their application.

There are a series of online forms that comprise the AAIP application, mostly asking basic personal information, work history, education history and address history.

When you have completed the online form entries, there will be a series of upload fields where you can upload the supporting evidence needed for your application.

What is the application process for Permanent Residence through the AAIP Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

Any application for a Provincial Nominee Program is a two step process to obtain Permanent Residence in Canada. For Alberta PNP programs, the first step is to apply online using the AAIP portal and then wait for a decision from Alberta. If you are approved and receive an Alberta Nomination Certificate, you then use that Nomination Certificate to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada through the IRCC PR portal.

In the first step of the application, the Alberta portion, usually only the principal applicants information and documents are required. In the second step of the application, the federal or IRCC portion, the information and documents of your entire family will be required.

What is the cost to apply for Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream?

Alberta's economic immigration programs cost $500 to apply. This amount is paid by credit card when you submit your electronic application. Note that you will pay additional processing fees to IRCC for the second stage of your application, after you receive your nomination certificate from Alberta.

Alberta Opportunity Stream vs. Tourism and Hospitality Stream

Most applicants who will qualify through the Tourism and Hospitality stream would have formerly been able to apply to the AAIP using the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). Alberta closed the AOS stream on February 15, 2024 and stopped accepting applications on that date. The AOS stream is set to return at an unknown future date, with a new set of eligibility criteria, which we suspect will involve an invitation-only system like BC or Ontario's provincial nomination programs.

The purpose of revamping the AOS stream is to ensure that Alberta can process it's application inventory in a reasonable amount of time, and can target specific occupations that the Province needs. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that not everyone who previously could have applied under AOS will be able to do so under the new system. For that reason, if you are eligible to apply under the Tourism and Hospitality stream, we recommend that you do so as quickly as possible.

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program vs. Express Entry

Although Express Entry is Canada's largest immigration program by numbers, it is very difficult to actually qualify for an invitation to apply (ITA). Potential applicants are scored against a list of priorities that the federal government has established, and the required scores in late 2023 and early 2024 have been very high. Applicants need to be young (less than 35), highly educated (Master's degree), highly fluent in English or French (or both), with a substantial amount of skilled work experience and a Canadian sibling, Canadian education or Canadian work experience in order to qualify. Provincial nominee programs are generally more accessible to those who are older, have lower skilled work experience, lower language abilities and/or lower levels of education.

The Way Immigration is currently preparing our clients to be first in line to apply when the AAIP Tourism and Hospitality Stream opens on March 1, 2024. Contact our immigration agent Calgary office if you would like our assistance to ensure that your application is prepared properly, and submitted before the program is full.