Looking For Employment
- Your employer notifies Special Areas Regional Economic Development or Harvest Sky Economic Development, on your behalf, that you have fulfilled the requirements and are ready to interview for an endorsement letter.
- Employers may only submit 10 Endorsement Letter nominations per calendar year, regardless if the nomination is successful or not. The nomination is still counted if an approved employee leaves the place of employment.
- Employers must have no more than 20% of their business’s total workforce hired through any Temporary Foreign Worker Program (eg. Rural Renewal Stream, Alberta Opportunity Stream, LMIA, etc.)
- Employers that are at, or over, the allotted 20% threshold will not be allowed any new nominations until:
- the total headcount increases enough to qualify for additional nominations, or
- enough endorsed employees have left the employer to drop the TFW hired employee percentage to below 20%
Applications
Applicants who wish to participate in the Special Areas Region program must meet a series of criteria, receive an authentic job offer from an approved employer, be endorsed by the Special Areas Regional Economic Development through the Rural Renewal stream process and then apply for a Government of Alberta nomination using the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) portal.
NOTE – A new worker expression of interest system is in place as of September 30, 2024. Learn how to apply to AAIP worker streams.
Before you Apply
Before applying for an employment opportunity in the Special Areas Region, candidates are encouraged to review, understand, and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Eligibility requirements include:
- Work experience
- Education
- Language Proficiency
- Financial Security
Once a candidate is confident they meet the eligibility requirements, they may apply for employment with employers located within the Special Areas Region. Applications must be made directly to the employer.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must provide the following documentation to their employer before the employer can request an endorsement letter on their behalf.
- Work Experience: A minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months prior to application. This experience can be a combination of work in Alberta, elsewhere in Canada, or abroad. The experience must match the NAICS code listed in the job offer.
- Valid Work Permit: Applicants must hold a valid open or closed work permit via LMIA.
- Language Proficiency: Applicants must show proof of results from one of the following language tests:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test
- Educational Requirements: At the time of application, applicants must have completed at least the equivalent of a Canadian high school education or hold a foreign degree, diploma, or certificate.
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA):
- Temporary foreign workers must provide an ECA issued by an organization designated by IRCC for their highest level of education.
- An ECA is not required if the applicant has:
- A Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary or technical institution, or
- A valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by AIT.
- If the applicant is an EMPP refugee, an ECA is not required (though they may submit it if they have one).
Once you have obtained the required documents, please provide them to your employer. Only employers can submit requests for endorsement letters on behalf of applicants. Requests made directly by applicants will not be considered. For more information on the Rural Renewal Stream, you can visit:
AAIP Rural Renewal Stream