Alberta immigration program AAIP introduces scoring system

27 Sep 2024
Effective September 30, 2024, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will introduce a new way to apply for the Worker stream. Under this change, those wishing to apply to the Worker stream must submit a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI). EOIs are submitted online by applicants and are scored and ranked based on their information.


Under the previous AAIP system, candidates were selected for specific jobs primarily at the request of employers. Most migrants were able to apply based on an employment offer letter issued by their employer, which allowed the state to select talent that matched the needs of the local economy. However, this gave applicants limited opportunities to showcase their skills, and it was difficult to participate in the immigration process without an employment offer letter.


The best part of the new system is that there is no additional cost for applicants to submit an EOI and they can receive a score based on their own information. This will give more people the opportunity to apply to Alberta's immigration programs. Applicants will submit their information through an online form on the AAIP portal, which will be scored based on an EOI scoring rubric. Candidates in the worker stream pool will then be ranked according to their scores, and the Government of Alberta will select candidates to invite through a lottery, taking into account the needs and priorities of the local labor market and the level of nominations and applications received by AAIP.


The EOI scorecard, which is based on a point system, is designed to comprehensively evaluate a variety of factors in an applicant's application, the main ones being age, education, work experience, language skills, and adaptability. Applicants between the ages of 21-34 receive the highest scores, and the older or younger you are, the lower your score will be. The higher your education, work experience, and language skills, the more points you'll receive. For adaptability, you may receive extra points if you have family in Alberta or have worked or studied in Alberta in the past. This factor recognizes that applicants who already have connections to Alberta will have an easier time settling in.


With the revised system in place, AAIP will now select candidates from the worker stream pool through regular draws, and selected candidates will receive a formal invitation to apply via email. The change to a points-based immigration system will take effect as of 10 a.m. on September 30, and the first draw will take place in mid- or late October.


There is still time before the scored selection, so we recommend that you check to see if you meet the eligibility requirements for the AAIP Worker stream. We also recommend that you carefully review the EOI scorecard to understand the scoring criteria. Additionally, if you have previously submitted an AAIP application or an Entrepreneur EOI, please note that you will not be able to submit a new EOI unless you withdraw it. Finally, make sure you have a valid Alberta.ca account, and if you don't have one, you'll need to create one.


This is an important change to the AAIP to better meet Alberta's labour market needs and increase the efficiency of the immigration process. The EOI system will give applicants the opportunity to present themselves in a fairer and more transparent process, while the province will be able to select the talent it needs more quickly and accurately. This is expected to be a positive outcome for both the province and immigrants. It is also possible that a prioritized selection system will operate alongside the simple point system, so we will learn more about this as the selection process moves forward.



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