Stream for Workers-Rural Renewal Stream

You must intend to reside and work in your designated community in Alberta when you submit and the AAIP assesses your application.

Refugee claimants and individuals in federal appeal or removal processes cannot apply or be nominated under the Rural Renewal Stream. The AAIP does not intervene in these federal procedures.

You need a valid Endorsement of Candidate Letter from the Alberta Economic Development Organization (EDO) in your designated rural community. The EDO will assess you based on their criteria, and you must also meet the AAIP Rural Renewal Stream eligibility criteria.

Endorsement of Candidate letter

• The letter should be issued by the local EDO (Economic Development Officer) of the community.
• The Endorsement of Candidate letter must include the following details:

1. Name and address of the supporting EDO.
2. Full name and residential address of the candidate.
3. Details of the bona fide job offer, including:
4. Name of the business offering the job.
5. Name and contact information of the employer.
6. Location of employment.
7. Position title and a description of job duties.
8. Duration of employment and work conditions.
9. A comprehensive description of how accepting the offered position aligns with the economic growth of the designated community.
10. Information about the employer’s previous efforts to fill the position within Canada and the outcomes of those efforts.
11. Name, title, and contact information of the person issuing the Endorsement of Candidate letter.

You need a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation in your designated community. The employer must be incorporated or registered under a provincial, territorial, or federal act and have a production capability in Alberta.

Your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer, and must offer:

• Continuous, paid work in the designated community.
• Full-time work, minimum 30 hours per week.
• Employment for 12 months or more.
• Wages and benefits meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation in Alberta (as on Alis website).
  • If LMIA is obtained for your occupation, wages and benefits must meet or exceed LMIA requirements.
  • For NOC 41302 or NOC 42204, meal and lodging deductions must meet Employment Standards with proof of authorization.

You must meet licensing, registration, and certification requirements when submitting and during AAIP assessment.

1. You must have the required licensing, registration, and certification requirements for your occupation in Alberta or the offered job.
2. Compulsory trade workers need a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized certificate.
3. Childcare workers must have valid Level 2 or Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker) certification before applying to AAIP.

1. Part-time, casual, or seasonal employees, regardless of working hours.
2. Independent contractors as well as business owners or temporary employees of agencies, such as directors, shareholders, agents, or directors that are listed in the Alberta employer’s Corporate Registry System (CORES).
3. Employees working in non-commercial or non-industrial zones, such as home-based businesses.
4. Employees working remotely outside Alberta in a ‘virtual’ location or through telecommuting.

To apply for the AAIP, you need a job offer in an eligible occupation, typically falling under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Individuals with job offers for the following occupations at the time of application submission and assessment are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the Rural Renewal Stream.

Work experience during the qualifying period must include the following:

• Were paid full-time and for at least 30 hours per week.
• They have been approved through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and are also granted temporary resident status valid if they are granted it in Canada.

Language requirements for candidates may have changed with NOC 2021. Confirm your TEER Category in the updated NOC and use it to find your minimum language score from the provided table. At the time your application is submitted, you must demonstrate that you meet the following language test score in English or French:

You need to submit official test results from one of these language tests with your AAIP application:

1. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test
3. Test d’évaluation de français Canada (TEF Canada)
4. Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)

To apply, you need at least a high school education equivalent to the Canadian standard or a foreign degree, diploma, or certificate. You must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an IRCC-designated organization for your highest education level.

You do not need to provide an ECA if:  You don’t need an ECA if you have a recognized Canadian degree, diploma, certificate, Alberta Qualification Certificate, or a recognized trade certificate by AIT.

When you apply or have your application assessed by AAIP, you need to show enough funds for yourself and family members to settle in your chosen Alberta community, either if you’re not in Canada or currently not working.  The required settlement funds are based on Low-Income Cut-Offs (LICOs), as shown in Table 2 below. The specific amount depends on the number of family members, including yourself, and the population size of your designated Alberta community.