To qualify for Alberta’s Tourism and Hospitality Stream, applicants must meet specific requirements for current employment, work experience, job offers, language proficiency, and education. These criteria must be fulfilled both when the application is submitted and when it is assessed by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

Current Employment

At the time of application submission and assessment, you must:

• Be living and working in Alberta in an eligible occupation for an approved Tourism and Hospitality employer.
• Hold a valid work permit based on:
  • A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for an eligible occupation, or
  • Temporary special measures issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for individuals directly affected by wildfires.

Note: Maintained status is not considered a substitute for a valid work permit. Other types of work permits are not eligible.

Work Experience

At the time of application submission and assessment, applicants must have:

• Full-time employment (minimum 30 hours per week) with an approved Tourism and Hospitality employer in an eligible occupation for a minimum of 6 consecutive months (780 hours).
• Work experience that:
  • Is with the same employer as the current Alberta job offer.
  • Has been paid.
  • Was authorized by IRCC and completed with valid temporary resident status if done in Alberta or elsewhere in Canada.

Job Offer or Employment Contract

To be eligible, your job offer or employment contract must meet these requirements:

• Be a full-time job offer or employment contract for an eligible occupation in Alberta with your current employer.
• Be for an employer and job that meet all Alberta employment requirements.
• Have at least 6 consecutive months (780 hours) of work experience with the current employer.

Ineligible Applicants Based on Job Offer

You are not eligible to apply or be nominated if you:

• Are a part-time, casual, or seasonal employee, regardless of hours worked.
• Are an independent contractor, business owner, or temporary agency worker (e.g., director, shareholder, or agent of the Alberta employer listed on the Corporate Registry System).
• Work at a location that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations (e.g., a home-based business).
• Work remotely or in a virtual location and do not work on-premises in Alberta.

Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the following language requirements at the time of application:

• A minimum score of 4 in each skill (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) for English or French.

Accepted tests include:

• English:
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test.
• French:
  • Test d'évaluation de français Canada (TEF Canada).
  • Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada).

Additional Notes on Language Tests

• Test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application submission.
• Confirmation of registration for a language test is not accepted in place of results.
• Use the federal CLB/NCLC equivalency guidelines for more details.

Education Requirements

At the time of application, you must meet the following education criteria:

• Have completed a minimum of high school education equivalent to Canadian standards.
• Provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organization for your highest level of education, unless exempt.

ECA Exemptions

You do not need to provide an ECA if:

• You have a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized institution listed in the Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada.
• You hold a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).

Note: The AAIP reserves the right to request an ECA from any candidate or perform an internal educational assessment to confirm equivalency to Canadian high school standards.

Employer and Job Offer Responsibility

Applicants must work with their Alberta employer to ensure:

• All employer requirements are met.
• The job offer or employment contract meets Alberta's requirements.
• All required documents are submitted with the application.

Important: Applications will be declined if these requirements are not met. Application fees will not be refunded for declined applications.