The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program or AAIP has made some major announcements regarding skilled trades workers and its EOI system.
Starting 20 September 2024, the Alberta provincial nominee program will be implementing a new Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Since there will be a new EOI system in place, Alberta will not be going ahead with the monthly application acceptance dates of this year.
Further, starting 1st May 2025, AAIP will be launching its new program, “Alberta is Calling: Moving Bonus”. This program is set to incentivize the arrival of newcomers in skilled trades occupations.
In other words, individuals in an eligible skilled trades occupation and meeting all the eligibility criteria of the program, will be able to receive CAN $5,000 refundable tax credits if they choose to move to Alberta.
About 2,000 such individuals will be able to benefit from this special program. Selected individuals will receive the amount only once and their applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
NOTE: Since its a refundable tax credit, applicants are not required to pay any taxes on the money received.
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Eligibility Criteria of Alberta is Calling: Moving Bonus
To be eligible for this new program announced by Alberta, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Age should either be 18 years or older
- Applicant must be either be a Canadian PR or citizen
- Must have moved to the province between the dates of 1st May 2024 to 31st Dec 2024
- As of 31st Dec 2024, the applicant must be a tax resident
- Must have been a continuous resident of the province for 1 year
- Must be either employed or self-employed and currently working in one of the eligible occupations
- Both employed and self-employed applicants have to meet their own set of eligibility requirements
| Eligibility For Employed | Eligibility For Self-Employed |
| A. must be working at least 30 hours a week/130 hours a month | A. must be self-employed in one of the eligible occupations |
| B. must be employed in one of the eligible occupations | B. submit documents to prove business activity |
| C. have proof of employment | C. demonstrate at least CAN $2,000 in gross revenue collected in one month, from the job |
Eligible Occupations of New Alberta Program for Skilled Traders
| NOC Code | NOC Label |
| 7315 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
| 7332 | Appliance servicers and repairers |
| 7321 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers |
| 7234 | Boilermakers |
| 7281 | Bricklayers |
| 7272 | Cabinetmakers |
| 7271 | Carpenters |
| 7282 | Concrete finishers |
| 7311 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 7611 | Construction trades helpers and labourers |
| 7204 | Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
| 7202 | Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
| 7302 | Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews |
| 7201 | Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations |
| 7301 | Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades |
| 8222 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
| 7205 | Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
| 7203 | Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades |
| 7371 | Crane operators |
| 2253 | Drafting technologists and technicians |
| 7372 | Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction |
| 7333 | Electrical mechanics |
| 7244 | Electrical power line and cable workers |
| 7241 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
| 7318 | Elevator constructors and mechanics |
| 7295 | Floor covering installers |
| 7253 | Gas fitters |
| 7292 | Glaziers |
| 7313 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics |
| 7521 | Heavy equipment operators (except crane) |
| 7312 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 7242 | Industrial electricians |
| 2243 | Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
| 7293 | Insulators |
| 7236 | Ironworkers |
| 7316 | Machine fitters |
| 7231 | Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors |
| 7322 | Motor vehicle body repairers |
| 7334 | Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics |
| 8232 | Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers |
| 8412 | Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators |
| 7331 | Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics |
| 7445 | Other repairers and servicers |
| 7335 | Other small engine and small equipment repairers |
| 7384 | Other trades and related occupations, not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) |
| 7294 | Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) |
| 7284 | Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers |
| 7251 | Plumbers |
| 9241 | Power engineers and power systems operators |
| 7243 | Power system electricians |
| 7441 | Residential and commercial installers and servicers |
| 7291 | Roofers and shinglers |
| 7233 | Sheet metal workers |
| 7252 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 7235 | Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters |
| 7246 | Telecommunications installation and repair workers |
| 7283 | Tilesetters |
| 7232 | Tool and die makers |
| 7511 | Transport truck drivers |
| 7373 | Water well drillers |
| 7442 | Waterworks and gas maintenance workers |
Application Process
Follow these steps to apply to the Alberta is Calling: Moving Bonus program.
- Meet the eligibility requirements
- Sign up and create an Alberta.ca account
- Collect the required documentation
- Apply as soon as possible on 1st May 2025
Need assistance with applying first to the program? Call Talent Connected Worldwide today!
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