Thursday, February 6, 2025

Rural Renewal Stream Alberta – Guide

Introduction

The purpose of the Rural Renewal Stream is to tackle the present labor requirements and skill gaps in rural communities in Alberta. The initial stage involves communities applying for designation from the Alberta government.

Upon successful completion of this step, communities can begin the recruitment process for candidates. Collaborating with employers, the community efforts to attract and recruit newcomers, while also working alongside a settlement agency to ensure newcomers receive necessary support and assistance.

Consequently, applicants must have the backing of a designated community and fulfill all the criteria outlined by the Rural Renewal Stream. It is important to note that foreign nationals should not apply to the Province of Alberta without obtaining a letter of support from the community.

The 2-Step Process

The Rural Renewal Stream has a 2-step process:

Step 1. One of the following community endorsement processes

  • The community takes on the responsibility of directly recruiting temporary foreign workers to fulfill their labor requirements. They also provide an Endorsement of Candidate letter to the chosen candidates.
  • In addition, the community engages in the referral process of Alberta’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to recruit refugees. A referral partner organization associated with EMPP collaborates with the community and the Alberta employer to identify a suitable refugee candidate for the specific labor need. Once selected, the candidate receives an Endorsement of Candidate letter from the community and an EMPP Referral Partner letter from the referral partner.

Step 2: The candidate submits an application to the AAIP.

Community Designated Process

To apply for community designation, interested candidates are required to complete a community designation application form. Notably, communities in Alberta with a population of less than 10,000 residents will receive additional points during the evaluation process. Upon successful designation, communities gain the ability to attract, recruit, and retain a significant number of newcomers through the utilization of the Alberta Rural Renewal Stream.

  • The community should have a population of less than 100,000, as per the requirement.
  • The community should be located outside of the Calgary and Edmonton census metropolitan areas.
  • At least one employer should have an interest in participating and providing permanent, full-time, non-seasonal employment opportunities.
  • The community must obtain an endorsement letter of support from its residents.
  • The application, along with the economic development plan or related documents, should be signed and submitted by the economic development organization.
  • The community must also secure an endorsement letter of support from a settlement-providing agency, which will assist in identifying and addressing settlement needs for the successful integration of newcomers into the community. 

How to Apply For Community Designation

  • Application Submission: Fill out the application form in its entirety.
  • Settlement Agency Information: Furnish the name and address details of the settlement agency.
  • Settlement Collaboration Details: Describe the various types of settlement information and support that the agency will collaborate on with the community.
  • Endorsement Issuer’s Details: Supply the name, title, and contact information of the individual responsible for issuing the endorsement letter.
  • Application Submission: Complete the submission of your application.

Eligibility Requirements for Candidates

In order to be eligible for the Rural Renewal component, candidates must satisfy all the criteria for nomination within the Alberta Rural Renewal stream. This encompasses the prerequisites for applicants who have received endorsement from the Alberta Designated community to submit their applications to the AAIP under the Rural Renewal stream.

  • Community Residency Requirement: Candidates are required to reside in and commence work in their designated community in Alberta immediately after the AAIP assesses their application.
  • Community Endorsement Requirement: Candidates must possess a valid Candidate Endorsement Letter issued by the economic development organization of their designated rural community in Alberta.
  • Job Offer Requirement: Candidates must secure an exceptional full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer as per their wages in all industries across Alberta, specifying eligibility to work in a designated occupation.
  • Licensing, Registration, and Certification Requirements: Candidates need to hold the necessary licensing, registration, or certification for their current occupation in a designated Alberta community. For those in compulsory trades, a valid AIT certificate is mandatory. Childcare workers must possess certification for Level 2 or Level 3 early childhood education.
  • Occupation Requirement: Candidates must have a job offer in an eligible occupation falling under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 being deemed eligible under the AAIP.
TEER system of job offer or current occupationTEER system of job offer or current occupation
TEER 0TEER 0 OR 1
TEER 1TEER 0, 1 OR 2
TEER 2TEER 1, 2, 3, OR 4
TEER 3TEER 1, 2, 3, OR 4
TEER 4TEER 2, 3, 4, OR 5
TEER 5TEER 5 both must be in the same occupation
  • Work Experience Requirement: They should have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the 18 months preceding your application, whether gained in Alberta, elsewhere in Canada, or internationally.
  • Language Proficiency Requirement: English or French language requirements specified for the program.

Note: The Language official test result must be less than 2 years old.

  • Educational Attainment Requirement: Attain a minimum of high school education equivalent to the Canadian standard or possess a foreign degree, diploma, or certificate.
  • Financial Capability Requirement: Ability to provide sufficient funds to support both the applicant and their family members for settlement in the designated community. This is applicable to individuals residing outside of Canada or those within Canada who are not currently employed.
Number of family members Population size of the community: Less than 1,000Population size of the community:
1,000 to 30,000
Population size of the community:
30,000 to 99,999
1$8,922$10,151$11,093
2$11,107$12,636$13,810
3$13,655$15,534$16,977
4$16,579$18,861$20,613
5$18,803$21,392$23,379
6$21,208$24,127$26,367
7$23,611$26,861$29,356
For each additional family member$2,404$2,735$2,989

How to Apply For Rural Renewal Stream

  • Step 1: Go Through the AAIP Terms & Conditions
  • Step 2: Review the eligibility criteria of the pathway.
  • Step 3: Submit an online application to the AAIP, including all required supporting documents.
  • Step 4: Pay the application fee.

After Submitting Your Application

Upon submitting your application, you will qualify to be considered as a provincial nominee and will receive a nomination package by mail. Ensure a thorough review of all documents within the package, and be sure to retain a copy of your nomination certificate.

Following this step, the contents of the package will guide you on the process of applying for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

In case your application is denied, you will receive notification via email. Take the time to review the grounds for the rejection. If you can demonstrate that there was an error in the evaluation of your application, you may qualify to submit a request for reconsideration.

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