Let’s Talk About Moving to Alberta, Canada

On this very day, Alberta made 100 Express Entry candidates extremely happy. They sent out ITA’s (Invitations to Apply) to candidates with a CRS score of 360, which is comparably low. Usually, the CRS score set by Canada Immigration and Citizenship (CIC) is over 460. Now, these extremely happy candidates are probably preparing their Canadian permanent residency requests.

To those of you who are not familiar with Express Entry Canada, how the immigration system works in Canada, and are wondering why this is even newsworthy, we will explain everything below. Before talking about Express Entry Canada and the application process, let’s talk about moving to Alberta, Canada.

Life in Alberta

First and foremost, Alberta is known to be gorgeous! It is home to 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Dinosaur Provincial Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, and the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. You will also find plenty of crystal-blue lakes and rivers.

Alberta is also known for having diverse communities and an excellent education system. You will find many Filipino, United Kingdom, German, French, and Chinese nationalities.

There are 26 universities and colleges, and tuition is subsidized by the provincial government. You will also find technical training institutions which offer international certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and programs related to your trade or technical work.

If you have kids, you might be happy to know that public school education is free for kindergarten children (in Canada, this means from when they turn 5 years old). Also, going to school is mandatory from ages 6 – 16.

But is Alberta any fun? Absolutely!

Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is literally referred to as “Festival city”. It is an ideal destination for those who love festivals, shopping (West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America), national parks, art galleries and plenty of family-friendly activities.

On the other hand, you have Calgary. According to Forbes, Calgary ranks as the cleanest city in Canada (you can get up to a $1,000 fine for littering!). Water is clean and drinkable, low air pollution, low sales tax, and reliable public transportation.

The best part is the outdoor activities. You can slide down a hill in Canada Olympic Park, go running or cycling on 800 km of pathways, ski or visit some national parks. If you’re more of a night owl, or you like to grab a beer after work, you will be able to enjoy plenty of sports bars, pubs, and dance clubs.

Overall, Alberta ranks at number #4 in the global life index. It is beautiful, safe, and full of activities.

Cost of Living and Employment in Alberta

Between July 1^st, 2019 and June 30^th, 2020, more than 30,000 immigrants moved to Alberta. And it’s not just because of skiing or national parks. In fact, many people who already live in Canada move to Alberta every year.

This is because Alberta is focused on economic growth, creating jobs and maintaining relatively low unemployment rates. Alberta’s economy is considered to be one of the strongest in Canada with many, if not most, well-paying jobs. Ever since they shifted to a manufacturing sector the province has experienced significant economic growth.

Average salaries in Alberta can range from 32,000 CAD (lowest average wage) to 574,000 CAD (highest average wage). These numbers demonstrate the average salaries including housing, transportation, and more.

This brings us to the next fact – Alberta is quite affordable. We mentioned low sales tax in general, but rent, real estate, and personal necessities are quite low as well. You can rent a 3-bedroom apartment for around 1,700 CAD (on average), or a 1-bedroom for as low as 976 CAD a month! If you want to purchase a private home, you can find beautiful houses for just 150,000 CAD.
You might pay around 250 CAD a month for groceries per person.

Moving to Alberta – Express Entry Canada

Now that covered the important facts about living in Alberta, you should know how you can get there. In fact, you might be pleased to learn that Alberta is one of the easiest provinces to obtain a permanent residency visa!

This is because Alberta doesn’t have a specific job list. Unlike some other provinces which have an in-demand occupation list (there is also the general job list called “National Occupational Classification”), Alberta is open to accepting skilled workers of diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Also, you don’t need a job offer to qualify (although, it sure helps to have one!).

A Canadian permanent residency visa allows you to live, work, and travel in Canada permanently, as well as receive social benefits and register for free healthcare.

How Does the Canadian Immigration System Work?

Express Entry Canada is Canada’s selection system for suitable skilled workers. It is a relatively new immigration system (founded in 2015) designed to encourage immigration into Canada. Canada is known for relying heavily on immigration to support the economy (especially during Covid-19!), counter aging demographics, low birth rates, and balance the labor gap.

Express Entry Canada offers permanent residency work visas, however, if you don’t qualify for this program, you can always check your eligibility for the Provincial Nominee Program.

The Provincial Nominee Program is somewhat of a ‘spin-off’ version of Express Entry, with slightly different requirements. This is the easier method of obtaining a Canadian permanent residency visa for Canada.

The main difference between the Provincial Nominee Program and Express Entry Canada is that if you are selected to immigrate, you will be required to work in a specific province for at least 1 year. If you want to go specifically to Alberta – this program is your opportunity!

Both programs work by a points and pool system. This means that you must score a minimum number of points on your immigration profile to qualify (the minimum score is set by the CIC). Your points are calculated through Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), based on information you provide under 6 selection factors: age, language, work experience, academic qualifications, job offer, and sponsorship.

Once your visa application is submitted to the ‘pool of candidates’, it will be ranked and compared to other applicants. If selected, you will receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply), after which you will have 90 days to submit a request for permanent residency in Canada.

This is why learning of Alberta’s ITA’s to candidates with low CRS scores was such great news. This means that you have even higher possibilities of immigrating to Canada! Also, keep in mind that even if your visa application doesn’t get selected, you can always resubmit it without preparing a whole new visa application.

Canadian Permanent Residency

It’s important you know how Canada gives back to the community. Canadian permanent residency includes many great benefits, such as:

• Live and work anywhere in Canada

• Sponsor your family members, spouse or common-law partner to come live with you

• Register for free healthcare “Medicare”

• Register your children for free public education

• Receive protection under Canadian law

Also, even if your permanent residency card expires, you will still be considered a Canadian permanent resident. Just be sure to renew it or you will not be able to utilize many of its benefits.

How Can Great North Visa Assist You?

Moving to Canada is an exciting prospect for many. Whether it is moving to Alberta, Quebec, or way out there in Nunavut. Canada provides an abundance of employment opportunities, great wages, excellent education facilities, plenty of open space, and focuses on providing a high qualify of life for its citizens and immigrants.

Our team of certified immigration professionals can assist you with preparing your Express Entry Canada visa application. We will optimize your immigration profile so it stands out in the crowd. We generally provide in-depth eligibility evaluations, document collection assistance, legal help, C.V optimization, access to job searching tools, and more.

If you wish to learn more about your options for immigrating to Canada, or Alberta specifically, contact a personal immigration agent today for a consultation and eligibility assessment. We would be happy to accompany you on your journey.