Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream
Tourism and Hospitality stream is new immigration proghram launched by the Alberta Immigration department under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Under this program your employer must be registered under the Workers Compensation Board (WCB). The Primary Business Activity must belongs to the WCB – Alberta Industry code.
At the time of your Submission, you must demonstrate that your Alberta employer has a valid WCB coverage or is exempt from needing coverage through a WCB clearance letter.
Below the table is the list of eligible WCB industries and their industry code
| Eligible WCB industries and exempt activities | WCB industry code | Sample activities |
|---|---|---|
| Museums/Art Galleries | 80701 | Art Galleries, Art Museums, Interpretive Centres, Museums |
| Zoos/Game Farms | 80703 | Game Farms, Zoos |
| Bowling Alleys/Billiard Parlours | 85300 | Billiard Parlours, Bowling Alleys, Pool Halls |
| Golf Clubs/Ranges | 85900 | Operation of Driving Ranges, Golf Courses |
| Ski Resorts/Gondolas | 85904 | Operation of Chairlifts, Gondolas, Ski Instruction, Ski Resorts |
| Casinos/Dance Halls | 85916 | Casino Halls, Dance Halls |
| Arenas/Stadiums | 85919 | Arenas, Stadiums, Race Tracks |
| Travel Agency/Motor Association | 85925 | Operation of Wildlife and Wilderness Associations, Tour Guides, Tourist Promotion, Park Associations |
| Restaurants/Catering | 87501 | Operation of Coffee Shops, Drive-In Restaurants, Restaurants, Take-Out Services, Bartending Services |
| Hotels/Convention Centres | 87503 | Operation of Bed and Breakfast, Cabins and Motels, Convention Centres |
| Sports and Recreation | 87600 | Operation of Amusement Parks and Rec Resorts, Hot Air Ballooning, Boats, Pleasure and Water Tours, Campsites |
| Property Management/Hostels | 89702 | Operation of Hostels, Bingo Halls, Airports |
| Private Clubs | 87508 | Private Clubs, Sporting Clubs, Fitness Clubs and Gun Clubs |
| Operation of a Curling Rink | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
| Operation of an Ice Skating Rink | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
| Operation of a Cricket Field | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
| Operation of a Convention Bureau | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
| Operation of an Information Bureau | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
| Promotions, sports and entertainment | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
| Professional sports | Multiple | Activity is identified within multiple WCB industries/codes |
Sector association and Travel Alberta membership requirements
Upon submission of your application, it’s imperative that your Alberta employer is affiliated with an eligible sector association listed in Table 2 below.
If your employer meets the qualifications for membership in any of the eligible sector associations, it’s mandatory for them to become a member. Failure to do so, regardless of the reason, will result in your employer not meeting the necessary requirements, leading to the rejection of your application.
List of eligible sector associations
| Sector | Sector association |
|---|---|
| Accommodations | Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) |
| Accommodations | Alberta Bed and Breakfast Association (ABBA) |
| Food and Beverage | Restaurants Canada |
| Indigenous Tourism | Indigenous Tourism Alberta |
| Recreation and Entertainment | Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) |
| Recreation and Entertainment | Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) |
| Recreation and Entertainment | Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) |
| Recreation and Entertainment | Alberta Golf Association |
| Meetings, Conventions, and Incentive Tourism | Convention Centres Canada (CCC) |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Alberta Hospitality Association |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Tourism HR Canada |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) |
Eligible Occupation List
| NOC code (2021) | Occupation | NOC TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| 54100 | Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness* | 4 |
| 60030 | Restaurant and food services managers | 0 |
| 60031 | Accommodation service managers | 0 |
| 62020 | Food service supervisors | 2 |
| 62200 | Chefs | 2 |
| 63200 | Cooks | 3 |
| 64300 | Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses | 4 |
| 64301 | Bartenders | 4 |
| 64314 | Hotel front desk clerks | 4 |
| 64320 | Tour and travel guides | 4 |
| 64322 | Outdoor sport and recreational guides | 4 |
| 65200 | Food and beverage servers | 5 |
| 65201 | Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations* | 5 |
| 65210 | Support occupations in accommodation, travel, and facilities set-up services | 5 |
| 65310 | Light duty cleaners* | 5 |
| 65311 | Specialized cleaners* | 5 |
| 65312 | Janitors, caretakers, and heavy-duty cleaners* | 5 |
| 65320 | Dry cleaning, laundry, and related occupations* | 5 |
At the time opf submitting your application, you must be
- Living and working in Alberta in an eligible occupation for an Approved Tourism and Hospitality employer;
- have a valid work permit based on a positive Labour market Impact Assessment for an eligible Occupation.
Work experience
At both the time of your application submission and during the assessment by the AAIP, you are required to have worked full-time (a minimum of 30 hours per week) with an approved Tourism and Hospitality employer in one of the eligible occupations continuously for at least six consecutive months (or a minimum of 780 hours) up to the time of your application.
Your work experience:
– Must have been with the same employer who has provided your current Alberta job offer.
– Must have been remunerated.
– Must have been officially authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada.
Job offer or employment contract
At both the time of your application submission and during the AAIP assessment, you must possess a legitimate full-time job offer or employment contract:
– The job offer should pertain to an eligible occupation.
– It must originate from the same Alberta employer with whom you’ve completed the required six consecutive months (780 hours) of work experience and your current employment.
Additionally, your job offer or employment contract must meet the following criteria:
– It must be endorsed by a bona fide, reputable, and verifiable Alberta employer.
– The offer should guarantee continuous paid employment under an employer-employee relationship.
– Full-time employment is defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week.
– The duration of employment should be at least 12 months.
– Wages and benefits must comply with provincial minimum wage regulations and either:
– Meet or exceed the criteria outlined in your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), if applicable, or
– Match or surpass the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta as per the Alis website.
Any non-wage compensations, such as benefits from company ownership, are not considered part of the base monetary wage or salary for the applicant.
Language requirements
At the time of application submission, you need to confirm that you meet the language proficiency requirements by achieving:
– A minimum score of 4 for each skill in the English language, or
– A minimum score of 4 for each skill in the French language.
Official test results from one of the following accepted language proficiency tests must be provided:
– Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test
– International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test
– Test d’évaluation de français Canada (TEF Canada)
– Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)
Education requirements
At the time your application is submitted, you must have completed a minimum of high school education equivalent to Canadian standards.
You must provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by an organization designated by IRCC for your highest level of education.
An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is not required if:
– You possess a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate obtained from a Canadian post-secondary, technical college, or secondary institution that is:
– Recognized in the Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada, or
– Authorized, registered, or licensed institution listed in the Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada, and the institution was empowered by Advanced Education to confer your degree, diploma, or certificate. You can verify this with your educational institution or Advanced Education to confirm its authority to grant your credential.
– You hold a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate acknowledged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).