This portion of the Move to Edmonton website identifies challenges and explores the opportunities available to business when they take steps to employ immigrants.  Information about the necessary programs and processes required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada is provided, as is information about hiring international students and graduates.

Discover more about the business advantages that can be realized by hiring immigrant workers at the Hire Immigrants website.

Immigration fact sheets
To help business and employers understand the how to use the different immigration permits and programs available, fact sheets have been produced by Service Canada/Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

These fact sheets provide a succinct and easy-to-understand review of the procedures and steps employers must fulfill. Take steps to understand what is required in the immigration fact sheets.  

Alberta-Canada job bank
Alberta Economic Development provides a job bank for Alberta companies to post available positions on the Alberta-Canada/jobs website. Employers are able to post and maintain employment positions that are available to foreign workers, but an access code is required to do so. To obtain an access code, employers can call (780) 427-6419.

If a position being posted is for unskilled workers, employers must have the position posted on the Alberta-Canada/jobs website to fulfill requirements put forward by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Nine federal immigration programs
If you are considering bringing a Foreign National to Edmonton from outside of Canada, there are nine programs that can be utilized.

If available federal programs do not meet your needs, the Provincial Nominee Program is a Canada-Alberta program that helps bring skilled workers into Alberta when other avenues have not been successful.

Use the options below to help find the best program for your needs.

Find the Best Program

  1. The position requires greater than high school education
  2. I wish to hire someone on a temporary or seasonal basis
  3. I need someone to live in my home and take care of my family
  4. The position is primarily seasonal agricultural work
1. Temporary Foreign  Workers
  • Open to employers who need temporary workers for positions that require more than a high school education. 

  • Provides an option that allows employers to have foreign nationals start work quickly. While employed with the same Canadian company, temporary foreign workers can apply under option 5: Arranged Employment or option 9. Provincial Nominee Program to become permanent residents.

  • Works well for employers who wish to provide a probationary employment period for foreign workers before a permanent position is offered.

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2.  Low Skilled Workers Pilot Project
  • Open to employers who need temporary workers for jobs that require high school education or less.

  • Workers are permitted to remain in that position for one year.

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3.  Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP)
  • Open to employers who need seasonal workers for businesses like honey farms,vegetable farms and tree nurseries. 

  • Open to employers in specific agricultural fields. 

  • Open to foreign nationals from specific countries.

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4. Live-In Caregiver Program
  • Open to those needing in-home, personal care for themselves or their families. 

  • Open to employers who wish to have caregiver live with them.

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5.  Arranged Employment
  • Open to employers who want to hire workers in permanent positions that require more than a high school education. 

  • Employers search for and choose their own foreign workers.

  • Works well for employers who can wait until the worker receives permanent resident status in Canada before starting work.

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6. International Students Attending School
  • Open to all employers with employment opportunities for international students.

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7. International Students That Have Recently Graduated
  • Open to all employers with employment opportunities for international students that have completed their post-secondary education.

  • Gives employers the opportunity to provide a probationary employment period before offering international graduates a permanent position.

  • Edmonton Workforce Connection has developed an Employer Business Case that highlights the value international students bring to their place of employment.

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8. Working Holiday Program
  • Allows young foreign nationals (from specific countries) to visit Canada for a temporary period.  During their stay, foreign nationals may experience Canada as tourists or if they wish, they may enter the Canadian work force. 

  • Provides foreign youth the opportunity to experience Canadian culture and, if they desire, the Canadian world of work.

  • Provides Canadian employers the opportunity to fill vacancies for temporary work.

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9. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
  • This program is designed for employers who wish to bring skilled employees to Canada to work on a permanent basis.  It is intended to reduce the amount of time required for foreign workers to gain permanent residence.

  • Available in most provinces.

  • Open to employers who need workers for full-time, permanent, critical-skill jobs.

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Edmonton Economic Development Corporation City of Edmonton