Canadian Immigration Guide for Nail Technicians in Alberta

Below is a detailed article about the possibility of settling in Canada for nail technicians in Alberta, focusing entirely on the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), especially the Rural Renewal Stream , as this is one of the very few remaining streams suitable for workers in TEER 4-5 skilled occupations such as nail technicians.

According to Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
(Updated based on information from the Alberta government website and IRCC as of July 13, 2025)

1. Suitable target audience

If you are:

• Working as a nail technician or manicurist in Alberta.
• I have a valid work permit.
• Working full-time at a legal nail salon in Alberta,
• And there is a minimum English level (CLB 4).

Then you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency under the Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) - part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) .

2. A brief introduction to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

This is the Alberta government's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Once nominated, you can then apply for permanent residency (PR) with the federal government through IRCC.

AAIP has several streams, but only the Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) and Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) are suitable for workers with vocational skills such as nail technician (TEER 4–5) .

3. Detailed information about the Rural Renewal Stream

🔗Official website: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-community-designation

Request	Detailed description
Working in a city participating in the RRS program and receiving support from the city.	Currently living and working legally in Alberta .
Job	Full-time
Current occupation	Currently working in an occupation not on Alberta's exclusion list . Nail technician - NOC code 63211 (formerly 6562) is an accepted occupation.
Job Offer	A job offer from a nail salon owner in one of the cities on the list is required. Full-time, permanent, and with no end date. Workplace in that city. The shop owner must be a legally registered and operating business.
Work experience	According to the requirements of each city.
Language (IELTS/ CELPIP/ Pearson Test)	If the profession is TEER 4 or 5 (like nail technician) : Minimum requirement: Club 4 in all skills. Equivalent to IELTS score: Listening: 4.5 Reading: 3.5 Writing: 4.0 Speaking: 4.0
Educational level	Minimum requirement: High school diploma. If studying outside Canada: an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) is required.

4. Detailed information about the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)

🔗 Official website: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-alberta-opportunity-stream

Request	Detailed description
Residence status	Currently living and working legally in Alberta .
Work permit	A valid work permit must be one of the following types: Issued based on a valid LMIA. Or under LMIA waiver programs, for example, CEC, IEC, PGWP, or a spouse-related Open Work Permit (in some cases). ❗ Not accepted : Refugee claimants, visitor visas, or permits that are no longer valid.
Current occupation	Currently working in an occupation not on Alberta's exclusion list . Nail technician - NOC code 63211 (formerly 6562) is an accepted occupation.
Job Offer	I need a job offer from a nail salon owner in Alberta . Full-time, permanent, and with no end date. Workplace in Alberta. The shop owner must be a legally registered and operating business.
Work experience	One of two options: 12 months of full-time work (30+ hours/week) in Alberta within the last 18 months. 24 months of full-time work experience within the last 30 months (in Alberta, Canada, or internationally).
Language (IELTS/ CELPIP/ Pearson Test)	If the profession is TEER 4 or 5 (like nail technician) : Minimum requirement: CLB 4. Equivalent IELTS score: Listening: 4.5 Reading: 3.5 Writing: 4.0 Speaking: 4.0
Educational level	Minimum requirement: High school diploma. If studying outside Canada: an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) is required.

5. Ineligible Occupations List

🔗 https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-ineligible-occupations

• The nail technician profession is not on the exclusion list , so you are eligible if you meet the other requirements.

6. Application Submission Process

Step 1: Check eligibility

• Currently working in Alberta, with a job offer and a valid work permit.
• Possesses qualifications, experience, and satisfactory language test results.

Step 2: Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI)

• Access: https://portal.alberta.ca
• Register an account and provide your information.
• Submit an endorsement letter from the city (an endorsement letter will give applicants an additional 6 points when applying for the PNP).
• Wait for the system to send you an invitation to submit your application (Notification of Interest) if you are selected.

Step 3: Submit the official application.

• After receiving the invitation, you will have 30 days to complete and submit your application online.
• Government application fees are non-refundable.

Step 4: Receive provincial nomination

• If approved, you will receive a Nomination Certificate from Alberta.

Step 5: Submit your PR application to IRCC.

• Based on the nomination, submit your PR application through the "Non-Express Entry – PNP" stream.
• IRCC will review security, medical, and criminal background checks.

7. Processing time

Stage	Estimated processing time
Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP)	4-6 months
Permanent Residents (IRCC)	12-18 months (may be longer)

8. Additional notes for nail technicians

• You should keep all documents: employment contract, payslips, employment confirmation letter, LMIA (if any), and time sheets.
• The shop owner should be willing to provide job offer letters that follow the prescribed format.
• Language proficiency is essential: If you haven't taken the test yet, start preparing for IELTS General or CELPIP as soon as possible.

📎 Compilation of useful government links

• AAIP overview: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip
• Alberta Opportunity Stream: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-eligibility#jumplinks-1
• Alberta Opportunity Stream: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-alberta-opportunity-stream
• Occupations disqualified: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-ineligible-occupations
• Application page: https://portal.alberta.ca
• Express Entry (for more information): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
• Information for NOC 63211 (nail technician): https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/noc-detail-occupation-code/63211

KeyApply's services

If you are a nail technician in Alberta, have a valid work permit, and are working full-time, the Alberta Opportunity Stream is a realistic path to permanent residency for you . Simply prepare your application thoroughly, achieve a CLB 4 level in English, and ensure you have a job offer from your employer, and you can apply for permanent residency and become a Canadian permanent resident within 1–2 years.

You can contact us and have your immigration application processed by our team of licensed and experienced immigration lawyers and consultants.

🇨🇦 Q&A

❓1. What programs allow nail technicians in Alberta to immigrate?
Nail technicians working legally in Alberta can apply for permanent residency (PR) through the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) program, part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

❓2. Is the nail technician profession on the list of eligible occupations?
The nail technician profession is listed under NOC 63211, belonging to TEER group 4. This is a valid profession and is not on the exclusion list of the AOS program. 🔗 See details of profession NOC 63211

3. What type of work permit is required?
You need a valid work permit, one of the following types:

• Issued based on a valid LMIA,
• Alternatively, you may be exempt from the LMIA under categories such as the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), International Experience Canada (IEC), or an open work permit based on your spouse's work/study.
• ❌ Not accepted: expired visitor visas, refugee claimants, or work permits.

4. Is a job offer required?
Required. You must have a full-time, permanent job offer with no time limit from a legally operating nail salon in Alberta.

❓ 5. What are the work experience requirements?
You need to meet one of the following two conditions:

• Work for at least 12 months full-time in Alberta within the last 18 months, or
• Have 24 months of full-time experience within the last 30 months anywhere (Canada or internationally).

6. Are there any qualifications required?
Yes. You need at least a high school diploma.
If you studied outside of Canada, you need to submit an ECA – a certificate of equivalence to Canadian qualifications.

7. Is taking the English exam mandatory?
Mandatory. The nail technician profession is TEER 4, so a minimum of CLB 4 is required. Equivalent to IELTS General.

• Listening: 4.5
• Reading: 3.5
• Writing: 4.0
• Speaking: 4.0

8. Is there a fee for submitting the application?

• Yes. The AAIP application fee to the government is 500 CAD, non-refundable.
• Other related fees include immigration consulting, legal fees, translation fees, etc.

9. How long does it take to process the application?

• AAIP (AOS): 4-6 months
• Permanent residency at IRCC: 12-18 months (may take longer if the application is incomplete)

10. Is it possible to apply through Express Entry?
❌ No. The nail technician profession belongs to TEER 4, which does not directly qualify you for Express Entry (only TEER 0–3 professions are accepted). However, you can apply through AAIP first, then apply for PR with IRCC under the Provincial Nominee stream.

❓10. Do I get points for working in rural Alberta?
There are no official transcripts, but work experience in rural areas is prioritized. Additionally, it may be possible to switch to the Rural Renewal program for faster permanent residency application.