Alberta is one of the biggest provinces in Canada, bordered by BC to the west & Saskatchewan to the east. Here’s all you need to know about moving to Alberta. Alberta is one of the most unique provinces. One of the most significant advantages of this province is its prominent outdoor activity lifestyle & natural beauty. The province has a large population of newcomers, with over one million immigrants. Most newcomers settle in the province’s largest CMAs, i.e., Calgary, Edmonton, & Lethbridge.
The province boasts higher income levels as compared to the rest of the nation. According to the Government of Alberta, the province offers the highest median after-tax income in Canada. Therefore, families in the province generally enjoy a higher family income than in other parts of Canada.
Well, if you are planning on moving to Alberta, stick to this guide for more information.
Housing
More than 4.6 million Canadians live in Alberta, thus making it the fourth most populated province. Most newcomers to the province will seek the rental market for housing.
As of August 2023, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Calgary was $1,728. Moreover, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Edmonton was $1.279, followed by Lethbridge, which was $1,181.
Some provincial resources that can help you find housing include:
- Government Of Alberta’s Affordable Housing Resources
- Government Of Alberta’s Digital Services
Commuting
At least 71% of residents in each of Alberta’s three largest CMAs live less than 500 meters from a ‘public transit access point.’ This implies that they can easily access a bus or other forms of public transportation in their community.
Moreover, Calgary & Edmonton have transit systems to service their communities. In Calgary, around 40,600 people use some form/ kind of public transportation to move around the city. This number is over 33,00 in Edmonton.
The Calgary Transit, Edmonton Transit Service, & the Lethbridge Transit Systems all operate their own fleet of trains, buses, & other transport to support the needs of their respective communities.
However, most residents of Alberta’s three biggest CMAs continue to use a car, truck, or van as their primary form of commuting. Therefore, you might want to consider getting an Alberta Driving License.
For your first 90 days as a resident, you might operate a motor vehicle using your driver’s license obtained in your home country. At the end of 90 days, you might apply for & obtain an Alberta driver’s license in order to continue operating the vehicle.
Employment
Employment is another factor you must know about before moving to Alberta. In Alberta, the three largest industries in order of employment are healthcare, trade professions, & social assistance & construction.
Alberta employs more than 345,000 individuals in the trades industry. It includes people in wholesale & retail trade professions. More than 232,000 Alberta residents work in professions throughout the healthcare & social assistance sector. This implies that they are responsible for taking care of the physical, mental, & social health of the community members.
Finally, around 178,000 people are employed in Alberta’s construction sector, building the infrastructure that everyday Canadians rely on.
Some provincial resources that can help you find a job in Alberta include:
- ALIS, in collaboration with the Government of Alberta
- Alberta Supports
- Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
Healthcare
In Alberta, there is a waiting period of three months for newcomers who wish for public healthcare coverage. After three months, any newcomer to Canada who has settled in Alberta can get free healthcare with a valid provincial health card.
In order to apply for a provincial health card in Alberta, you need to apply & provide the government with supporting documents verifying your Alberta residency, your identity, & your legal entitlement to live in Canada.
Across Canada, a valid health card allows you to access public health services without even having to pay for them. However, each Canadian province has its own provincial healthcare system, which determines what services are offered as part of public healthcare coverage. Certain medications & treatments will require the recipient to pay out of pocket.
Education
Children of newcomers moving to Alberta will enter the provincial education system at the age of six. Obligatory education carries on until graduation from high school.
From kindergarten to high school, Alberta residents can enjoy free education through the public school system. For parents who do not want to send their child to public school, Alberta offers private/ boarding schools requiring parents to pay out of pocket. The provincial government has a webpage that breaks down the provincial curriculum from kindergarten to grade 12.
In terms of post-secondary education, the province offers around 150 DLIs for newcomers to Canada. Many of these DLIs offer PGWP-eligible programs, thus enabling non-permanent resident Canadian newcomers who graduate from an eligible program to work in Canada.
Taxation
The two primary taxes in Alberta are sales & income tax. Residents are only charged a 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST), while most other provinces charge either GST or a combination of sales taxes that exceed 10%.
Like other provinces, Alberta charges income tax based on a bracketed system that requires residents to pay a specific amount of money to the government based on their annual income level.
Newcomer Services
Alberta’s provincial government offers settlement services to newcomers that include resources. These services include pre-arrival resources & community, childcare, & language support. IRCC provides government-funded services to Canadian newcomers when settling in Canada, including help finding a job, a play to reside, & signing up your kids for school.