About the AAIP
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is Alberta's provincial nominee program. Alberta nominates workers and entrepreneurs who can fill labour needs or start businesses in the province. A nomination lets you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. IRCC makes the final decision.
We are based in Calgary, so this page covers the AAIP in more detail than our other province pages. It summarizes what Alberta publishes; the official pages linked below always prevail.
Current streams and pathways (as of 2026-10-10)
Worker streams
| Stream or pathway | Who it is for | Status | Nomination type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | Temporary foreign workers already working in Alberta | Open, by invitation | Base |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream | Candidates with an Express Entry profile and a CRS score of at least 300 | Open, by invitation | Enhanced |
| Accelerated Tech Pathway | Alberta Express Entry candidates in eligible technology occupations | Open, by invitation | Enhanced |
| Law Enforcement Pathway | Alberta Express Entry candidates who meet the pathway criteria | Open, by invitation | Enhanced |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathway | Health care workers who meet the pathway criteria | Open, by invitation | See alberta.ca |
| Priority-sector draws | Alberta Express Entry candidates in sectors Alberta selects | Open, by invitation | Enhanced |
| Rural Renewal Stream | Workers with an endorsement from a designated rural Alberta community | Open | Base |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | Workers in Alberta's tourism and hospitality sector | Open, by invitation | Base |
Entrepreneur streams
| Stream | Status |
|---|---|
| Rural Entrepreneur Stream | Open |
| Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | Open |
| Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | Open |
| Farm Stream | Open |
Entrepreneur streams usually lead to a nomination after a work permit and a performance agreement. See our business immigration page for an overview.
How selection works
The worker expression of interest (EOI) system
For the worker streams, you cannot simply submit an application. The process is:
- Submit an EOI in Alberta's online system. Alberta scores each EOI using its published points grid.
- Wait for a draw. Alberta selects candidates in draws, often by stream, pathway or sector, and publishes each draw on its processing information page.
- Apply if invited. Only invited candidates can submit an AAIP application.
- Nomination. If Alberta approves the application, you receive a nomination.
- Apply to IRCC. Enhanced nominees accept the nomination in their Express Entry profile and wait for an IRCC invitation. Base nominees submit a separate PR application to IRCC.
A high EOI score doesn't mean you will be selected: draws often target specific streams, occupations and sectors.
Rural Renewal: community endorsement first
Under the Rural Renewal Stream, you first need an endorsement from a designated Alberta community. From 2026-01-01, communities have caps, an endorsement is valid for 1 year, and eligibility uses a TEER-based model.
Fees (as of 2026-10-10)
- EOI fee: $135, from 2026-04-07.
- Application fee: $1,500, from 2025-04-01.
IRCC's permanent residence fees are separate. See IRCC's fee list.
Key requirements in the Alberta Opportunity Stream
This is the main stream for people already working in Alberta. Requirements include:
- Alberta work experience: at least 12 months within the last 18 months, or 24 months within the last 30 months, as defined in the stream criteria.
- Language: CLB 5 for TEER 0–3 occupations, CLB 4 for TEER 4–5 occupations.
- Other criteria on your occupation, your job in Alberta and your temporary resident status.
Read the full criteria on alberta.ca before you submit an EOI; occupation exclusions and document rules change.
The 2026 allocation
- 2026: Alberta's nomination allocation is 6,603. As of 2026-10-07, Alberta reported 1,062 nominations left for the year.
- 2025: 6,403, including a federal top-up.
When the allocation runs low, draws can become smaller or less frequent until the next year's allocation.
Recent changes
- 2026-10-07: Alberta reported 1,062 nominations left in its 2026 allocation.
- 2026-04-07: EOI fee of $135 introduced.
- 2026-01-01: Rural Renewal Stream changes: community caps, 1-year endorsement validity and a TEER-based model.
- 2025-04-01: application fee of $1,500.
- 2025-03-17: the Alberta Express Entry family-connection and occupation-in-demand pathway stopped accepting candidates.
We found no announcement on alberta.ca of a full AAIP restructuring. The changes above were made one by one.
Practical points for Alberta workers
- Keep your status valid. Your work permit must stay valid while you wait for a draw and for the nomination. Plan your renewal early.
- Choose the right NOC code. Your duties, not your job title, decide your NOC and TEER. Check them in our NOC finder.
- Keep your test results current. Language results expire after 2 years. Convert your scores with our CLB converter.
- Employers and LMIAs. For applications from 2026-10-09 to 2027-01-07, ESDC refuses to process most low-wage LMIAs in the Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer areas. See our LMIA page.
- Match the other pathways. Some workers may also qualify for federal Express Entry. Read our Express Entry page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to the AAIP without an invitation?
Not for the worker streams. You submit an EOI, and only candidates invited in a draw can apply. Rural Renewal requires a community endorsement first.
Does an Alberta nomination add CRS points?
Yes, if it comes through the Alberta Express Entry Stream or one of its pathways. An enhanced nomination adds 600 CRS points. Alberta Opportunity Stream nominations are base nominations and don't add CRS points.
Is an Alberta nomination the same as permanent residence?
No. A nomination lets you apply to IRCC, which checks admissibility and decides.
How long does it take?
Alberta publishes its own processing times on its processing information page. IRCC's processing times for the federal stage are on IRCC's tool.
Other provinces
Compare with the other programs on our Provincial Nominee Program hub, for example British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, works from Calgary and can:
- check which AAIP stream or pathway fits your work history and status;
- review your NOC, language results and documents before you submit an EOI;
- prepare your AAIP application if you are invited, and the IRCC permanent residence application after nomination;
- plan work-permit renewals so your status stays valid while you wait.
Alberta and IRCC make every decision, so no one can promise a nomination or an approval. We don't represent clients at the Immigration and Refugee Board or in Federal Court. Book a consultation.