Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) 2026: Streams, Fees and Draws

Alberta has 6,603 nominations for 2026 and had issued 6,108 by 4 November, per the AAIP processing page. A nomination is not permanent residence: it lets you apply to IRCC, and through Express Entry it adds 600 CRS points. All figures here are from alberta.ca, checked 8 November 2026, and the rules change often.

AAIP streams in 2026

The AAIP overview lists four worker streams and four entrepreneur streams. Worker streams: Alberta Opportunity, Alberta Express Entry (with pathways for health care, tech and police), Rural Renewal, and Tourism and Hospitality. Entrepreneur streams: Rural Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm. The family connection and occupation in demand pathway stopped inviting candidates on 17 March 2025, per the AAIP updates page.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

This is the largest stream, with 3,562 of the 2026 nominations. It is for people already working in Alberta. Per the eligibility page, you need a valid work permit (not maintained status), a full-time offer from an Alberta employer in your current occupation, and either 12 months of full-time work in that occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months or 24 months in Canada or abroad within the last 30. Holders of a PGWP from an Alberta public institution need 6 months in Alberta.

Language is CLB 5 in each skill for TEER 0 to 3 jobs and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5, with CLB 7 for nurse aides (NOC 33102). Some jobs are excluded outright, including teachers, real estate agents, taxi drivers and home child care providers.

Alberta Express Entry Stream and its pathways

This stream nominates people from the federal pool. Per the Express Entry eligibility page, you need an active profile, eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades or Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker, a CRS score of at least 300, and the intent to live in Alberta. The stream page names four ways in:

• Accelerated Tech Pathway: a job offer in an eligible tech occupation from an Alberta employer in an eligible tech industry.
• Dedicated Health Care Pathway: an offer from an Alberta health care employer and a licence to practise. It also has a non-Express Entry option.
• Law Enforcement Pathway: an offer from a member of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police.
• Priority sectors: experience in a key sector named by Alberta, such as construction or aviation. No Alberta offer needed.

Rural Renewal and Tourism and Hospitality

Rural Renewal runs through designated rural communities, which recruit and endorse candidates. Since 1 January 2026 each community has an endorsement limit, endorsement letters last one year, and applicants in Canada need a valid work permit. The Tourism and Hospitality Stream is small, with 156 nominations for 2026.

AAIP draws and the Expression of Interest

Every worker stream starts with a Worker EOI, per the how to apply page. It is scored out of 100, has no minimum score to submit, costs CAD 135 and lasts 12 months. You can hold one at a time. AAIP runs draws with no fixed schedule and picks on score, labour needs and the nominations left. If invited, you have 15 days to start the application and 30 days to submit and pay. Since 25 February 2026 a WEOI without wage and hours details is skipped in draws.

AAIP application fee and processing time

The worker stream application fee is CAD 1,500 (about $1,080) since 1 April 2025, per the updates page. It is paid within 24 hours of submitting and is not refunded if you are refused. Add the CAD 135 WEOI fee, language tests, a credential assessment and the IRCC fees after nomination.

alberta.ca gives no time in months. It publishes the receipt date each stream is working through (see the table), so compare that date with today. Transita's catalogue estimate for the whole route is 6–12 months, and the IRCC stage follows.

Alberta or another province

Our provincial nominee program guide covers the other provinces, and BC PNP Tech vs Canadian Experience Class shows how a nomination compares with going federal only. Indian applicants can start from Canada routes for Indian citizens.

Frequently asked questions

official sources: AAIP · alberta.ca