Alberta PNP (AAIP) 2026: Streams, Draws, Eligibility, and How to Apply

As of June 9, 2026; allocation and draw figures updated September 24, 2026. Alberta can nominate up to 6,603 people for permanent residence through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program in 2026, after a federal top-up of 200 nominations on August 10, and its latest Alberta Opportunity Stream draw, on September 1, 2026, invited 575 candidates at a minimum score of 56.

What is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). It is an economic immigration program run by the Government of Alberta that nominates people for permanent residence so they can live and work in the province. AAIP does not grant permanent residence on its own. Alberta selects you, and then Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides your federal permanent residence application. A provincial nomination is a recommendation to the federal government that you can fill a labour gap in Alberta. The program is sometimes still called the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), its former name. The provincial overview is published on the official Alberta Advantage Immigration Program page, and IRCC explains the federal side on its provincial nominee page.

Is Alberta PNP still open in 2026?

Yes. AAIP is open and actively issuing invitations in 2026. The province is working through a large Expression of Interest (EOI) pool, runs draws as labour-market needs require, and has a 2026 nomination allocation of 6,603 spaces across all streams, up from 6,403 after IRCC added 200 nominations on August 10, 2026. As of September 9, 2026, Alberta reported 4,864 nominations issued and 1,739 spaces remaining. As of early June 2026 the worker streams held tens of thousands of candidates in the EOI pool, and Alberta continues to draw from them on no fixed schedule. AAIP draws are not regularly timed. The province selects candidates as it needs to, based on EOI score rankings, provincial labour priorities, available nominations, and current application volumes. You can confirm the live status, remaining spaces, and recent activity on the official AAIP processing information page before you apply.

What streams does AAIP have?

AAIP runs eight streams, split into four worker streams and four entrepreneur streams. The worker streams cover most skilled workers and graduates already in Alberta or in the federal Express Entry pool. The entrepreneur streams cover people who want to start, buy, or run a business or farm in the province. Each stream has its own eligibility rules, fees, and selection process, and most worker streams now run through the ranked EOI intake system. The table below lists every current stream and who each one targets, drawn from the provincial AAIP application streams page.

Who is eligible for Alberta PNP?

Eligibility depends on the stream, but most applicants qualify through one of two routes. The Alberta Opportunity Stream is for people already working in Alberta on a valid work permit with a full-time job offer in an eligible occupation. Language requirements scale by National Occupational Classification (NOC) category. Roles in NOC Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) levels 0, 1, 2, and 3 need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in each skill, while TEER 4 and 5 roles need CLB 4. The Express Entry Stream is for candidates who already have an active federal profile with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300, in an occupation Alberta is targeting. The Opportunity Stream rules are set out on the Alberta Opportunity Stream eligibility page.

Alberta Express Entry priority pathways

Within this stream, the province targets specific groups through dedicated pathways and priority sectors. These include the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, the Accelerated Tech Pathway, the Law Enforcement Pathway, and priority sectors such as construction, agriculture, aviation, and manufacturing. The detailed rules are on the Alberta Express Entry eligibility page.

How does the AAIP EOI ranking and scoring work?

Most AAIP worker streams use a ranked EOI system rather than first-come, first-served intake. You submit a profile, the province scores and ranks it, and only the highest-ranked candidates in each draw receive an invitation to apply. Your EOI score combines factors such as education, language ability, Alberta work experience, and a valid job offer. Alberta then issues invitations based on your score ranking, its labour-market priorities, the nominations it has left, and how many applications it is already processing. A higher EOI score and an occupation in a priority sector both improve your odds. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation, and the cut-off score changes from draw to draw. The selection mechanics are described on the AAIP processing information page.

What were the recent Alberta PNP draws and cut-off scores?

Alberta runs frequent, targeted draws rather than one large round. In 2026 it has held separate draws for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Rural Renewal Stream, and several Express Entry Stream pathways and priority sectors, each with its own minimum score. Cut-offs look low next to the federal pool because AAIP scores on a different scale: 2026 minimum scores have ranged from 45 to 73, depending on the stream. The table below shows a sample of late May and early June 2026 draws from the provincial processing page. Rounds since then include the Alberta Opportunity Stream on September 1, 2026 with 575 invitations at a minimum score of 56, the Accelerated Tech Pathway on September 3 with 96 invitations at 60, and the Dedicated Health Care Pathway for Express Entry candidates on September 9 with 51 invitations at 60. For every 2026 round as it happens, see our Alberta PNP draw 2026 tracker. Always check the live AAIP processing information page for the latest round, since draw dates and scores change week to week.

How much does an AAIP application cost?

AAIP charges separate fees for submitting an Expression of Interest and for the application itself, and the amounts differ for worker and entrepreneur streams. Effective April 7, 2026, Alberta introduced a $135 non-refundable Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) fee, charged whether or not you receive an invitation. The worker stream application fee is $1,500. Entrepreneur streams cost more, with a $3,500 application fee. These are provincial fees only. You also pay separate federal fees to IRCC when you apply for permanent residence after a nomination. The table below summarises the provincial costs published on the AAIP updates page.

How does AAIP connect to Express Entry and the 600 points?

The Alberta Express Entry Stream is enhanced, meaning a nomination is tied to the federal selection system. If Alberta nominates you and you accept, you receive 600 additional points on your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. That is the maximum a nomination can add, and you can only receive it once. With 600 extra points, you are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the next federal round. IRCC explains this on its get or confirm a nomination page, and the point allocation is set out in the Comprehensive Ranking System criteria. Base or non-Express Entry nominations work on paper instead and do not add CRS points, as described on the IRCC Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry process page.

How do I apply for Alberta PNP?

For the worker streams, you apply in two stages. First, you submit a ranked EOI profile and wait to be invited. Second, if you receive an invitation to apply, you submit a full application with documents and fees within the deadline. The general steps are below, but always confirm the current process on the official AAIP application streams page, since intake rules change.

1. Confirm which stream fits your situation and check the eligibility page for that stream.
2. Build or update your federal Express Entry profile if you are applying through that stream.
3. Submit a Worker Expression of Interest and pay the $135 WEOI fee.
4. Wait for a draw. If your score meets the cut-off, you receive an invitation to apply.
5. Submit the full application with supporting documents and the $1,500 worker application fee.
6. If nominated, apply to IRCC for permanent residence and pay the federal fees.

What is the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and is Alberta in it?

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a separate, federal permanent residence pathway launched by IRCC in 2025, replacing the older Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. It offers permanent residence to skilled workers who want to live and work in one of 14 designated rural communities across six provinces. In Alberta, the only participating community is Claresholm, which launched its pilot on April 29, 2025. To qualify you need a job offer from a designated employer in the community, a recommendation from that community's economic development organization, qualifying work experience, language and education that meet the pilot's thresholds, and proof of settlement funds. The federal rules are on the Rural Community Immigration Pilot page and the Rural Community Immigration Pilots who can apply page.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for PNP in Alberta?

Most people qualify through the Alberta Opportunity Stream or the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The Opportunity Stream needs a valid Alberta work permit, a full-time job offer in an eligible occupation, and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or 5 depending on your National Occupational Classification (NOC) level. The Express Entry route needs an active federal profile with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300 in an occupation Alberta is targeting. Entrepreneur and rural streams have their own rules.

Is Alberta PNP still open?

Yes. AAIP is open and issuing invitations in 2026, with a nomination allocation of 6,603 spaces after a 200-nomination federal top-up on August 10, 2026. The province draws from its candidate pool as labour needs require, so there is no permanent closure, but individual streams can fill or pause. Check the AAIP processing information page for live status and remaining spaces.

What is the lowest score for PNP Alberta?

Alberta scores candidates on its own EOI scale, not the federal Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), so the numbers look low. In 2026 draws up to September 9, minimum scores ranged from 45 in Dedicated Health Care Pathway rounds to 73 in a Tourism and Hospitality Stream round. The cut-off changes every draw and differs by stream, so there is no single fixed minimum.

What is the AOS Alberta draw 2026?

AOS refers to the Alberta Opportunity Stream. In 2026 the province has held Alberta Opportunity Stream draws from its EOI pool. The most recent Alberta Opportunity Stream round on the provincial processing page, on September 1, 2026, invited 575 candidates at a minimum score of 56. The largest 2026 round so far was on May 27, 2026, with 993 invitations at a minimum score of 51. Draw dates and scores are not fixed and are published on the official AAIP processing page.

Which province gives PR fast?

Speed depends on your profile, not just the province. An enhanced Alberta nomination adds 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which usually guarantees a federal invitation in the next round and is one of the faster routes once you are nominated. Federal processing after a provincial nomination is generally quicker for Express Entry-linked applications than for base, paper-based nominations. Each province sets its own occupation rules, so the right choice depends on your job, language, and experience.

How Go Far Global can help

Go Far Global is a licensed Canadian immigration consulting firm based in Toronto, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) assess your profile against every open AAIP stream, build and rank your EOI profile, and manage your Alberta nomination and federal permanent residence application end to end. If Alberta is not your strongest path, we compare it against other provincial programs and federal Express Entry so you apply where your odds are best. Book a consultation to get a stream-by-stream plan for your situation.

Sources

• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Government of Alberta, accessed June 2026
• AAIP application streams. Government of Alberta, accessed June 2026
• AAIP processing information. Government of Alberta, accessed June 2026
• Alberta Opportunity Stream eligibility. Government of Alberta, accessed June 2026
• Alberta Express Entry eligibility. Government of Alberta, accessed June 2026
• AAIP updates. Government of Alberta, accessed June 2026
• Immigrate as a provincial nominee. IRCC
• Provincial Nominee Program: get or confirm a nomination. IRCC
• Express Entry: Comprehensive Ranking System criteria. IRCC
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot. IRCC, 2025
• Rural Community Immigration Pilots: who can apply. IRCC, 2025

This is general information, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) at gofarglobal.com.