What is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program?
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), allows Alberta to nominate eligible workers and entrepreneurs for Canadian permanent residence based on provincial economic priorities. Alberta issues provincial nominations; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final permanent residence decision.
AAIP selection is competitive and stream-specific. Not every pathway is available to candidates outside Canada, and not every stream requires the same job offer, language score or work experience.
AAIP immigration streams in 2026
Alberta offers four worker streams and four entrepreneur streams. Some worker streams include specialized pathways.
Alberta Opportunity Stream
For eligible temporary foreign workers already working full-time in Alberta with qualifying employment and an Alberta job offer.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
For candidates in the federal Express Entry pool selected under Alberta priorities. Includes the Accelerated Tech, Dedicated Health Care and Law Enforcement pathways, where applicable.
Rural Renewal Stream
For candidates with eligible employment in a designated rural community and the required community endorsement.
Tourism and Hospitality Stream
For qualifying workers living and working in Alberta’s tourism or hospitality sector with eligible employer support.
Entrepreneur streams
Alberta also has the Graduate Entrepreneur, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur, Rural Entrepreneur and Farm streams. Each has separate business, investment, ownership and application criteria.
Alberta PNP eligibility and job offer rules
| Factor | What to check |
|---|---|
| Employment and job offer | Most worker pathways require qualifying Alberta employment or a job offer. Some Express Entry selections may not require a job offer; verify the pathway. |
| Immigration status | Some streams require valid authorization to work and current employment in Alberta; other pathways may consider candidates abroad. |
| Language and education | Minimum levels and accepted evidence vary by stream and occupation. Professional licensing may also apply. |
| Occupation and employer | Check the NOC 2021 code, duties, wage, employment conditions, employer eligibility and any ineligible occupation restrictions. |
| Federal Express Entry | The Alberta Express Entry Stream requires a valid qualifying Express Entry profile and satisfaction of applicable federal and provincial criteria. |
Important: Do not rely on a universal occupation list or a blanket statement that every Alberta PNP applicant needs a job offer. The current stream rules determine eligibility.
Alberta PNP points system: Worker EOI out of 100
Alberta uses a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) scoring grid. The maximum is 100 points. A WEOI score is not the federal Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
| Scoring category | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Human capital factors, including education, language, work experience and age | 69 |
| Economic factors, including Alberta job offer and provincial connection considerations | 31 |
| Total | 100 |
AAIP considers scores alongside labour market priorities, nomination spaces, application volume and draw-specific criteria. There is no guaranteed invitation score. Enhanced nominations accepted through Express Entry normally provide 600 additional federal CRS points.
Alberta PNP application fees (2026)
| Service | Government fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Worker Expression of Interest (effective 7 April 2026) | $135 |
| Worker stream application, after invitation | $1,500 |
| Entrepreneur Expression of Interest (applicable streams) | $200 |
| Entrepreneur stream application | $3,500 |
| Request for reconsideration | $250 |
Federal PR fees, biometrics, medical examinations, language tests, assessments and professional service fees are additional. AAIP fees do not guarantee selection or nomination. Official fee schedule →
AAIP processing times and invitation rounds
There is no single fixed Alberta PNP processing time. Timelines depend on the stream, document completeness, program capacity and individual assessment. Alberta publishes its current application inventory and the submission dates it is assessing rather than guaranteeing that all applications will finish in a fixed number of months.
Stage 1: EOI selection
May take an uncertain amount of time. A paid Worker EOI is valid for 12 months and may expire without an invitation.
Stage 2: Nomination and PR
Provincial assessment follows invitation and application. IRCC permanent residence processing is separate and can take additional time.
For 2026, AAIP has identified health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture and designated Rural Renewal communities among its priority areas. Draws are not held on a fixed schedule, and cutoff scores do not guarantee future selection.
Check live AAIP inventory, draws and processing information →
How to apply for Alberta PNP
Identify the correct stream
Check occupation, employment, status, language, employer and pathway-specific requirements.
Prepare supporting evidence
Collect valid identity, education, employment, language, immigration and employer documents required by the applicable checklist.
Submit and pay for a Worker EOI
For worker streams, submit the WEOI through the AAIP portal and pay the CAD $135 fee within the portal’s payment deadline.
Wait for an invitation
Alberta selects candidates according to scores and provincial priorities. Selection is not guaranteed.
Submit the provincial application
After invitation, meet the stated deadline, upload the stream-specific evidence and pay the provincial application fee.
Apply to IRCC if nominated
Follow the correct federal permanent residence route and maintain eligibility throughout processing.
Documents checklist
- Passport and identity documents
- Current immigration status (if applicable)
- Language test results
- Education credentials and assessments, if required
- Employment reference letters and pay records
- Job offer and employer documents, if required
- Professional licensing, if applicable
- Other stream-specific supporting evidence
This is a planning checklist, not a substitute for the latest official stream-specific document list.
Alberta PNP FAQs
AAIP is Alberta’s provincial economic immigration nomination program. Alberta selects eligible workers and entrepreneurs; IRCC makes the final permanent residence decision.
Some Alberta Express Entry Stream selections may consider eligible candidates without an Alberta job offer. Other pathways require qualifying employment, an offer or community endorsement. A job offer does not guarantee selection.
The Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) uses a grid with a maximum of 100 points: up to 69 human-capital points and 31 economic points. A higher score does not guarantee an invitation.
A CRS score of at least 300 is a baseline criterion for certain Alberta Express Entry selections, but candidates must meet the current stream and pathway criteria. Alberta also considers priorities and available nominations.
The Worker EOI submission fee is CAD $135 and the provincial worker-stream application fee is CAD $1,500. Federal permanent residence, biometrics, medical and other expenses are separate.
There is no single guaranteed AAIP processing time. AAIP publishes the application receipt dates it is assessing and its current inventory. Invitation waiting time and subsequent federal PR processing are additional.
A paid Worker EOI remains valid for 12 months. Updating the EOI does not restart the validity period.
Candidates interested in an AAIP worker stream generally must submit a Worker EOI and receive an invitation before filing a provincial worker application. Entrepreneur streams have separate processes.
Applicants apply to IRCC for permanent residence through the applicable federal process. A qualifying enhanced nomination accepted through Express Entry generally provides 600 additional CRS points.
AAIP identifies health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture and designated Rural Renewal communities as priority areas for 2026; priorities can change.
Depending on the pathway: passport, immigration status, language test, education records, work history, pay records, job offer and employer forms, licensing, and evidence supporting the EOI. Always use the current stream-specific checklist.
No. Meeting minimum criteria, submitting an EOI, paying fees or receiving an invitation does not guarantee nomination or permanent residence.
