Introduction: Alberta’s Immigration Plan Explained Simply
Canada’s Alberta province has officially shared who it plans to prioritize for permanent residence in 2026 through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). This guide is written in simple language so that people with little or no knowledge of immigration can clearly understand who Alberta is inviting, why these choices matter, and how this affects future applicants.
What Is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)?
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is Alberta’s provincial immigration system. It allows the province to nominate foreign workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs for Canadian permanent residence based on Alberta’s labour shortages and economic needs.
Every year, the federal government gives Alberta a fixed number of nominations. Alberta then decides which types of workers and industries should be prioritized.
How Many Alberta Nominations Are Available in 2026
For 2026, Alberta has received 6,403 nomination spaces from the federal government. This is a major increase compared to Alberta’s original 2025 allocation of 4,875 nominations, showing that the province urgently needs more workers.
As of January 13, 2026, Alberta has already issued 111 nominations, which means selections are already underway.
How Alberta Will Distribute Its 2026 Nominations
Alberta is one of the most transparent provinces when it comes to immigration planning. It has publicly shared how many nominations it plans to issue under each AAIP stream. More than half of all nominations are allocated to workers already employed in Alberta.
Alberta Opportunity Stream Takes the Largest Share
The Alberta Opportunity Stream alone accounts for around 53% of all available nominations. This confirms that Alberta strongly prefers candidates who are already living and working in the province.
Other AAIP Streams and Their Nomination Limits
The table below shows how Alberta plans to distribute its 2026 nominations across different streams. These numbers may change during the year based on labour needs.
| Stream | Nomination allocation | Nominations already issued | Remaining nominations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,425 | 70 | 3,355 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,000 | <10 | N/A |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (Express Entry and non-Express Entry) | 500 | <10 | N/A |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 150 | 10 | 140 |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 600 | <10 | N/A |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway | 38 | <10 | N/A |
| Priority sectors and other initiatives | 600 | 16 | 584 |
| Entrepreneur Streams | 90 | <10 | N/A |
Which Jobs and Skills Alberta Is Prioritizing in 2026
Alberta has clearly identified the industries where labour shortages are most serious. Candidates working in these sectors will have stronger chances of receiving an invitation.
High-Demand Industries Alberta Needs Most
In 2026, Alberta is prioritizing workers in healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, and agriculture. Manufacturing is a new priority compared to 2025, highlighting a growing shortage in factories and production-related jobs.
Why Rural Job Offers Are Especially Important
Alberta will also strongly prioritize candidates who have valid job offers from employers in designated rural communities. This is done through the Rural Renewal Stream to support smaller towns and local economies.
Special Federal Nominations Outside Alberta’s Annual Limit
In addition to Alberta’s 6,403 nominations, the federal government has reserved 10,000 extra immigration spaces across Canada in 2026. These nominations do not count toward provincial limits.
Permanent Residence Opportunities for Doctors
Five thousand of these federal spaces are reserved for licensed, practice-ready physicians who have job offers in Canada. Alberta can use its existing healthcare pathways to nominate eligible doctors.
Extra Opportunities for French-Speaking Candidates
Another 5,000 spaces are reserved for French-speaking foreign nationals. Candidates must work in an eligible occupation and demonstrate a minimum NCLC level 5 in all language skills.
How Competitive Alberta Immigration Is Right Now
Demand for Alberta nomination is very high, and understanding the numbers helps applicants plan realistically.
Number of Expressions of Interest in the AAIP Pool
As of January 13, 2026, Alberta had 45,659 eligible Expressions of Interest in its system. Most of these were under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, followed by Tourism and Hospitality and priority sector pathways.
Applications Currently Waiting for Processing
At the same time, Alberta had 1,386 complete applications already submitted and waiting to be processed across all streams.
What Alberta’s 2025 Immigration Results Tell Us About 2026
In 2025, Alberta issued 6,603 nominations, including a small federal overage. More than 85% of those nominations went to temporary foreign workers already living and working in Alberta. This pattern is expected to continue in 2026.
What This Means for Future Alberta PR Applicants
Alberta’s 2026 plan clearly favours candidates who are already working in the province, have job offers in priority industries, are willing to live in rural communities, or work in healthcare and skilled trades. Applicants outside Canada still have opportunities, particularly through Express Entry-linked pathways and healthcare streams.
Is Alberta Immigration Easy in 2026?
Alberta immigration is competitive, but it remains one of the most realistic options for candidates with Alberta work experience or valid job offers.
Do I Need Express Entry to Apply for AAIP?
No. Alberta offers both Express Entry and non-Express Entry immigration pathways.
Can Applicants Outside Canada Still Qualify?
Yes. Candidates in priority occupations, healthcare, technology, or Express Entry may still qualify even if they are outside Canada.
Does Alberta Prefer Candidates Already Working in the Province?
Yes. Past data clearly shows that Alberta strongly prefers candidates who are already employed in the province.
Can Nomination Numbers Change During the Year?
Yes. Alberta can move nomination spaces between streams at any time based on labour market needs.
