Between October 9 and 20, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) issued at least 562 invitations to apply for provincial nomination.
Across five draws, Alberta selected workers in tourism and hospitality, healthcare, law enforcement, and other priority sectors.
Candidates who receive an invitation can apply for provincial nomination. Moreover, those who receive approval can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
Provincial nominees living in Canada may qualify for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) after submitting their permanent residence application.
Eligible nominees under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream may also qualify for earlier access to a BOWP under a temporary federal measure that took effect on June 9, 2026.
Work permit holders who apply for a BOWP before their current permit expires may continue working under maintained status. They must remain in Canada and follow the conditions of their previous permit until IRCC makes a decision.
Draw Details
Four of the five draws held during this selection cycle were aligned with Express Entry.
| Draw Date | Stream/Pathway | Invitations Issued | Minimum Score |
| Oct. 20 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (General) | 386 | 60 |
| Oct. 16 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway | <10 | 49 |
| Oct. 14 | Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 25 | 73 |
| Oct. 13 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry | 53 | 57 |
| Oct. 9 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Health care) | 97 | 60 |
The October 20 general priority sectors draw issued the most invitations and had the lowest minimum score for this selection type in 2026.
In comparison, the October 14 tourism and hospitality draw issued the fewest invitations of any selection round in its category this year.
Alberta’s 2026 priority sectors include:
- Health care.
- Technology.
- Construction.
- Manufacturing.
- Aviation.
- Agriculture.
The province is also prioritizing communities designated under the Rural Renewal Stream.
Active Worker Expressions Of Interest Compared With Invitations
The following table shows the number of active worker expressions of interest (WEOIs) under each stream and pathway, alongside the invitations issued during 2026, based on October 21 data.
| Stream/Pathway | Workers With Active Profiles | Invitations Issued |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 21,150 | 8,419 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,069 | 1,174 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 1,527 | 252 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) | 2,991 | 948 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 1,945 | 1,466 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 43 | <60 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/other initiatives | 4,566 | >1,861 |
| Total | 33,291 | ≥14,127 |
As of October 21, the AAIP had held 89 selection rounds in 2026 and invited at least 14,127 candidates to pursue provincial nomination.
Provincial Nomination Issuances
After receiving an invitation, candidates can submit their applications for provincial nomination. Approved applicants receive a provincial nomination certificate.
The period between receiving an invitation and securing a nomination can last several months.
According to figures published by the AAIP, Alberta had issued 5,831 nominations by October 21, 2026. This represented approximately 88.3% of its annual allocation of 6,603 nominations.
Alberta initially received 6,403 nomination spaces from the federal government for 2026. In early August, the province announced an additional 200 spaces.
A nomination allocation sets the number of candidates a province can nominate in a year. It is separate from the number of invitations issued during selection rounds.
In addition to its regular allocation, Alberta has granted nominations to 50 practice-ready physicians and 12 French-speaking candidates through supplementary nomination spaces.
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