Alberta gains higher nomination allocation for 2025. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has been granted an increased nomination allocation from the federal government. This update raises the number of newcomers Alberta can nominate for permanent residence (PR) this year.
The AAIP’s allocation has been lifted to 6,403 nominations – an increase of 1,528 spots compared to its previous limit of 4,875.
This new figure allows Alberta to recover about 65% of its 2024 allocation, which stood at 9,750 nomination spots.
What Does This Mean For AAIP Applicants?
The province has announced it will update its official “processing page” shortly with details on how the increased allocation will be distributed among its streams.
Moreover, officials have already noted that the added nominations will help the AAIP better address labour market needs and support provincial priorities. While it is not yet clear exactly which programs will see the biggest gains, candidates with in-demand work experience are expected to benefit the most.
In 2024, when the allocation was just 4,875, more than half (53%) of nominations, i.e., 2,592 in total were reserved for the Alberta Opportunity Stream. This trend may continue under the new allocation.
Why Was Alberta’s Allocation Cut In The First Place?
Alberta gains higher nomination allocation for 2025. However, the reduced allocation originally came from policy changes in late 2024. The former Liberal government moved to temporarily scale back immigration levels for the 2025–2027 period. Well, this is in response to pressures around housing shortages and affordability concerns.
As part of this plan, Ottawa cut the overall number of annual landings through Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in half, i.e., from 110,000 down to 55,000.
This federal adjustment to the Immigration Levels Plan trickled down to the provinces, leaving each with fewer nomination spots. As a result, every province and territory had to carefully prioritize candidates who aligned most closely with labour force needs and economic priorities.
Provinces Push Back For Higher Allocations
Alberta is not the only province that has successfully secured an increase. Following the nationwide cutbacks, several provinces and territories have been pressing the federal government to raise their nomination numbers again to better reflect their labour market demands.
So far, the following jurisdictions have also received an increase in their 2025 allocations:
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
This new development signals that Ottawa is open to re-adjusting PNP allocations to support economic growth & address workforce shortages. For Alberta, the additional 1,528 spots represent an important opportunity to bring in more skilled newcomers.
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