The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has announced how many nominations Alberta will receive in 2026 and how they plan to distribute them among the streams. The data also shows who the province wants to see as a priority — and what the real competition is among the pool of candidates.
How many spots are there in 2026 and what does that mean?
The federal government has allocated 6,403 nominations to Alberta for 2026. As of the publication of the data, the province has already issued 111 nominations, meaning that 2026 has effectively begun.
The AAIP also warns that the numbers may change and the quotas between streams may be redistributed depending on labor market needs.
Where will the quotas go: distribution by stream
The largest share of the quota is traditionally in the Alberta Opportunity Stream: 3,425 spots (more than half of the total limit).
Here are the key limits that the AAIP has published for 2026:
| Stream/direction | 2026 quota |
|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,425 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,000 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 150 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways | 500 |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream (by initiative) | 600 (Tech) + 38 (Law) + 600 (Priority sectors) |
| Entrepreneur Streams | 90 |
Note: AAIP publishes figures for “spaces” and “nominations issued” for each stream, which is why progress can be tracked in near real time.
Who will be prioritized in 2026
AAIP states that in 2026, professions in key sectors will be prioritized in worker streams:
- healthcare
- technology
- construction
- manufacturing
- aviation
- agriculture
- as well as candidates from communities identified in the Rural Renewal Stream
Important: the page states that the list is not exhaustive, but these areas are the “highest priorities” for 2026.
“Bonus” federal spots outside Alberta's limit
Separately, the AAIP confirms that in 2026, there is a federal initiative for up to 10,000 additional spots for all provincial nominee programs (PNPs) for:
- practice-ready physicians (NOC 31100 / 31101 / 31102),
- French-speaking candidates with a CLB/NCLC 5 level in French in all 4 skills.
Key: Alberta nominations under this initiative do not count towards the main limit of 6,403. Additional context on strengthening French-speaking immigration is also reflected in federal materials on plans for 2026–2028.
Real competition: how many people are in the EOI pool
The most sobering part is the size of the Worker Expression of Interest pool. As of the AAIP page update, there were 45,659 EOIs in the pool. The longest queue is in the Alberta Opportunity Stream: 28,377.
Other notable numbers in the pool:
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream: 5,139
- Priority sector draws and initiatives (Express Entry): 4,252
- Rural Renewal Stream: 3,248
- Accelerated Tech Pathway: 2,752
An important signal from last year
The AAIP also summed up 2025: over 85% of nominations were received by temporary workers who were already in Alberta. This is a direct hint that “connections to the province” and local employment often give an advantage.
Brief conclusion
The AAIP in 2026 has 6,403 main spots, has already started with 111 nominations issued, focuses on health care/tech/construction/manufacturing/aviation/agriculture/rural, and also has a potential “plus” due to the federal 10,000 spots for doctors and French-speaking candidates outside the limit. But competition is high: there are 45,659 EOIs in the pool, with the largest number in the Alberta Opportunity Stream.