The Canadian province of Alberta actively uses the provincial nomination mechanism to attract foreign specialists, entrepreneurs, and students. In 2025, Alberta will implement eight separate streams within the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), covering a wide variety of candidate profiles. Below is a comprehensive analysis: program structure, current quotas, selection statistics, requirements, step-by-step instructions, and strategic advice for applicants seeking permanent residence (PR) through the AAIP.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) have been in place since 1998 and allow each province to select candidates based on local economic priorities. Alberta relaunched its program in 2022 under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program brand, focusing on sectors with labor shortages — energy, technology, agribusiness, and healthcare.
Category | Stream | Alignment type | Primary audience | Minimum points/criteria | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Workers | Alberta Opportunity Stream | Basic | Foreign workers with TFW or PGWP status | CLB 4-7, 12-24 months of experience | Largest in terms of nominations |
Workers | Alberta Express Entry Stream | Enhanced (EE) | Candidates with an EE profile (CRS ≥300) | CRS ≥300, occupation on the priority list | Adds +600 CRS after nomination |
Workers | Accelerated Tech Pathway | Enhanced | Specialists in 41 tech NOCs, job offer in Alberta | CRS 300+, LMIA exempt possible | 96 out of 146 quotas issued |
Workers | Dedicated Healthcare Pathway | EE and Base | Licensed healthcare professionals with a job offer | CRS 300+, CLB 7 | 251 out of 500 nominations |
Workers | Priority Sector Draws | EE and Base | Specialists in three critical sectors | Cut-off 51-70, job offer preferred | 244 nominations 2025 |
Workers | Rural Renewal Stream | Base | Workers in cities with <100,000 residents | Job offer + community endorsement | 601 out of 950 quotas remaining |
Workers | Tourism & Hospitality Stream | Basic | Temporary workers in the hotel and restaurant sector | 6 months of experience, CLB 4 | Started 01-03-2024 |
Entrepreneurs | Graduate, Foreign Graduate, Rural & Farm Streams | Basic | Graduates, entrepreneurs, farmers | Investment of CAD 100,000-500,000, CLB 4-7 | Entrepreneurial EOI ranking |
Stream | Annual quota 2025 | Nominations issued | Remaining | EOI in pool | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta Opportunity Stream | 2,592 | 1,608 | 984 | 40,623 | 14 |
Dedicated Healthcare | 500 | 251 | 249 | 1,623 | 14 |
Priority Sector Draws | 405 | 244 | 161 | 4,302 | 14 |
Rural Renewal Stream | 950 | 349 | 601 | 3,623 | 25 |
Accelerated Tech Pathway | 146 | 96 | 50 | 1,117 | 8 |
Law Enforcement Pathway | 20 | <10 | ≈10 | 116 | 14 |
Total AAIP | 4,875 | 2,895 | 1,980 | 56,656 | 1 |
The federal government has reduced Alberta's PNP quotas by 50% compared to 2024, which has increased competition among applicants.
AOS is aimed at foreigners who are already working full-time in Alberta and have a valid Work Permit. Key requirements:
CLB 5 for TEER 0-3, CLB 4 for TEER 4-5
Minimum secondary education; PGWP holders are exempt from foreign credential assessment
Experience: 12 months in a profession in an Alberta company in the last 18 months, or 24 months in total over 30
Job offer from an employer that meets WCB standards, with no recruitment fees
Tip: Apply as soon as you complete your 12 months of experience — AOS quotas fill up quickly.
AAIP independently sends Notifications of Interest (NOI) to candidates in the federal pool with a CRS ≥300. In 2025, the selections are divided into five mini-pathways:
Advantage: provincial nomination adds +600 CRS, effectively guarantees a federal invitation to PR.
A community (<100,000 residents) undergoes a “designation” process and issues an endorsement letter to candidates. Requirements:
Launched due to a shortage of workers in the hotel and restaurant industry. Main requirements:
Alberta publishes the results of targeted draws every month. Example for July 2025:
Date | Stream | Min. EE/Custom score | Invitations | Industry |
---|---|---|---|---|
03-07-2025 | HC Pathway (EE) | 62 | 36 | Health |
04-07-2025 | Priority (Agri) | 64 | 15 | Agriculture |
08-07-2025 | Priority (Aviation) | 53 | 20 | Aviation |
09-07-2025 | HC Pathway (Base) | 53 | 32 | Healthcare |
11-07-2025 | AOS | 72 | 269 | Miscellaneous |
16-07-2025 | Law Enforcement | 49 | <10 | Police |
Flow | Minimum capital | Experience/education | Other conditions | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Graduate Entrepreneur | No fixed amount | Alberta PSI diploma | 34 EOI points, BPA 12 months | 27 |
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur | 100,000–200,000 CAD | Degree ≤10 years, ECA | CLB 5, 34–38 EOI points | 17 |
Rural Entrepreneur | CAD 200,000 investment | 3 years as owner or 4 years as manager | Net worth ≥CAD 300,000, CLB 4 | 22 |
Farm Stream | CAD 500,000 equity | Farm management | Business plan, bank letter | 28 |
Note: All business streams require the signing of a Business Performance Agreement and a two-step process (Work Permit → PR).
Eligibility assessment. Check NOC, CLB, education, and net worth
EOI or EE profile. Create an AAIP (Base) or Express Entry (Enhanced) account
Invitation/NOI. Check your email — AAIP sends NOIs 24–48 hours before the draw is published
Complete application. Upload WCB references, job offer, pay stubs, reference letters, diplomas, ECA, IELTS/TEF
Pay fees. CAD 500 provincial fee; CAD 3,500 for entrepreneurial streams
Nomination. Once you receive your Certificate of Nomination, apply for PR with IRCC within 6 months.
Work Permit Support Letter. AAIP issues a letter to continue working until the PR decision is made.
AAIP provincial fee: CAD 500 (Base/Enhanced) or CAD 3,500 (Entrepreneur)
Federal fees: CAD 950 processing + CAD 575 RPRF
Settlement Funds: only for EE streams without a job offer — 15,263 CAD per person as of 07-2025
Incorrect NOC. Use the 2021 version
Implied Status. AOS rejects applications with maintained status
Insufficient balance. IRCC checks the 6-month account history
Invalid IELTS. More than 2 years — not accepted
Alberta is expected to lobby for an increase in quotas to 7,500–8,000 places. The focus on sectoral selection will remain; language and experience requirements may be raised (especially TEER 4–5).
Alberta's provincial nomination programs in 2025 remain available, but competition has increased sharply due to reduced quotas and targeted selections. Applicants should carefully select a stream that matches their profile, prepare their application package thoroughly, and monitor AAIP updates. With the right strategy, even under strict limits, obtaining a provincial nomination is a realistic goal that opens a direct path to permanent resident status in Canada.