Alberta has opened its 2026 immigration calendar with a strong start, issuing more than 1,100 invitations to prospective immigrants through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The draws, conducted between January 26 and February 2, 2026, highlight the province’s continued focus on filling critical labour shortages across multiple high-demand sectors.
The latest round of selections spanned four distinct draws and targeted candidates under healthcare, technology, and worker-focused streams, reinforcing Alberta’s multi-pathway approach to economic immigration.
Also Read Alberta Issues Over 1,100 Immigration Invitations in First AAIP Selections of 2026
Four AAIP Draws Held in One Week
During this one week, Alberta conducted selections through:
- Dedicated Health Care Pathways (both Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
- Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
Altogether, 1,169 invitations were issued, with the Alberta Opportunity Stream accounting for the largest share of selections.
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Draw Results Overview (January 26 – February 2, 2026)
The most significant selection took place on February 2, when Alberta invited over 900 candidates from within the province’s workforce. Meanwhile, healthcare-focused pathways recorded the lowest minimum score during this period, reflecting Alberta’s urgent demand for medical professionals.
| Draw date | Stream/pathway | Number of invitations issued | Cut-off score |
| February 2, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 915 | 57 |
| January 29, 2026 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 148 | 63 |
| January 27, 2026 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry | 43 | 45 |
| January 26, 2026 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry | 63 | 61 |
The lowest cut-off score of 45 was observed in the non-Express Entry healthcare draw, signalling more accessible pathways for eligible healthcare workers already aligned with provincial needs.
Alberta’s Immigration Focus for 2026
According to provincial updates, AAIP selections in 2026 are primarily aligned with Alberta’s labour market priorities. These include occupations related to:
- Healthcare
- Technology and IT
- Construction and skilled trades
- Manufacturing
- Aviation
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Rural and regional communities under the Rural Renewal Stream
While these sectors form the core of Alberta’s selection strategy, the province has clarified that invitations may still be issued outside these categories when required.
Additionally, AAIP has reiterated that its draws are not pre-scheduled, and meeting the minimum score alone does not guarantee selection. Other considerations may include:
- Alberta-based work experience in priority occupations
- Employment as a licensed physician in the province
- French-language proficiency and francophone status
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Alberta’s 2026 Nomination Allocation Status
For 2026, Alberta has been allotted 6,403 provincial nominations. As of February 5, 2026, the province has already issued 405 nominations, leaving 5,964 nomination spaces still available for the remainder of the year.
The Alberta Opportunity Stream continues to dominate nominations issued so far, reflecting its role as the province’s primary pathway for workers already employed in Alberta.
Notably, Alberta also participates in a separate federal initiative that provides up to 10,000 immigration spaces nationwide for practice-ready physicians and francophone candidates. Any nominations issued under this federal initiative do not reduce Alberta’s provincial allocation.
AAIP Stream-Level Allocation and EOI Pool Snapshot
Alberta has also released updated figures outlining nomination limits, issued nominations, remaining spaces, and the size of each Expression of Interest (EOI) pool across AAIP streams.
| Stream/pathway | 2026 nomination allocation | Nominations issued (2026) | Spaces remaining | EOIs in selection pool |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,425 | 255 | 3,170 | 28,412 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,000 | Less than 10 | N/A | 3,185 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 150 | 29 | 121 | 4,928 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) | 500 | 34 | 466 | 1,406 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 600 | 34 | 566 | 2,653 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 38 | Less than 10 | N/A | 91 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws / initiatives | 600 | 48 | 518 | 4,371 |
| Total EOI pool (all worker streams) | 45,276 |
As of early February, Alberta reported 1,006 applications currently awaiting processing, indicating continued high demand across AAIP pathways.
What This Means for Prospective Immigrants
With thousands of nomination spaces still open and regular draws expected throughout the year, Alberta remains one of Canada’s most active provinces for skilled workers and priority sector professionals in 2026. Candidates with Alberta work experience, sector-specific skills, or healthcare and tech backgrounds may see particularly strong opportunities in the months ahead.
As Alberta continues adjusting its selection strategy to match labour shortages, applicants are encouraged to keep their profiles updated and aligned with provincial priorities.
