Alberta issues 290+ invitations in March AAIP draws
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted five draws between March 17 and March 27, 2026, issuing more than 290 invitations to immigration candidates. The selections targeted multiple pathways, including health care, construction, manufacturing, and rural streams.
These draws form part of Alberta’s ongoing provincial nomination efforts aligned with labour market priorities. Candidates in specific sectors and pathways were selected based on varying score thresholds.
The results contribute to the province’s broader 2026 immigration allocation and reflect continued activity across both Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams.
- More than 290 invitations issued across five draws in late March
- Selections covered health care, construction, manufacturing, rural, and law enforcement pathways
- Highest number of invitations issued in construction and health care pathways
- Minimum scores ranged from 46 to 59 depending on the stream
- AAIP has held 23 draws so far in 2026
Draw results between March 17 and March 27
The AAIP issued at least 298 invitations through five separate draws over this period. Each draw targeted a specific stream or sector aligned with provincial labour needs.
The largest number of invitations was issued on March 19 through the Alberta Express Entry Stream under the Priority Sectors pathway for construction occupations, with 109 candidates invited and a minimum score of 59.
Health care candidates were also prioritized on March 24 through the Dedicated Health Care Pathway (non-Express Entry), where 102 invitations were issued with a minimum score of 54.
Additional draws included 60 invitations under the Rural Renewal Stream on March 26, with a minimum score of 50, and 27 invitations for manufacturing occupations on March 17, also requiring a minimum score of 50.
A smaller draw targeting the Law Enforcement Pathway took place on March 27, issuing fewer than 10 invitations with a minimum score of 46.
Overview of AAIP streams and allocation
Alberta received a total of 6,403 nomination spaces from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for 2026. These spaces are distributed across several streams, including economic worker pathways and sector-specific initiatives.
The Alberta Opportunity Stream holds the largest share of the allocation, accounting for 3,425 spaces. As of early April, 911 nominations had been issued under this stream.
Other allocations include 1,000 spaces for the Rural Renewal Stream and 500 for Dedicated Health Care Pathways. Additional quotas are assigned to technology, law enforcement, tourism, and entrepreneur streams.
As of April 1, a total of 1,475 nominations had been issued across all AAIP streams, leaving 4,928 nomination spaces still available for the remainder of the year.
Distribution across key pathways
The Rural Renewal Stream had issued 176 nominations out of its 1,000 allocated spaces. The Accelerated Tech Pathway under the Express Entry stream recorded 138 nominations issued out of 600.
Priority sector draws within the Alberta Express Entry Stream accounted for 113 nominations, while health care pathways recorded 84 nominations issued across both Express Entry and non-Express Entry options.
Some smaller streams, including law enforcement and entrepreneur pathways, reported fewer than 10 nominations issued at the time of reporting.
Application inventory and candidate pool
Alberta publishes detailed data on its immigration inventory, including the number of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and applications awaiting processing. As of April 1, there were 44,094 EOIs in the candidate pool for worker streams.
The Alberta Opportunity Stream accounted for the majority of EOIs, with 28,001 profiles, representing more than 60% of the total pool. The Priority Sector pathways and tourism stream also had several thousand candidates each.
The Rural Renewal Stream had 2,622 EOIs, while the Dedicated Health Care Pathways accounted for 1,660 candidates. Smaller pools were recorded for the law enforcement pathway.
In terms of processing inventory, there were 1,418 applications awaiting decisions across all AAIP streams. The Alberta Opportunity Stream had the largest number of pending applications at 654.
Sector priorities guiding 2026 selections
Alberta has identified several priority sectors for immigration selection in 2026, including health care, construction, manufacturing, technology, aviation, and agriculture. These priorities are reflected in recent draw activity.
Rural immigration remains a key focus, with the Rural Renewal Stream targeting candidates who have job offers in designated communities across the province.
The use of targeted pathways within the Alberta Express Entry Stream also allows the province to select candidates with experience in specific sectors facing labour shortages.
Context within Canada’s provincial nominee programs
Provincial nominee programs across Canada continue to tailor selection criteria to regional labour market needs. Alberta’s approach includes sector-specific draws and detailed reporting on application volumes and processing inventory.
Other provinces, including Manitoba, operate similar nomination systems with their own selection criteria and scoring frameworks, such as those outlined in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.
These provincial programs contribute to Canada’s overall immigration targets by enabling regions to address workforce demands through targeted candidate selection.
Ongoing AAIP draw activity
By late March, Alberta had conducted 23 draws in 2026, with many invitations issued through the Alberta Opportunity Stream and sector-focused Express Entry pathways.
Earlier draws between late February and mid-March resulted in more than 1,400 invitations, indicating a higher volume of selections earlier in the year compared to the most recent rounds.
AAIP draw activity continues to reflect evolving labour needs and allocation usage throughout the year, with further updates expected as additional draws are conducted.
Further reporting on provincial immigration trends and program updates remains available through ongoing coverage of Canada’s PNP system.