Alberta issues over 1,400 invitations in six AAIP draws
Alberta has conducted six immigration draws through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) between late February and mid-March 2026.
More than 1,400 candidates received invitations across several provincial pathways, reflecting ongoing selection activity in key labour sectors.
The draws targeted applicants in healthcare, technology, and rural communities, as part of Alberta’s 2026 immigration allocation.
- Six AAIP draws were held between February 26 and March 16, 2026
- A total of 1,447 invitations were issued across multiple pathways
- Over half of invitations were through the Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Selections included healthcare, tech, and rural-focused pathways
- Alberta has conducted 18 draws so far in 2026
Overview of recent AAIP draw activity
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is a provincial pathway that allows Alberta to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residence based on labour market needs.
Between February 26 and March 16, the province held six draws across a range of streams, including Express Entry-linked pathways and base streams.
Of the 1,447 invitations issued, approximately 57.5% were allocated through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, which remains the largest selection category in the program.
Breakdown of draws and invitation totals
The largest draw during this period took place on March 5 through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, issuing 832 invitations with a minimum score of 61.
Other rounds included a Rural Renewal Stream draw on March 13, which invited 349 candidates, and an Accelerated Tech Pathway draw on March 6, which issued 139 invitations.
Smaller draws were also conducted for healthcare-focused pathways, including both Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams, with invitation counts ranging from 47 to 50.
Healthcare-focused Express Entry draw
The March 16 round marked Alberta’s first Express Entry-linked draw in 2026 dedicated to healthcare occupations as a priority sector.
This draw issued 50 invitations with a minimum score of 63, indicating targeted selection within a defined occupational category.
Healthcare continues to be identified among Alberta’s priority sectors for immigration selection in 2026.
Nomination allocation and usage in 2026
Alberta has been assigned 6,403 provincial nomination spaces by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for 2026.
As of March 17, the province had issued 1,127 nominations, leaving 5,276 spaces available for the remainder of the year.
Across all draws conducted so far in 2026, Alberta has issued at least 3,956 invitations to candidates.
Distribution across streams
The Alberta Opportunity Stream has the largest allocation, with 3,425 nomination spaces assigned for 2026.
Other allocations include 1,000 spaces for the Rural Renewal Stream and 600 for the Accelerated Tech Pathway under the Express Entry stream.
Dedicated healthcare pathways have a combined allocation of 500 spaces, while smaller allocations are assigned to tourism, law enforcement, and entrepreneur streams.
Remaining nomination capacity
As of mid-March, most pathways retained a significant portion of their nomination capacity.
The Alberta Opportunity Stream had more than 2,700 nomination spots still available, while the Rural Renewal Stream had over 900 remaining.
Other streams, including technology and healthcare pathways, also reported hundreds of available nominations.
Applications and candidate pool data
Alberta publishes detailed figures on Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and applications awaiting processing across its immigration streams.
As of March 17, there were 43,871 EOIs in the selection pool for worker streams, excluding entrepreneur categories.
The Alberta Opportunity Stream accounted for 63.7% of all EOIs, indicating a concentration of candidates in this pathway.
Applications in processing inventory
There were 1,251 applications awaiting processing across all streams and pathways.
The highest number of pending applications was recorded under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, followed by the Accelerated Tech Pathway and the Rural Renewal Stream.
Entrepreneur streams had 266 applications in inventory, while other categories reported smaller processing volumes.
Sector priorities and rural immigration focus
Alberta has identified several sectors for targeted immigration selection in 2026, including healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, and agriculture.
Rural immigration remains a key focus, with the Rural Renewal Stream supporting candidate selection for designated communities facing labour shortages.
These priorities are reflected in recent draw activity, which includes multiple rounds dedicated to rural and sector-specific pathways.
Context within provincial immigration programs
Provincial nominee programs across Canada continue to operate alongside federal immigration systems, allowing provinces to address regional labour needs through targeted selection.
Programs such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program also conduct regular draws and publish selection data, contributing to broader provincial immigration trends.
Alberta’s publication of detailed selection and inventory data provides ongoing insight into demand levels and processing volumes within its program.
Further updates on provincial immigration draws and nomination allocations are expected as provinces continue issuing invitations throughout 2026.