Dear future neighbour,
Trying to move to Canada permanently and wondering which province is actually inviting people right now? Alberta just gave a clear answer.
Between September 10 and 23, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held several draws and invited at least 380 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. Most of the invitations went to workers in healthcare, tech, manufacturing and agriculture.
Being invited is a big step, but it isn’t the finish line. Candidates who received an invitation can now submit their nomination application to the province. Those the province approves can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
There is also some good news for people who are already working in Canada. Once a provincial nominee has submitted a permanent residence application, they can apply for a bridging open work permit. This permit lets them keep working while the application is processed.
Nominees under the Alberta Opportunity Stream may get even more help. Since June 9, 2026, a temporary federal measure has let qualifying nominees under base provincial nomination programs apply for this work permit months earlier than before. The measure is scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2026, so the timing matters if you fall into this group.
Here is a breakdown of the draws.
| Draw date | Stream/pathway | Invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 23 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 113 | 58 |
| Sept. 22 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 100 | 59 |
| Sept. 21 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway | <10 | 49 |
| Sept. 18 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Health Care) | 100 | 62 |
| Sept. 15 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Agriculture) | 18 | 60 |
| Sept. 10 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Manufacturing) | 48 | 60 |
A few of these draws set records for 2026 so far:
- Sept. 23, Alberta Opportunity Stream: the lowest number of invitations for this type of draw this year.
- Sept. 18, Health Care: the highest number of invitations for a priority sector draw this year.
- Sept. 15, Agriculture: the highest minimum score for this type of draw this year.
- Sept. 10, Manufacturing: also the highest minimum score for this type of draw this year.
Almost all of these draws matched the priorities Alberta announced at the start of 2026, which also include construction, aviation and rural settlement. The two exceptions were the Sept. 21 and Sept. 23 rounds.
How big is the competition?
Numbers tell the story best. This table shows how many workers currently have active profiles in the pool, compared with how many invitations have gone out in 2026. The figures are current to Sept. 23.
| Stream/pathway | Workers with active profiles | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 22,315 | 8,296 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,736 | 1,043 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 3,275 | 227 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) | 1,222 | 895 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 1,992 | 1,466 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 45 | <50 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives | 5,011 | >1,156 |
So far in 2026, Alberta has held 80 draws and issued at least 13,089 invitations.
What does this mean for you? Alberta is inviting people steadily, and the province clearly has a type. Workers in healthcare, tech, manufacturing, agriculture and a few other priority areas are getting the most attention. The Alberta Opportunity Stream has the biggest pool of candidates, so competition there is stiff. Smaller pools like Tourism and Hospitality still have a lot of profiles compared with the invitations issued, which shows how important it is to choose the right stream and have a strong profile before you enter the pool.
Ready to Turn Your Alberta Dream Into a Real Plan?
Alberta’s numbers show that opportunities are there, but they go to people who are prepared. Between the different streams, minimum scores, priority sectors and work permit options, it is easy to pick the wrong path or miss a deadline. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Book a consultation with our team and we will look at your situation, your work background and your goals, then point you to the pathway that gives you the best chance. We help with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions and more.
Your next step is one click away: Book your consultation here