Dear future neighbour,
Between October 9 and 20, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held five draws and sent out at least 562 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. Candidates came from healthcare, tourism and hospitality, law enforcement, and other priority sectors.
An invitation lets you apply for a provincial nomination. Once that is approved, you can move on to a federal application for permanent residence (PR). Nominees already working in Canada may also qualify for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) after submitting their PR application. Tourism and Hospitality Stream nominees may get earlier access to it under a temporary federal measure that took effect on June 9, 2026.
Already on a work permit? Apply for the BOWP before your current permit expires and you can keep working under maintained status while you wait, as long as you stay in Canada.
Here is how the five draws went
| Draw date | Stream/pathway | Invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 20 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (General) | 386 | 60 |
| Oct. 16 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway | <10 | 49 |
| Oct. 14 | Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 25 | 73 |
| Oct. 13 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry | 53 | 57 |
| Oct. 9 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Health care) | 97 | 60 |
The October 20 draw had the most invitations and the lowest cutoff score of its type this year. The October 14 tourism and hospitality draw was the smallest in its category in 2026.
Alberta’s 2026 priority sectors are health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, and agriculture. The province also prioritizes communities designated under the Rural Renewal Stream.
How many workers are in the race?
This table shows active profiles against invitations issued in 2026, based on October 21 data.
| Stream/pathway | Workers with active profiles | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 21,150 | 8,419 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,069 | 1,174 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 1,527 | 252 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) | 2,991 | 948 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 1,945 | 1,466 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 43 | <60 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/other initiatives | 4,566 | >1,861 |
| Total | 33,291 | ≥14,127 |
In total, the AAIP had held 89 selection rounds by October 21 and invited at least 14,127 candidates this year.
Keep in mind that an invitation is not a nomination. Between the two, you still have to submit your application and wait for approval, which can take several months. As of October 21, Alberta had issued 5,831 nominations, about 88.3% of its 6,603 allocation for 2026. That figure includes 200 extra spaces added in early August.
Ready to Turn Alberta’s Open Doors Into Your Own Pathway?
Alberta is clearly looking for workers, but the right stream and the right timing still make all the difference. Our team at Ese Umoh Immigration helps with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions, and more. Book a consultation at https://euiacademy.selar.com/60minutes and let’s find the route that fits you best.