Dear future neighbour,
Alberta just ran two more targeted immigration draws in July, and it’s another strong signal that construction and agriculture workers are firmly on the province’s wish list. This is the breakdown, plus how it fits into the bigger picture for anyone hoping to make Alberta home.
Two draws, one clear message
Between July 16 and July 21, Alberta invited 82 people to apply for provincial nomination through its Express Entry stream, all of them working in priority sectors. Construction workers took the lion’s share this round, making up 64.6% of the invitations.
See below how the two draws broke down:
| Date of draw | Stream/pathway | Invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 21, 2026 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Construction) | 53 | 65 |
| July 16, 2026 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Agriculture) | 29 | 56 |
Both draws set new record-high minimum scores for their categories this year, meaning competition is climbing for candidates in these streams. With these two rounds added in, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has now held 64 draws in 2026 alone, and five of those specifically targeted construction workers while four targeted agriculture workers.
As of July 30, Alberta has issued 10,828 invitations to apply for provincial nomination this year through the AAIP.
How nominations are being used across the board
Ottawa gave Alberta 6,403 nomination spaces to work with in 2026. So far, the province has used 3,892 of them. Here’s the full picture of how those numbers are spread across the AAIP’s different streams:
| Stream/pathway | 2026 nomination allocation | Nominations issued | Remaining nomination slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,425 | 2,085 | 1,340 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,000 | 613 | 387 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 150 | 129 | 21 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) | 500 | 220 | 280 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 600 | 388 | 212 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 38 | <10 | N/A |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives | 600 | 420 | 180 |
| Entrepreneur streams | 90 | 30 | 60 |
Outside of these regular allocations, Alberta also used special spaces to nominate 50 practice-ready physicians and 12 francophone candidates.
What’s waiting in the pipeline
Alberta also keeps a public record of how many people are lined up hoping for an invitation, and how many applications are still being processed. As of July 30, there were 36,948 Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) profiles sitting in the pool, with roughly 62.4% of those tied to the Alberta Opportunity Stream. On top of that, 1,584 nomination applications are currently awaiting a decision.
| Stream/pathway | WEOIs in the pool | Applications awaiting processing |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 23,056 | 735 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,850 | 65 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 3,558 | 22 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) | 1,332 | 60 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 2,136 | 190 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 53 | <10 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives | 4,963 | 284 |
| Entrepreneur streams | N/A | 228 |
Note that the entrepreneur streams don’t show up in the WEOI pool since applicants under those streams go through a separate process altogether.
What this really means for you
If you work in construction or agriculture, this is good news, but it also comes with a warning. Alberta clearly wants people in these fields, and it keeps proving that with regular, targeted draws. At the same time, minimum scores are rising with every round, which means waiting too long to get your profile in order could cost you a spot. The gap between having 36,948 people in the WEOI pool and only a fraction getting invited each round shows just how important it is to build a strong, competitive profile from the start rather than hoping for the best.
This is exactly the kind of moving target that trips people up. Scores change, streams open and close, and nomination slots run out. Trying to keep track of it all on your own, while also gathering documents and meeting deadlines, can quickly become overwhelming.
Let’s Get You Closer to Canada
Whether you’re eyeing Alberta’s construction or agriculture pathways, aiming for Express Entry, or exploring options like work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, or school admissions, having the right guidance from the start makes all the difference. Immigration policies shift fast, and a well-timed conversation with someone who understands the system can save you months of guesswork.
Book a consultation with us today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s map out the clearest path to your Canadian future together.
