Alberta Issues Over 1,500 Invitations in Latest AAIP Draws
Alberta has issued 1,550 invitations to apply through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) in its latest series of draws.
Between May 20 and June 2, 2026, the province held seven selection rounds. These draws targeted candidates across several sectors where Alberta continues to face labour demand, including manufacturing, technology, agriculture, construction, and other priority occupations.
The invitations were issued through three AAIP streams. The Alberta Opportunity Stream received the largest share, accounting for about 64.1% of all invitations issued during this round. As of this update, Alberta has held 43 provincial immigration draws in 2026.
Strong Focus on Alberta Opportunity Stream
The Alberta Opportunity Stream continues to play a major role in the province’s immigration intake. Out of the 1,550 invitations issued between May 20 and June 2, a significant portion went to candidates already connected to Alberta’s labour market. This is consistent with the province’s ongoing focus on retaining workers who are already employed in Alberta and able to support local employers.
To date, Alberta has invited at least 7,819 AAIP candidates to apply for provincial nomination in 2026. Of that number, the Alberta Opportunity Stream alone accounts for 4,850 invitations. This shows that Alberta is still prioritizing candidates who are already working in the province, especially where employers continue to need long-term staffing support.
Several Draws Were the Largest So Far in 2026
A few of the recent selection rounds were notable because they were the largest draws of their kind so far this year.
These included the May 29 draw under the Express Entry Accelerated Tech Pathway and the May 27 selection under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Alberta also held large Express Entry Priority Sector draws for agriculture and manufacturing on May 22 and May 21. These rounds reflect the province’s continued use of targeted invitations for occupations connected to specific labour market needs.
Another important point is the May 20 draw. This was the first AAIP selection round in 2026 specifically targeting skilled trades linked to the construction sector. For candidates with experience in construction trades, this may be an important signal. Alberta appears to be using its immigration allocation not only to fill general labour shortages, but also to respond to specific workforce gaps in the trades.
Alberta’s 2026 Nomination Allocation
As of June 3, Alberta had used 2,587 nomination spaces out of its 2026 allocation. This leaves 3,816 nomination spaces remaining. The province’s nomination allocation is divided across multiple AAIP streams and pathways.
• The Alberta Opportunity Stream has the largest allocation, with 3,425 spaces available for 2026. So far, 1,394 nominations have been issued under this stream, leaving 2,031 spaces remaining.
• The Rural Renewal Stream has an allocation of 1,000 nomination spaces. Alberta has issued 480 nominations through this stream, with 250 spaces remaining.
• The Tourism and Hospitality Stream has a much smaller allocation of 150 spaces. Of those, 100 nominations have already been issued, leaving only 50 spaces remaining.
• For healthcare, the Dedicated Health Care Pathways, including both Express Entry and non-Express Entry options, have 500 nomination spaces. Alberta has issued 112 nominations under these pathways, leaving 388 spaces available.
• The Alberta Express Entry Accelerated Tech Pathway has 600 spaces. So far, 267 nominations have been issued, leaving 333 spaces remaining.
• The Alberta Express Entry Priority Sector pathway also has 600 spaces. Alberta has issued 213 nominations under this category, leaving 387 spaces remaining.
• Entrepreneur streams have a smaller allocation of 90 spaces. As of June 3, only 17 nominations had been issued, leaving 73 spaces available.
Alberta has also used additional nomination spaces outside its regular Provincial Nominee Program allocation for targeted groups. This includes 50 practice-ready physicians and 12 francophone candidates.
Large Number of EOIs Still in the Pool
The AAIP inventory remains highly competitive. As of June 3, Alberta had 38,292 worker Expressions of Interest in its pool. The Alberta Opportunity Stream accounted for 24,276 of these EOIs, or about 63.4% of the total.
This means many candidates are still waiting for a chance to receive an invitation. There were also 1,222 provincial nomination applications awaiting processing across the AAIP system. The Alberta Opportunity Stream had 469 applications awaiting processing. The Rural Renewal Stream had 99. The Tourism and Hospitality Stream had 27. The Dedicated Health Care Pathways had 21. The Express Entry Accelerated Tech Pathway had 333 applications awaiting processing, while the Express Entry Priority Sector pathway had 387. Entrepreneur streams had 251 applications awaiting processing.
What This Means for Candidates
The latest AAIP draws show that Alberta is actively using its 2026 nomination allocation, but the program remains competitive. Candidates in Alberta, especially those working in eligible occupations under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, may still have strong opportunities if they meet the stream requirements and have a competitive EOI profile. At the same time, the high number of EOIs in the pool means that simply being eligible may not be enough. Occupation, sector, work location, employer support, and connection to Alberta may all affect a candidate’s chance of receiving an invitation.
For workers in technology, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, tourism, and hospitality, Alberta’s recent draws are worth watching closely. The province is clearly using targeted selection rounds to address labour market needs.
