One of Canada's fastest-growing provinces with abundant opportunities. Low cost of living: significantly lower housing and general living costs compared to Ontario and BC. Strong job market: high demand for skilled workers in energy, healthcare, technology, and trades. No provincial sales tax: only the 5% federal GST applies. Selection by invitation: worker candidates submit an Expression of Interest and the AAIP invites selected candidates to apply. Gateway to Canada: Calgary and Edmonton are major immigration hubs.

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Four worker streams and four entrepreneur streams, run by the governments of Alberta and Canada

Why Choose Alberta?

One of Canada's fastest-growing provinces with abundant opportunities

Low Cost of Living: Significantly lower housing and general living costs compared to Ontario and BC.
Strong Job Market: High demand for skilled workers in energy, healthcare, technology, and trades.
No Provincial Sales Tax: Only the 5% federal GST applies.
Selection by Invitation: Worker candidates submit an Expression of Interest and the AAIP invites selected candidates to apply.
Gateway to Canada: Calgary and Edmonton are major immigration hubs.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

For candidates in the Express Entry pool whom the AAIP invites under a pathway or priority sector.

Express Entry Profile: Active profile with a CRS score of 300 or more, eligible for at least one of the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades or Federal Skilled Worker programs.
Pathways: Dedicated Health Care (job offer and licence in an eligible profession), Accelerated Tech (job offer in an eligible tech occupation with a tech-industry employer), Law Enforcement (job offer with a member of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police) and priority sectors such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture and aviation.
Occupation: The primary occupation in your Express Entry profile must match the pathway or an AAIP priority and must not be on the ineligible occupations list.
Discontinued: The family connection and occupation-in-demand pathway ended on 17 March 2025.
Processing: Varies by pathway. See the processing table on alberta.ca.
Benefit: A nomination adds 600 CRS points to the Express Entry profile.

Alberta Express Entry Page

Alberta Opportunity Stream

For temporary foreign workers who live and work in Alberta with a job offer from an Alberta employer.

Work Permit: Valid work permit at application and assessment (maintained status does not qualify). PGWP holders must have graduated from an Alberta publicly funded post-secondary institution.
Occupation: Most NOC TEER 0 to 5 occupations are eligible; a list of ineligible occupations applies.
Work Experience: 12 months full-time in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, or 24 months in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months. PGWP holders need 6 months in Alberta.
Language: CLB 5 for TEER 0 to 3, CLB 4 for TEER 4 to 5, CLB 7 for NOC 33102.
Processing: As of 21 October 2026 the AAIP was assessing applications received on or before 16 July 2026.
Not Eligible: Temporary residents living or working in another province or territory.

Alberta Opportunity Stream Page

Rural Renewal Stream

For workers with a full-time job offer in an AAIP-designated rural community and an Endorsement of Candidate letter from that community.

Endorsement: Letter from the community economic development organisation, valid for one year from issue (rule effective 1 January 2026).
Work Permit: Applicants in Canada must hold a valid work permit at application and assessment. Applicants outside Canada can also apply.
Occupation: TEER 0 to 5 for temporary workers living in Alberta; TEER 0 to 3 for workers living elsewhere in Canada.
Work Experience: 12 months full-time within the last 18 months, with an exception for some PGWP holders who studied in the community.
Language: CLB 5 for TEER 0 to 3, CLB 4 for TEER 4 to 5.
Processing: As of 21 October 2026 the AAIP was assessing applications received on or before 4 September 2026.

Rural Renewal Page

Tourism and Hospitality Stream

For temporary foreign workers already working full-time in Alberta's tourism and hospitality sector with a full-time job offer from an approved employer.

Employer: Approved Alberta tourism and hospitality employer in an eligible industry, with sector association membership.
Work Experience: 6 consecutive months (780 hours) full-time with the current employer.
LMIA: A positive LMIA is required.
Language: CLB 4 in English or French.
Processing: As of 21 October 2026 fewer than 10 applications were waiting to be processed.

Tourism and Hospitality Page

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

For entrepreneurs who want to start or buy a business in a rural Alberta community.

Net Worth: Minimum CAD 300,000.
Investment: Minimum CAD 100,000 of your own equity.
Experience: 3 years as an owner-manager or 4 years as a senior manager within the past 10 years.
Location: Community with a population under 100,000, outside the Calgary and Edmonton census metropolitan areas, with a Community Support Letter after an exploratory visit.
Employment: At least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for a new business; none required for a business succession.
Language: CLB 4 in English or French, plus an educational credential assessment for high school or higher.

Rural Entrepreneur Page

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

For international graduates of Alberta publicly funded post-secondary institutions who want to start or buy a business in Alberta.

Education: At least two years of full-time study resulting in a degree or diploma from an Alberta publicly funded institution.
Work Permit: A PGWP that is valid when the Expression of Interest is submitted.
Language: CLB 7 in English or French.
Ownership: Minimum 34% of the business.

Graduate Entrepreneur Page

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

For graduates of universities outside Canada who want to launch a start-up in Alberta.

Designated Agency: Candidates work with an AAIP-approved designated agency, which issues the letter of recommendation required for the Expression of Interest.
Education: Degree from outside Canada completed in the last 10 years, with an educational credential assessment.
Language: CLB 5 in English or French.
Investment: Minimum CAD 100,000 in an urban centre or CAD 50,000 in a regional area.
Ownership: Minimum 34% in an urban centre or 51% in a regional area.

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Page

Farm Stream

For experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a primary production farm in Alberta.

Net Worth: Minimum CAD 500,000, or confirmed access to a similar amount of funds.
Investment: Minimum CAD 500,000 of equity in a primary production farm business.
Farm Management: Proof of farm management skills, such as financial records of an existing farm, training and work experience, or a financed business plan.
Review: The business plan is reviewed with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

Farm Stream Page

By the Numbers

AAIP figures from alberta.ca, as of 21 October 2026

6,603

2026 Nomination Allocation

5,831

Nominations Issued in 2026 (772 Remaining)

CAD 1,500

Worker Stream Application Fee

8

Streams (4 Worker, 4 Entrepreneur)

General AAIP Requirements

Apply to Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

For All Streams:

Intention and ability to live and work permanently in Alberta.
No active nomination under another AAIP stream.
Official language test results less than two years old (CELPIP General, IELTS General Training, PTE, TEF Canada or TCF Canada).
For worker streams, an Alberta job offer or current Alberta employment that meets the AAIP job offer and employer requirements.
Education credentials and transcripts; an educational credential assessment is required for the entrepreneur streams.
Medical examination and police certificates are required later by IRCC for the permanent residence application.

Additional for Entrepreneur/Business Streams:

Net worth documentation and a completed Net Worth Worksheet.
Business proposal summary and, after an invitation, a detailed business application.
Rural Entrepreneur Stream: exploratory visit report and a Community Support Letter.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: letter of recommendation from a designated agency.
Resume and business credentials.

Processing Timeline

Alberta Opportunity: assessing applications received by 16 July 2026
Alberta Express Entry: Accelerated Tech by 1 July 2026, priority sectors by 6 July 2026
Dedicated Health Care: applications received by 29 August 2026
Rural Renewal: applications received by 4 September 2026
Tourism and Hospitality: fewer than 10 applications waiting
Entrepreneur Streams: business applications are evaluated on receipt
After Nomination: IRCC processes the permanent residence application; check the IRCC processing times tool

AAIP Processing Page

Costs & Fees

AAIP Worker Stream Application: CAD 1,500 (since 1 April 2025)
Worker Expression of Interest: CAD 135 (since 7 April 2026)
Entrepreneur EOI: CAD 200; Business Application CAD 3,500
Third-Party Costs: Language test, medical examination, police certificates and education assessment are paid to those providers and vary by country
Federal PR Fee: CAD 1,590 per adult (CAD 990 processing plus CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee); CAD 270 per dependent child
Biometrics: CAD 85 per person (CAD 170 maximum per family)

Federal fees for a single applicant: CAD 1,675 (PR fee plus biometrics). For a single applicant in a worker stream, AAIP fees (CAD 1,500 plus CAD 135) and federal fees (CAD 1,675) total CAD 3,310, before third-party costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AAIP stream is right for me?

Choose based on your situation: Alberta Express Entry if you have an Express Entry profile and a primary occupation that matches an AAIP pathway or priority sector; Alberta Opportunity Stream if you already live and work in Alberta on a valid work permit; Rural Renewal if a designated rural community has endorsed you; Tourism and Hospitality if you work for an approved tourism employer; or an entrepreneur stream if you plan to start or buy a business. The AAIP Eligibility Explorer on alberta.ca can confirm which stream applies to you.

Can I apply to AAIP without a job offer?

Most worker streams require an Alberta job offer or current Alberta employment that meets AAIP job offer and employer requirements. Some Alberta Express Entry invitations are based on the occupation in the Express Entry profile, so check the requirements of the pathway you are invited under. The entrepreneur streams do not use a job offer; they assess net worth, investment, business experience and, for the rural stream, community support.

How fast can I get PR with AAIP?

The AAIP does not guarantee a timeline. Its processing page lists, for each stream, the date up to which applications are being assessed. As of 21 October 2026 the Alberta Opportunity Stream was assessing applications received on or before 16 July 2026. After nomination, IRCC processes the permanent residence application separately, and IRCC publishes its own processing times.

What if I am already in the Express Entry pool?

The Alberta Express Entry Stream selects candidates who have an active profile in the Express Entry pool with a CRS score of at least 300 and a primary occupation that matches an AAIP pathway or priority. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. The AAIP notes that you may be less likely to be selected if your profile expires in five months or less, so keep it current.

Can I include family members in my AAIP application?

If you are nominated, you may apply for permanent residence together with your spouse or common-law partner and your dependent children. IRCC makes the final decision on the permanent residence application.

Do I need an IELTS score for AAIP?

The AAIP accepts CELPIP General, IELTS General Training, Pearson Test of English (PTE), TEF Canada and TCF Canada results that are less than two years old. TOEFL is not on the list. Minimum levels depend on the stream: for example CLB 5 for TEER 0 to 3 and CLB 4 for TEER 4 to 5 in the Alberta Opportunity and Rural Renewal streams, CLB 4 in the Rural Entrepreneur Stream and CLB 7 in the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.

What happens after I get nominated?

After the AAIP accepts your nomination, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence, and IRCC makes the final decision. If you were nominated through the Alberta Express Entry Stream, the nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile; other nominees apply to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program