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Alberta Starts 2026 Strong, Issues 1,100+ Invitations in Four Immigration Draws
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has released details of its latest provincial nominee selections held between January 26 and February 2, 2026. During this period, Alberta conducted four immigration draws, issuing a total of 1,169 invitations to eligible candidates across multiple immigration streams.
The invitations were issued through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Alberta Express Entry Stream’s Accelerated Tech Pathway, and the Dedicated Health Care Pathways under both Express Entry and non-Express Entry categories. The draws highlight Alberta’s continued focus on addressing labour shortages in priority sectors at the start of 2026.
AAIP Draw Results (January 26 – February 2, 2026)
| Draw Date | Stream / Pathway | Invitations Issued | Cut-off Score |
| February 2, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 915 | 57 |
| January 29, 2026 | Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 148 | 63 |
| January 27, 2026 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway (Non-Express Entry) | 43 | 45 |
| January 26, 2026 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway (Express Entry) | 63 | 61 |
| Total | — | 1,169 | — |
The largest draw during this period occurred on February 2, when Alberta issued 915 invitations through the Alberta Opportunity Stream alone. The lowest cut-off score, set at 45, was recorded in the non-Express Entry Dedicated Health Care draw on January 27.
Alberta’s Immigration Priorities for 2026
Alberta has stated that AAIP nominations and invitations in 2026 will primarily target occupations in key sectors that support the province’s economic growth. These include health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, and agriculture, as well as communities participating in the Rural Renewal Stream.
The province has also clarified that AAIP draws are not scheduled in advance and that meeting the minimum cut-off score does not guarantee selection. Additional factors considered during selection may include Alberta-based work experience in priority occupations, employment as a licensed physician in the province, and French-language proficiency among Francophone candidates.
Alberta’s 2026 Nomination Allocation
| Category | Figures |
| Total AAIP nomination allocation (2026) | 6,403 |
| Nominations issued (as of February 5, 2026) | 405 |
| Remaining nomination spaces | 5,964 |
Most nominations issued so far in 2026 have been granted through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, reflecting strong demand from candidates already working in the province.
Alberta also noted that up to 10,000 federal immigration spaces are available nationwide for practice-ready physicians and Francophone applicants across all Provincial Nominee Programs. Nominations issued under this federal initiative do not count toward Alberta’s annual AAIP allocation.
AAIP Stream-Level Allocation and EOI Pool Status
As of February 5, 2026, Alberta reported the following stream-level data, including nomination allocations, issued nominations, remaining spaces, and Expression of Interest (EOI) pool sizes.
| Stream / Pathway | 2026 Allocation | Nominations Issued | Spaces Remaining | EOIs in Pool |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,425 | 255 | 3,170 | 28,412 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,000 | Less than 10 | N/A | 3,185 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 150 | 29 | 121 | 4,928 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE & Non-EE) | 500 | 34 | 466 | 1,406 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 600 | 34 | 566 | 2,653 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 38 | Less than 10 | N/A | 91 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority Sector Draws | 600 | 48 | 518 | 4,371 |
| Total EOI Pool (All Worker Streams) | — | — | — | 45,276 |
AAIP Application Inventory
| Category | Number |
| Applications awaiting processing | 1,006 |
Alberta’s early-2026 draw activity indicates a strong start to the year, with significant invitation volumes and ample nomination spaces still available across most AAIP streams.