The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has outlined its 2026 nomination priorities, targeting foreign workers and skilled candidates whose skills and job offers align with the province’s labour-market needs. Alberta’s plan focuses on supporting key economic sectors, strengthening rural communities, and helping employers fill critical job shortages.
🎯 Alberta’s 2026 Immigration Priorities
In 2026, Alberta is concentrating its provincial nomination efforts on candidates in sectors with labour shortages and economic importance. These priority areas include:
- 🏥 Healthcare occupations
- 💻 Technology and IT jobs
- 🏗 Construction roles
- 🏭 Manufacturing positions
- ✈️ Aviation-related jobs
- 🌾 Agriculture and agri-business roles
These priority sectors largely mirror the province’s 2025 focus, with the notable addition of manufacturing — indicating Alberta’s growing need for workers in that field.
📍 How Alberta’s Nomination Allocation Is Spread
Alberta’s total 2026 nomination allocation under the AAIP is approximately 6,403 spaces. Here’s how those nominations are planned to be distributed across the main streams (with remaining spots subject to change throughout the year):
| AAIP Stream | Nomination Allocation | Issued (Early 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,425 | ~70 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,000 | <10 |
| Dedicated Healthcare Pathways (EE & non-EE) | 500 | <10 |
| Tourism & Hospitality | 150 | ~10 |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream (Tech & Law Enforcement) | 638 total | <10 |
| Priority Sectors & Other Initiatives | 600 | ~16 |
| Entrepreneur Streams | 90 | <10 |
Note: These allocations are not fixed — the AAIP can shift spaces between streams based on labour needs and application trends.
🧠 Who Alberta Wants in 2026
🧑⚕️ Healthcare Professionals
Alberta continues to target doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, especially those with job offers in the province — reflecting chronic shortages in healthcare staffing.
💼 Tech Workers
The Accelerated Tech Pathway under the Alberta Express Entry Stream is designed to attract candidates with skills in software, IT, engineering, and related technology sectors.
🛠 Construction & Skilled Trades
Skilled workers in construction and trades continue to be a priority to support Alberta’s infrastructure and development.
🏭 Manufacturing & Industrial Jobs
New this year, Alberta is emphasizing manufacturing roles, responding to demand in factories and production facilities across the province.
✈️ Aviation & Transportation
Technicians, engineers, and aviation support workers are in demand to support Alberta’s growing air and ground transport industries.
🌾 Agriculture & Rural Renewal
Farm-related occupations and workers willing to support rural communities can qualify for nomination, particularly through the Rural Renewal Stream.
📌 Federal Immigration Spaces That Don’t Count Toward AAIP Limits
In addition to Alberta’s provincial allocation, the federal government is reserving 10,000 PR selection spaces across all Canadian PNPs (including Alberta’s) for:
- 🎓 Licensed, practice-ready physicians with job offers (5,000 spaces)
- 🇫🇷 French-speaking foreign nationals (5,000 spaces)
These additional nominations don’t count against Alberta’s AAIP allocation and can increase the total number of candidates the province can nominate in 2026.
To qualify under these federal initiatives, candidates must meet additional criteria — for example, physicians must be practice-ready with an eligible job offer, and francophones must meet language-proficiency requirements.
🧭 How the AAIP Works (Quick Overview)
Alberta selects candidates through a provincial Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Candidates with qualifying job offers, work experience, and skills in key sectors can be invited to apply for provincial nomination. A nomination typically adds 600 points to a candidate’s federal Express Entry profile — greatly improving chances of a permanent residence invitation.
The main AAIP streams include:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream – for internationally trained workers with a job offer in Alberta.
- Alberta Express Entry Stream – for Express Entry candidates with strong profiles.
- Rural Renewal Stream – focused on filling labour gaps in rural and smaller communities.
- Dedicated Healthcare Pathways – for healthcare workers (including physicians).
- Priority Sector and Other Initiatives – additional targeted selections.
📈 Why These Priorities Matter
Alberta’s 2026 focus shows a strong alignment with the province’s economic goals — attracting workers who can help alleviate shortages in healthcare, tech, construction, and other critical industries. Targeting these sectors not only supports economic growth, but also helps Alberta remain competitive in the broader Canadian labour market.
🧠 Final Thoughts
If you’re considering immigration to Alberta in 2026, focusing your profile on one of the province’s priority sectors — healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, or agriculture — could significantly improve your chances of nomination. Additionally, federal initiatives for physicians and francophone candidates may offer extra opportunities beyond Alberta’s provincial allocation.
