First Alberta-AAIP Draw Of February 2026 Sent 915 PR Invitations

Last Updated On 5 February 2026, 7:56 PM EST (Toronto Time)

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The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – AAIP kicked off in February 2026 with a large draw, issuing 915 invitations to apply for permanent residence through the Alberta Opportunity Stream on February 2, 2026.

The draw had a minimum Expression of Interest score of 57, signalling continued strong demand for workers across Alberta’s key economic sectors.

This draw was the fourth AAIP draw of 2026, following three other draws held between January 26 and January 29 across the Dedicated Health Care Pathway and the Alberta Express Entry Stream’s Accelerated Tech Pathway.

Combined, these four draws issued a total of 1,169 invitations in just seven days — an aggressive pace that reflects Alberta’s urgent need for skilled workers and its determination to use every available immigration tool to fill critical labour gaps.

With Alberta holding a total nomination allocation of 6,403 for 2026 and only 405 nominations issued so far, the province has significant capacity remaining to continue drawing candidates throughout the year.

Here is a complete breakdown of the latest draw, all January and February 2026 draws, the current state of the EOI pools, nomination allocations by stream, and what candidates need to know about Alberta’s immigration priorities for the year ahead.

Latest Alberta Opportunity Stream Draw Details

The February 2, 2026 draw targeted the Alberta Opportunity Stream exclusively, making it by far the largest single draw Alberta has conducted in 2026.

A total of 915 candidates received invitations to apply, with the minimum EOI score of invited candidates sitting at 57 points.

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is AAIP’s primary non-Express Entry pathway for foreign workers who are already living and working in Alberta on a valid work permit.

Unlike the Express Entry-linked streams, candidates in the Opportunity Stream do not need a federal Express Entry profile.

Instead, they submit an Expression of Interest directly through the AAIP system and are ranked based on a variety of factors that the program considers when making selections.

It is important to understand that the EOI score is not the only factor AAIP uses to decide who receives an invitation.

The program considers a range of information provided in the Expression of Interest to meet its program priorities, and to protect the integrity of its selection process, AAIP does not publicly disclose the full parameters it uses for each draw.

This means that having a score above the published minimum does not guarantee an invitation, as the program may weight certain occupations, sectors, or other factors in its selection decisions.

The Alberta Opportunity Stream currently has the largest EOI pool of any AAIP stream, with 28,412 expressions of interest sitting in the selection pool as of the latest data.

This means the 915 invitations issued in this draw represent roughly 3.2 percent of the available pool — a highly competitive ratio that underscores how important it is for candidates to have strong profiles that align with Alberta’s priority sectors.

For context, the Opportunity Stream has a total 2026 nomination allocation of 3,425 spots, of which 255 have been issued so far, leaving 3,170 nomination spaces remaining.

The stream is currently processing applications received on or before October 21, 2025, which gives candidates a sense of the processing backlog and timeline.

All AAIP Draws In 2026

The February 2 Alberta Opportunity Stream draw was the latest in a rapid series of draws that AAIP conducted in late January and early February 2026.

Understanding all four draws together provides a clearer picture of the province’s current immigration priorities and the pace at which invitations are being issued.

Draw date	Worker stream, pathway, initiative or other focus and selection parameters	Minimum score of invited candidates	Number of invitations
February 2, 2026	Alberta Opportunity Stream	57	915
January 29, 2026	Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway	63	148
January 27, 2026	Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry	45	43
January 26, 2026	Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry	61	63

On January 26, 2026, AAIP held a draw under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway targeting Express Entry candidates.

This draw had a minimum score of 61 and issued 63 invitations. The following day, January 27.

A second Health Care Pathway draw was conducted — this time targeting non-Express Entry candidates — with a significantly lower minimum score of 45 and 43 invitations issued.

Two days later, on January 29, 2026, AAIP drew from the Alberta Express Entry Stream under the Accelerated Tech Pathway, issuing 148 invitations with a minimum score of 63.

Then on February 2, the large Alberta Opportunity Stream draw issued the 915 invitations at a minimum score of 57.

The pattern across these draws reveals several things about Alberta’s current approach.

First, the province is drawing from multiple streams in quick succession rather than spacing draws out over weeks or months.

Second, health care and technology continue to receive dedicated attention through their own pathways, separate from the general Opportunity Stream.

Third, the minimum scores vary significantly across streams and pathways — from 45 for non-Express Entry health care candidates to 63 for Express Entry tech and health care candidates — reflecting the different labour market dynamics and candidate pools in each sector.

AAIP Priority Sectors for 2026

Alberta has been explicit about where its immigration priorities lie in 2026.

The AAIP will prioritize draws and nominations within its worker streams for occupations in health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, and communities designated under the Rural Renewal Stream.

While the province has noted that this list is not exhaustive, it represents the primary focus areas that will guide selection decisions throughout the year.

This prioritization has practical implications for candidates. If your occupation falls within one of these sectors, your chances of being selected in a draw are meaningfully higher than if you work in an occupation outside these priority areas.

Even if your EOI score is relatively high, candidates working in non-priority sectors may find themselves consistently passed over in draws that are calibrated to address specific labour shortages.

Alberta has created a dedicated Health Care Pathway with both Express Entry and non-Express Entry tracks, and the province has already conducted two health care-specific draws in the last week of January alone.

The minimum score of 45 for the non-Express Entry health care draw is notably low, indicating that the province is casting a wide net to bring in as many health care workers as possible.

Similarly, the technology sector continues to benefit from the Accelerated Tech Pathway, which targets specific occupations including those that support data centre needs in Alberta.

With 2,653 expressions of interest currently in the tech pathway pool and a 2026 allocation of 600 spots, competition is significant but the pathway offers a focused route for tech professionals.

Construction, manufacturing, aviation, and agriculture fall under the Alberta Express Entry Stream’s priority sector draws and other initiatives category, which has a 2026 allocation of 600 spots and currently has 4,371 expressions of interest in the pool.

Skilled trades linked to each of these sectors are also included in this priority, which aligns with broader national trends toward prioritizing trades workers in immigration selection.

Current EOI Pool Sizes Across All AAIP Streams

The total number of expressions of interest currently sitting in AAIP’s selection pools across all streams and pathways is 45,276.

This is an enormous pool relative to the province’s total nomination allocation of 6,403 for the year, meaning that roughly only one in seven EOI profiles will ultimately receive an invitation — and that ratio will likely worsen as more candidates submit profiles throughout 2026.

Stream / Pathway	EOIs in Pool
Alberta Opportunity Stream	28,412
Dedicated Health Care Pathways	1,406
Rural Renewal Stream	3,185
Tourism and Hospitality Stream	4,928
Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway	2,653
Express Entry – Family Connection & Occupation in Demand	176
Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway	91
Express Entry – Priority Sector Draws & Other Initiatives	4,371
Total	45,276

The Alberta Opportunity Stream accounts for the vast majority of the pool at 28,412 expressions of interest.

The Tourism and Hospitality Stream holds 4,928 profiles, despite having a very limited allocation of just 150 nominations for 2026.

The Rural Renewal Stream has 3,185 profiles against a 1,000-spot allocation.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream’s priority sector draws and other initiatives category holds 4,371 profiles, while the Accelerated Tech Pathway has 2,653 profiles.

The Dedicated Health Care Pathways (combining both Express Entry and non-Express Entry) have 1,406 profiles in the pool — a relatively small number compared to other streams, which explains why Alberta is able to draw health care candidates at lower minimum scores.

With 500 nominations allocated to health care pathways and a smaller pool to draw from, health care workers face significantly less competition than candidates in the general Opportunity Stream.

Some of the smaller pathways have very limited pools. The Family Connection and Occupation in Demand category has just 176 expressions of interest, and the Law Enforcement Pathway has only 91.

These specialized pathways serve niche needs and are unlikely to see large draws, but they offer focused routes for candidates who qualify.

Candidates should be aware that AAIP explicitly states they may be invited to apply to a stream or pathway other than the one they originally submitted their expression of interest to.

This means the program retains flexibility to redirect candidates to where the need is greatest, regardless of which stream the candidate initially selected.

2026 Nomination Allocation and How Much Room Is Left

Alberta has been allocated a total of 6,403 provincial nomination spots for 2026 by the federal government.

As of early February, only 405 nominations have been issued, leaving 5,964 spaces remaining.

Stream	Allocated	Issued	Remaining
Alberta Opportunity Stream	3,425	255	3,170
Dedicated Health Care Pathways	500	34	466
Express Entry – Accelerated Tech	600	34	566
Express Entry – Priority Sectors	600	48	518
Express Entry – Law Enforcement	38	<10	N/A
Rural Renewal Stream	1,000	<10	N/A
Tourism and Hospitality Stream	150	29	121
Entrepreneur Streams	90	<10	N/A
Total	6,403	405	5,964

There are currently 1,006 applications in the processing queue that have been received but not yet finalized.

Breaking this down by stream, the Alberta Opportunity Stream has the largest share with 3,425 allocated spots, of which 255 have been used.

The Dedicated Health Care Pathways have 500 spots with 34 issued.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream is split between the Accelerated Tech Pathway with 600 spots and 34 issued, the Priority Sector Draws category with 600 spots and 48 issued, and the Law Enforcement Pathway with 38 spots and fewer than 10 issued.

The Rural Renewal Stream has 1,000 spots with fewer than 10 issued, the Tourism and Hospitality Stream has 150 spots with 29 issued, and the Entrepreneur Streams have 90 spots with fewer than 10 issued.

The fact that over 93 percent of the nomination allocation remains unused as of early February is encouraging for candidates who have yet to receive an invitation.

It suggests that AAIP will continue conducting regular draws throughout 2026, and there is ample room for thousands of additional invitations across all streams.

However, candidates should not assume that all remaining spots will necessarily be filled — the province may adjust its pace based on labour market conditions, processing capacity, and federal coordination.

Processing Times and Application Backlogs by Stream

Processing times are a critical concern for candidates who have already received an invitation and submitted their application.

The current data provides a snapshot of where each stream stands in terms of the application queue.

Pathway or initiative	2026 nomination allocation	2026 nominations issued	2026 nomination spaces remaining	Applications to be processed	Currently assessing applications received on or before
Overall	6,403	405	5,964	1,006	Not provided
Alberta Opportunity Stream	3,425	255	3,170	501	October 21, 2025 (currently excludes those who received a work permit support letter under the ‘Temporary public policy to facilitate work permits for prospective Provincial Nominee Program candidates’)
Rural Renewal Stream	1,000	Less than 10	Not applicable	Less than 10	To be determined upon future draws and application intake
Tourism and Hospitality Stream	150	29	121	12	January 10, 2025
Dedicated Health Care Pathways	500	34	466	19	January 26, 2026
Express Entry Accelerated Tech Pathway (eligible list of occupations includes jobs that support data centre needs in Alberta)	600	34	566	53	October 31, 2025
Express Entry Law Enforcement Pathway	38	Less than 10	Not applicable	Less than 10	Not applicable
Express Entry Priority sector draws and other initiatives (construction, manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, and including skilled trades linked to each sector, etc.)	600	48	518	82	October 19, 2025
Entrepreneur Streams	90	Less than 10	Not applicable	256	Business applications are evaluated upon receipt

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is currently assessing applications received on or before October 21, 2025.

This represents approximately a four-month processing backlog, and with 501 applications in the queue, candidates who applied more recently should expect to wait several months before their applications are reviewed.

Notably, the stream currently excludes from its processing timeline those who received a work permit support letter under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates.

The Dedicated Health Care Pathways are processing applications received on or before January 26, 2026, with 19 applications in the queue — indicating extremely fast processing times for health care workers, consistent with the province’s stated priority for this sector.

The Accelerated Tech Pathway is assessing applications received on or before October 31, 2025, with 65 applications pending.

The Priority Sector Draws category under the Express Entry Stream is processing applications from on or before October 19, 2025, with 82 applications in the queue.

The Tourism and Hospitality Stream has the longest relative backlog, currently processing applications received on or before January 10, 2025 — more than a year old — with 12 applications pending.

This stream has a very small allocation of just 150 spots, which likely contributes to the slower processing pace.

The Rural Renewal Stream and Law Enforcement Pathway both show fewer than 10 applications in processing, with timelines to be determined based on future draws and application intake.

With less than seven percent of the total nomination allocation used and over 45,000 expressions of interest in the pool, AAIP has both the capacity and the demand to continue conducting frequent draws throughout 2026.

The pace of four draws in a single week in late January and early February suggests the province is serious about filling its allocation and addressing labour market needs as quickly as possible.

The Alberta Opportunity Stream will likely see the most draws and the most invitations by volume, given its large allocation and enormous pool.

However, competition in this stream is fierce, with nearly 28,500 candidates competing for roughly 3,170 remaining spots. Candidates in this stream who work in priority sector occupations will have a meaningful advantage.

The Rural Renewal Stream is worth watching. With 1,000 spots allocated, fewer than 10 nominations issued, and 3,185 profiles in the pool, this stream has been relatively quiet so far in 2026.

Candidates working in designated rural communities could see significant activity later in the year as the province turns attention to rural workforce needs.

AAIP draws are not conducted on a regular schedule — they happen as needed to address sector needs and provincial priorities.

This means candidates should ensure their EOI profiles are complete and up to date at all times, as a draw could come with little advance notice.

Monitoring the official AAIP website for draw announcements and allocation updates is the best way to stay informed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I submit an Expression of Interest to multiple AAIP streams at the same time?

AAIP allows candidates to submit an Expression of Interest indicating their preferred stream or pathway. However, the program has noted that candidates may be invited to apply to a stream or pathway other than the one they originally selected. This means that even if you submit your EOI under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, AAIP could potentially invite you through the Express Entry Stream or another pathway if your profile meets the criteria. It is advisable to ensure your EOI contains complete and accurate information about your occupation, work experience, and qualifications so the program can consider you for all pathways where you may be eligible.

How often does AAIP update the minimum score requirements for each draw?

AAIP does not set minimum score requirements in advance. The minimum score published after each draw is simply the lowest score among the candidates who were selected in that particular draw. Since AAIP draws are not regularly scheduled and the parameters change based on sector needs and provincial priorities, the minimum scores can vary significantly from one draw to the next — even within the same stream. For example, the Dedicated Health Care Pathway has seen minimum scores as low as 45 for non-Express Entry candidates and as high as 61 for Express Entry candidates within the same week. Candidates should focus on strengthening their overall profile rather than targeting a specific score threshold.

Does receiving an AAIP invitation guarantee that my permanent residence application will be approved by IRCC?

No, an AAIP invitation to apply is the first step in a multi-stage process. After receiving your invitation, you must submit a complete application to AAIP, which will assess whether you meet all eligibility requirements. If approved, AAIP issues a provincial nomination certificate, which you then use to apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. IRCC conducts its own independent assessment, including background checks, medical examinations, and admissibility screening. While a provincial nomination significantly strengthens your federal application — and adds 600 points if you are in the Express Entry system — the final decision on permanent residence rests with IRCC.

What happens to my Expression of Interest if I am not selected in a draw?

Your Expression of Interest remains active in the AAIP selection pool and will continue to be considered in future draws. EOI profiles are valid for 12 months from the date of submission. If your profile expires without receiving an invitation, you can submit a new Expression of Interest. During the time your EOI is active, you should update your profile if any of your circumstances change — such as gaining additional work experience in Alberta, improving your language test scores, or changing employers — as these updates could improve your ranking in future draws. There is no penalty for not being selected, and your profile is automatically included in every relevant draw conducted while it remains active.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.