New Alberta And BC PNP Draws Sent 1,453 Permanent Residence Invitations

Last Updated On 17 July 2026, 9:55 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Two western Canadian provinces just opened the door for hundreds of skilled workers in 3 new PNP draws on July 15 and 16, 2026.

Between July 14 and July 16, 2026, Alberta and British Columbia issued a combined 1,453 invitations to apply for permanent residence through their respective provincial nominee programs.

Alberta accounted for 884 of those invitations across two draws targeting the Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Dedicated Health Care Pathway.

British Columbia contributed the remaining 569 invitations through two Innovate category selections under the BC PNP Skills Immigration stream.

These draws reflect the continued aggressive pace of provincial immigration selection across western Canada in July 2026.

What Happened in the BC PNP Draw on July 16

The BC Provincial Nominee Program conducted two Innovate category draws on July 16, 2026, issuing a total of 569 invitations to apply.

Both draws fell under the Innovate: High Economic Impact selection category, which British Columbia introduced as part of its Care, Build, and Innovate framework earlier this year.

The first draw selected 223 candidates based on wage and occupation criteria rather than a points threshold.

To qualify for this wage-based selection, candidates needed a minimum hourly wage of $58 and an annual salary of at least $115,000.

They also needed a job offer in an NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, which covers management, professional, and technical roles.

The second draw used the standard points-based ranking and selected 346 candidates with a minimum score of 132 points.

The 132-point cutoff is the lowest Innovate category threshold recorded in a BC PNP draw since the program restructured its priorities in April 2026.

The wage threshold of $58 per hour also continues the downward trend from earlier 2026 draws, when it stood at $70 per hour in February.

BC PNP Draw Summary: July 16, 2026

Selection Type	Criteria	Minimum Score	Invitations
Innovate: High Economic Impact (Wage)	Min. $58/hr, $115,000/yr, NOC TEER 0-3	N/A	223
Innovate: High Economic Impact (Points)	Points-based ranking	132	346
Total			569

Candidates who registered in the BC PNP Skills Immigration system before July 16, 2026, were eligible for selection in this round.

The declining wage and score thresholds suggest that BC is widening the pool of eligible candidates beyond top-tier earners.

British Columbia received a 2026 nomination allocation of 5,254 spaces from IRCC, a 31% increase over the initial 2025 allocation of 4,000.

This allocation supports the province’s ability to maintain frequent draws throughout the year as it works to fill persistent labour gaps.

Alberta Issued 884 Invitations Across Two Draws

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program conducted two draws between July 14 and July 15, 2026, issuing a combined total of 884 invitations to apply.

The larger of the two draws took place on July 15 under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, which issued 833 invitations at a minimum Expression of Interest score of 53.

This 53-point cutoff is one of the lowest minimum scores recorded in an Alberta Opportunity Stream draw in 2026.

It signals that AAIP is reaching deeper into the Expression of Interest pool to select candidates who meet Alberta’s labour market needs.

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is a non-Express Entry pathway designed for foreign workers who are already living and working in the province on a valid work permit.

The second draw on July 14 targeted the Dedicated Health Care Pathway under the non-Express Entry stream, issuing 51 invitations at a minimum score of 52.

This pathway prioritizes healthcare professionals such as physicians, registered nurses, and other medical workers who have job offers from Alberta employers.

Alberta’s healthcare-focused draws remain smaller in volume but serve a critical function in addressing the province’s medical workforce shortages.

Alberta PNP Draw Summary: July 14-15, 2026

Date	Stream / Pathway	Minimum Score	Invitations
July 15, 2026	Alberta Opportunity Stream	53	833
July 14, 2026	Dedicated Health Care Pathway (non-EE)	52	51
Total			884

Alberta received a total nomination allocation of 6,403 for 2026 under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, giving the province significant capacity to continue drawing throughout the year.

The province has historically maintained one of the highest draw frequencies among all Canadian provincial nominee programs, conducting 77 draws in 2025 alone.

Why These Draws Matter for PNP Candidates in 2026

The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased PNP admission targets from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 for 2026, a 66% rebound.

That increase has fueled aggressive draw activity across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba throughout the first half of the year.

For candidates who hold a provincial nomination, the pathway to permanent residence through Express Entry becomes significantly more accessible because of the 600-point CRS boost.

Express Entry PNP draws in 2026 have issued invitations at CRS cutoffs between 730 and 805, but the base CRS required to qualify has been as low as 130 after subtracting the nomination bonus.

The first Express Entry draw of June 2026 issued 955 invitations at a CRS cutoff of 730, the lowest PNP cutoff of the year.

Candidates selected in these Alberta and BC draws who also have Express Entry profiles can add their nomination to the federal pool for an accelerated pathway.

Those who apply through non-Express Entry streams will follow the standard PNP processing timeline, which stood at 13 months for non-Express Entry PNPs as of the latest IRCC update.

What Invited Candidates Should Do Next

Candidates who received an invitation from either province must submit a complete application within the specified deadline.

For the BC PNP, invited candidates have 30 days from the date of their invitation to submit a full application with all supporting documents.

For the AAIP, candidates must also submit their application within the timeline specified in their invitation letter, along with proof of employment, language test results, and educational credentials.

Missing the application deadline results in the invitation being forfeited, and candidates would need to submit a new Expression of Interest or registration to be considered in future draws.

Candidates who were not selected in these rounds should keep their profiles updated and ensure all information is accurate for upcoming selections.

Both provinces have demonstrated a pattern of frequent draws in 2026, and additional rounds are expected in the weeks ahead.

Improving language test scores, securing or maintaining valid job offers, and exploring multiple provincial pathways simultaneously remain the most effective strategies.

Candidates with CRS scores below 500 who are struggling with Express Entry draw cutoffs should treat provincial nominations as a primary pathway rather than a backup plan.

The proposed Express Entry reforms currently under consultation could eventually restructure the CRS model, but no changes will take effect before the next set of draws.

Alberta and British Columbia remain two of the most active provinces for PNP draws in Canada, and these latest rounds reinforce that trend.

The declining minimum scores in Alberta and lower wage thresholds in BC both point toward expanding access for a wider range of candidates.

With the 2026 nomination allocation cycle well underway and both provinces still holding significant unused nomination capacity, candidates should expect continued draw activity through the rest of the summer and into the fall.

Workers already employed in Alberta or British Columbia with valid work permits are in the strongest position to benefit from these provincial pathways.

Keeping profiles current, monitoring draw announcements closely, and preparing application documents in advance will put candidates in the best position when the next round of invitations arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I apply to both the Alberta PNP and BC PNP at the same time?

Yes, there is no federal or provincial restriction preventing candidates from submitting registrations or Expressions of Interest to multiple provincial nominee programs simultaneously. However, candidates can only accept one provincial nomination at a time and must demonstrate genuine intent to live and work in the nominating province. Holding active registrations in both Alberta and BC increases the chances of receiving an invitation, especially since each province operates on its own draw schedule and selection criteria.

What happens to my BC PNP registration if I am not invited to this draw?

A BC PNP Skills Immigration registration remains active in the system for 12 months from the date of submission. If a candidate is not selected in the July 16 draw, their registration carries forward and is automatically considered in all future draws that match their stream and category during that 12-month window. Candidates should update their registration if their employment, wage, or personal circumstances change, as the system re-evaluates profiles based on the latest information.

Does receiving an AAIP invitation guarantee a provincial nomination?

No, an invitation to apply is not a guarantee of nomination. After receiving an invitation, candidates must submit a complete application with all required documents within the specified deadline. AAIP reviews each application against the full eligibility criteria for the relevant stream. Applications can be refused if the candidate does not meet the requirements, submits incomplete documentation, or fails to demonstrate genuine intent to reside in Alberta. The nomination is only confirmed after the application is fully assessed and approved.

How long does it take to receive permanent residence after a provincial nomination?

The total processing time depends on whether the candidate applies through an Express Entry-linked or non-Express Entry stream. For Express Entry-linked PNP applications, IRCC currently processes permanent residence applications in approximately six months from the date of submission. Non-Express Entry PNP applications take approximately 13 months based on the latest IRCC processing time data. These timelines begin after the provincial nomination is confirmed and the federal permanent residence application is submitted, not from the date of the initial invitation.

Will the BC PNP wage threshold continue to decrease in future draws?

The BC PNP does not pre-announce wage thresholds or minimum score requirements for future draws. The $58 per hour threshold in the July 16 draw represents a continued decline from the $70 per hour threshold seen in February 2026, but each draw is determined independently based on the composition of the registration pool, the number of invitations the province chooses to issue, and prevailing labour market conditions. Candidates should not assume the trend will continue indefinitely, as thresholds could stabilize or increase depending on demand and allocation capacity.

Fact-Check: All draw figures, minimum scores, and invitation counts cited in this article are sourced from the official BC PNP draw results published on July 16, 2026, and the official AAIP draw results published on July 14 and July 15, 2026. The 2026 PNP admission target of 91,500 is drawn from the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Alberta’s nomination allocation of 6,403 and BC’s allocation of 5,254 are confirmed through IRCC’s provincial allocation framework. The BC PNP application fee of $1,750 is confirmed through the official BC PNP program guide. Alberta’s AAIP application fee of $1,500 for worker streams is confirmed through the official AAIP website. Last updated on July 17, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Immigration rules and program criteria are subject to change without notice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a licensed immigration lawyer for guidance specific to their individual circumstances.

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.