Alberta has reached its full 2025 Provincial Nominee Program allocation after issuing its final Invitations to Apply under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
The province was allocated 6,741 nominations for 2025 and has confirmed that no further provincial nomination invitations will be issued this year.
Details Of Alberta’s Final AAIP Draws
The final AAIP activity for 2025 took place in November and focused exclusively on healthcare occupations, reflecting Alberta’s continued labor shortages in the health sector.
On November 21, 2025, Alberta conducted a draw under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway aligned with Express Entry. A total of 68 invitations were issued, with candidates needing a minimum selection score of 49 to receive one.
Just three days later, on November 24, 2025, Alberta issued an additional 34 invitations through the Dedicated Health Care Pathway under the non-Express Entry stream. The minimum score remained unchanged at 49, signaling consistent selection thresholds for healthcare applicants.
These two draws officially concluded Alberta’s nomination activity for 2025.
How Alberta Used Its 2025 Nomination Allocation
Alberta initially began 2025 with a base allocation of 4,875 nominations. During the year, the federal government approved an additional 1,728 nomination spaces, increasing Alberta’s total allocation to 6,603
Due to permitted overages, particularly under Express Entry-aligned streams, Alberta ultimately issued 6,750 nominations in total, exceeding the official allocation slightly with federal approval
The Alberta Opportunity Stream remained the primary pathway, accounting for the largest share of nominations. This stream continued to attract candidates already working in Alberta across a wide range of occupations.
Stream Distribution And Draw Frequency In 2025
In total, Alberta conducted 77 draws in 2025, the highest number carried out by any Provincial Nominee Program during the year
Although the Alberta Express Entry Stream recorded the most draws, most invitations were issued through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, reflecting Alberta’s emphasis on retaining temporary workers already established in the province.
Express Entry-aligned draws prioritized several key sectors, including healthcare, construction, agriculture, aviation, and technology
Application Inventory And EOI Pool Status
As of the latest AAIP update, Alberta still has 1,479 applications under active processing, with the majority linked to the Alberta Opportunity Stream. At the same time, the AAIP Expression of Interest pool remains highly competitive, with more than 45,600 EOIs currently active. As long as this pool remains large, applicants may face longer wait times and increased competition for provincial nominations, making it crucial to maximize eligibility and monitor program changes closely.
Major AAIP Policy Changes Introduced In 2025
Throughout 2025, Alberta implemented several important changes to its immigration program structure and eligibility rules. Key changes included increased application fees across multiple streams, acceptance of the Pearson Test of English Core for language requirements, and revised eligibility criteria under the Rural Renewal Stream. Alberta also withdrew from the federal open work permit policy for prospective PNP candidates and ended invitations under the Family Connection and Occupation in Demand pathways.
These policy updates will officially take effect from January 1, 2026.
What To Expect For Alberta PNP In 2026
Alberta has not yet announced its nomination allocation for 2026, nor confirmed which occupations or sectors will be prioritized. Given the size of the current EOI pool and Alberta’s strong labor demand, competition is expected to remain intense when the program reopens.
Applicants should prepare documents, track AAIP updates, and consider alternative pathways such as Express Entry or other provincial programs.
Key Takeaways
- Alberta has fully used its 2025 PNP nomination allocation following final healthcare-focused draws.
- Healthcare professionals were prioritized at the end of the year under both Express Entry and non-Express Entry pathways.
- The Alberta Opportunity Stream remained the dominant source of nominations despite frequent Express Entry draws.
- With over 45,000 EOIs still in the pool, competition for 2026 is expected to be high.
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