The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is Alberta's provincial nominee program (PNP). It allows Alberta to nominate foreign nationals for Canadian permanent residence based on the province's economic and labour market needs, including skilled workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs, and farmers.
A nomination from the AAIP is a key step toward permanent residence — nominees apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which processes and finalizes all permanent residence applications.
Program streams
AAIP runs 8 streams across two categories: streams for workers and streams for entrepreneurs. Most worker streams use an Expression of Interest (EOI) system — eligible candidates submit a profile and are ranked on factors like education, work experience, language ability, age, and employment in Alberta, then invited to apply in periodic draws.
Streams for workers
| Stream | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | Candidates already living and working in Alberta with a job offer from an Alberta employer. Alberta's largest stream by nomination allocation. |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream | Candidates with a profile in IRCC's federal Express Entry pool who meet Alberta's minimum requirements and priorities. Includes dedicated pathways for tech (Accelerated Tech Pathway), health care, and police occupations. |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathway | Qualified individuals with a job offer in an eligible health care profession, operated within the Express Entry Stream. |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | Candidates living and working in Alberta with a full-time job offer to continue with an employer in the tourism and hospitality sector. |
| Rural Renewal Stream | Candidates with a job offer from an employer in a designated rural Alberta community, supporting labour needs in smaller communities. |
Streams for entrepreneurs
| Stream | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Rural Entrepreneur Stream | Entrepreneurs planning to start or buy a business in a rural Alberta community. |
| Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | International graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to start or buy a business. |
| Farm Stream | Experienced farmers with farm management skills and sufficient investment funds to buy or start a farm in Alberta. |
| Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | Graduates of a post-secondary institution outside Canada who want to launch an innovative start-up, working with an AAIP-designated agency. |
How to apply
Check eligibility
Alberta provides an official Eligibility Explorer tool to help candidates identify which stream fits their profile.
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) (worker streams) or a business application (entrepreneur streams).
Wait for an invitation
worker streams are selected through periodic draws; EOI score is one of several factors AAIP considers, alongside sector and occupational priorities.
Apply for nomination once invited, submitting full supporting documentation.
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence once nominated
nominees have a limited window to submit their federal application.
2026 program priorities
For 2026, AAIP is prioritizing worker-stream nominations in health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, and Rural Renewal Stream communities. These are not the only eligible sectors, but candidates in these areas may see more frequent draws.
Processing times
Provincial nomination typically takes several months depending on the stream and application volume; entrepreneur stream files generally take longer due to business verification requirements. After nomination, federal permanent residence processing is a separate step handled by IRCC. Because these timelines change with application volume and are published directly by the Government of Alberta, confirm current processing estimates before advising applicants on exact timelines.
Related links
- Northwest Territories PNP - British Columbia PNP - Saskatchewan PNP - Ontario PNP
--- *Sources: Government of Alberta, AAIP Application Streams and Processing Information pages, current as of July 2026. Verify stream-specific eligibility details against alberta.ca before publishing individual stream pages, as draw parameters and requirements are updated regularly.*