Between 10 and 23 September 2026, Alberta’s Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) issued 380 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. The invitations targeted workers in health care, technology, manufacturing and agriculture. Successful nominees can submit a provincial nomination application; if approved, they may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence. After filing a permanent‑residence application, a provincial nominee may also be eligible for a bridging open work permit (BOWP), which, under a temporary federal measure effective 9 June 2026, can be obtained several months earlier than before.
Draw details (10 Sept – 23 Sept 2026)
| Draw date | Stream / pathway | Invitations issued | Minimum CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Sept | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 113 | 58 |
| 22 Sept | Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 100 | 59 |
| 21 Sept | Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 10 | 49 |
| 18 Sept | Alberta Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Health Care) | 100 | 62 |
| 15 Sept | Alberta Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Agriculture) | 18 | 60 |
| 10 Sept | Alberta Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Manufacturing) | 48 | 60 |
Key observations from these draws:
- Sept 23 – Alberta Opportunity Stream recorded the lowest total of invitations for the year.
- Sept 18 – Health‑care priority sector produced the highest total of invitations.
- Sept 15 – Agriculture priority sector and Sept 10 – Manufacturing priority sector each posted the highest cutoff scores seen in 2026.
All draws, except those on 21 Sept and 23 Sept, align with Alberta’s 2026 priority occupations announced earlier in the year, which also include construction, aviation and rural settlement.
Active worker expressions of interest (WEOI) vs. invitations issued (as of 23 Sept 2026)
| Stream / pathway | Workers with active profiles | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 22,315 | 8,296 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,736 | 1,043 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 3,275 | 227 |
| Dedicated Health‑Care Pathways (EE + non‑EE) | 1,222 | 895 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 1,992 | 1,466 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | 455 | 0 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives | 5,011 | >1,156 |
Since the start of 2026, AAIP has conducted 80 provincial immigration draws, issuing a cumulative 13,089 invitations.
Practical implications
- Candidates with an active WEOI in a high‑demand stream (e.g., Alberta Opportunity or Accelerated Tech) have a higher probability of receiving an invitation, given the large pool of active profiles versus the number of invitations issued.
- The temporary BOWP measure can shorten the waiting period between provincial nomination and the ability to work in Canada, but eligibility depends on meeting the “base PNP” criteria outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- Applicants should monitor the minimum CRS scores for each stream, as they can fluctuate significantly between draws, especially for priority sectors such as health care and agriculture.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
