ALBERTA INVITED OVER A THOUSAND CANDIDATES IN THE FIRST AAIP DRAWS OF THEYEAR
Alberta Issues Over 1,100 Invitations in Rapid 2026 Start
The Government of Alberta has kicked off the 2026 immigration season with a massive wave of invitations. Between January 26 and February 2, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) issued a total of 1,169 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across several high-priority streams. This fast-paced start signals Alberta's aggressive strategy to fill critical labor gaps in healthcare, technology, and general skilled trades early in the year.
Detailed Breakdown of 2026 AAIP Draws
The invitations were distributed across four distinct rounds, targeting specific sectors and in-province workers:
Alberta Opportunity Stream (Feb 2): Issued 915 invitations with a minimum score of 57. This is currently the province's largest draw of the year, focusing on workers already employed in Alberta.
Accelerated Tech Pathway (Jan 29): Issued 148 invitations with a minimum score of 63. This pathway is dedicated to tech professionals with a valid Express Entry profile and a job offer from an Alberta tech industry employer.
Dedicated Health Care Pathway (Jan 26-27):
Express Entry Stream: 63 invitations (Score: 61).
Non-Express Entry Stream: 43 invitations (Score: 45).
2026 Allocation and Remaining Capacity
Alberta's 2026 roadmap shows plenty of opportunity remains for candidates yet to enter the pool:
Total 2026 Allocation: 6,403 provincial nominations.
Nominations Issued so far: Only 405 (as of Feb 5), leaving 5,964 spaces available for the rest of the year.
Priority Sectors: In 2026, Alberta is prioritizing Healthcare, Technology, Construction, Manufacturing, Aviation, and Agriculture.
Bonus Allocation: Practice-ready physicians and Francophones may be nominated under a separate federal allocation of 10,000 spaces, which does not count toward Alberta’s 6,403 limit.
Strategic Alignment is Key to Selection
With over 45,000 profiles currently in the AAIP pool, the competition is high. However, the low cut-off scores in sectors like healthcare (45 points) show that candidates aligned with provincial priorities have a significantly higher chance of selection, even with modest total scores.
Do you have work experience in Alberta or a background in Tech/Healthcare? You could be next. At Global Opportunities, we help you align your profile with Alberta’s 2026 priorities to maximize your chances of a nomination. Contact us today to secure your place in the pool!