On 1 March 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) published results for two late-February selection rounds that together issued 899 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. The draws mark Alberta’s first use this year of sector-specific invitations under both the **Alberta Opportunity Stream – Priority Sectors** and the dedicated **Tourism & Hospitality Stream**.
The larger draw, held 20 February, targeted workers in priority sectors—energy, technology and agrifood—issuing 831 invitations with a minimum Expression-of-Interest score of 56. A second draw on 24 February invited 68 tourism and hospitality candidates who scored at least 73 points. Nominees who obtain an AAIP certificate receive an additional 600 points in the federal Express Entry system, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
Alberta has so far allocated only 612 of its 6,403 federal nomination slots for 2026, leaving 5,791 spaces for the remainder of the year. The province is currently processing just over 1,000 applications, suggesting ample room for additional employer-driven recruitment across rural and urban regions.
![Alberta issues nearly 900 invitations in first sector-focused AAIP draws of 2026]()
For applicants who will soon need to arrange entry visas, work-permit renewals or travel documents for accompanying family members, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. Its Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers step-by-step guidance, real-time status tracking and dedicated support—helping newly invited AAIP candidates stay focused on settlement preparations instead of administrative hurdles.
The AAIP’s latest statistics also reveal a pool of 45,698 active Expressions of Interest, with nearly two-thirds filed under the general Opportunity Stream. Employers facing acute labour shortages—particularly in health care, tech and hospitality—are advised to work closely with Regional Economic Development alliances to secure coveted invitations before quotas tighten.
Because the Tourism & Hospitality Stream remains capped at 150 nominations for 2026, specialists urge hotels and restaurants to pre-screen candidates quickly, as the next intake could fill the stream’s remaining 118 slots in a single draw.
The larger draw, held 20 February, targeted workers in priority sectors—energy, technology and agrifood—issuing 831 invitations with a minimum Expression-of-Interest score of 56. A second draw on 24 February invited 68 tourism and hospitality candidates who scored at least 73 points. Nominees who obtain an AAIP certificate receive an additional 600 points in the federal Express Entry system, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
Alberta has so far allocated only 612 of its 6,403 federal nomination slots for 2026, leaving 5,791 spaces for the remainder of the year. The province is currently processing just over 1,000 applications, suggesting ample room for additional employer-driven recruitment across rural and urban regions.
For applicants who will soon need to arrange entry visas, work-permit renewals or travel documents for accompanying family members, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. Its Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers step-by-step guidance, real-time status tracking and dedicated support—helping newly invited AAIP candidates stay focused on settlement preparations instead of administrative hurdles.
The AAIP’s latest statistics also reveal a pool of 45,698 active Expressions of Interest, with nearly two-thirds filed under the general Opportunity Stream. Employers facing acute labour shortages—particularly in health care, tech and hospitality—are advised to work closely with Regional Economic Development alliances to secure coveted invitations before quotas tighten.
Because the Tourism & Hospitality Stream remains capped at 150 nominations for 2026, specialists urge hotels and restaurants to pre-screen candidates quickly, as the next intake could fill the stream’s remaining 118 slots in a single draw.
