Alberta Immigration Fees Undergo Major Adjustment; Policy Updates Signal Shift Towards Precision Immigration
Alberta recently issued a formal notice announcing fee adjustments for the Worker Streams within the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).
Application Fees Significantly Increased, Affecting Multiple Categories
The most notable change is the increase in application fees. According to the Alberta government's announcement regarding changes effective April 1, 2025, the application fee for multiple Worker Streams under the AAIP has been uniformly increased from the previous CAD 840 to CAD 1,500. This new fee applies to applications submitted on or after April 1, 2025.
The specific categories affected by this fee adjustment include:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Alberta Express Entry Stream and its associated pathways
- Rural Renewal Stream
- Tourism and Hospitality stream
In addition to the Worker Streams, two other fees have also been adjusted:
- Farm Stream: This stream aims to attract experienced farm operators to establish or purchase a farm in Alberta. Its provincial nomination application fee has increased sharply from CAD 500 to CAD 3,500. This change also takes effect on April 1, 2025, and applies to applications submitted on or after that date. It is noteworthy that fees for other entrepreneur immigration categories remain unchanged this time.
- Nomination Certificate Extension Fee: For applicants needing to request the re-issuance of an expired nomination certificate, the related fee has increased from CAD 100 to CAD 150, also effective April 1, 2025.
Multiple Immigration Policies Updated Simultaneously
Alongside the fee adjustments, the AAIP has also undergone a series of policy changes:
- Withdrawal from Federal Temporary Work Permit Facilitation Policy: On March 17, 2025, the Alberta government announced its decision not to participate in the federal government's temporary open work permit facilitation policy for provincial nominees in the 2025 calendar year. This federal policy allows provinces to opt-in; Alberta was initially one of three provinces to opt-in but has now withdrawn this decision. This means AAIP applicants hoping to obtain an open work permit while awaiting provincial nomination or federal processing will not be able to utilize this specific federal pathway.
- Suspension of Specific Invitation Pathway: Also on March 17, 2025, Alberta decided to suspend issuing invitations through the 'Family Connection and Occupation in Demand Pathway'. However, the immigration authorities clarified that applicants can still receive points in the scoring system for having eligible family members in Alberta (parents, children, or siblings who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents).
- Addition of an Approved Language Test: Effective April 1, 2025, the AAIP began accepting Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core scores as valid proof of language proficiency for all immigration stream applications (applicable to applications received on or after April 1, 2025). This provides applicants with more options. Currently, AAIP-approved language tests include: IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada (French), TCF Canada (French).
Challenges Amidst Federal Quota Reductions
These provincial policy adjustments are occurring against the backdrop of federal reductions in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) immigration allocations. Late last year, the federal government decided to cut the total number of immigrants landing in Canada through PNPs in 2025 by 50%. Early this year, then-federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller confirmed that this reduction means the number of foreign nationals that participating provinces and territories can nominate in 2025 will be significantly lower.
Specifically for Alberta, its provincial nomination allocation was 9,750 in 2024, but this number has been reduced to 4,875 for 2025. The sharp decrease in the allocation will undoubtedly intensify application competition. Combined with the increase in application fees and the tightening of some policies, prospective applicants need to more carefully evaluate their qualifications and prepare for potentially increased costs and difficulty.
Overall, Alberta's immigration programs are undergoing a significant adjustment period. The increase in application fees directly raises the cost of immigration, while the allocation reduction implies higher application thresholds and fiercer competition. Applicants planning to immigrate to Canada through the AAIP should closely monitor the latest official information and adjust their application strategies accordingly.
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 Q&A: Understanding the Impact, Priorities, and Opportunities
On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, maintaining annual permanent resident targets at 380,000 for the next three years while gradually reducing the number of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. The plan aims to balance population growth with Canada’s housing, healthcare, and infrastructure capacity, while increasing the share of economic and francophone immigrants. This Q&A explains the plan’s key points, policy direction, and what it means for prospective applicants.
11/06/2025
Canada Announces 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Permanent Resident Targets Stabilized, Temporary Resident Numbers Tightened
On November 4, 2025, the Government of Canada officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, setting an annual target of 380,000 permanent residents for each of the next three years. The plan aims to maintain steady immigration growth while tightening the inflow of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. Announced as part of the 2025 federal budget, the plan marks a policy shift from “expansion” to “stabilization,” emphasizing the balance between immigration growth and the country’s capacity in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
11/05/2025
Canada Updates Immigration Medical Exam Requirements for Temporary Residence Applicants — Four Countries Added, Six Removed
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an update to the list of countries whose citizens must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) when applying for temporary residence in Canada. Effective November 3, 2025, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela have been added to the list, while Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan have been removed. Applicants from newly added countries will now need to complete an IME, whereas those from the removed regions will no longer be required to do so. The new rules apply to individuals who have lived in or traveled to these countries for six consecutive months within the year before their intended arrival in Canada.
11/04/2025
Manitoba PNP issues 29 invitations to skilled workers, focusing on candidates with special work permits
On October 31, 2025, Manitoba issued 29 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province on facilitated work permits. Of the total invitations, 19 were issued under the Temporary Public Policy (TPP), while the rest were distributed among Francophone, regional, and employer-based recruitment initiatives.
11/03/2025
Prince Edward Island Holds Surprise PNP Draw Targeting International Graduates
On October 27, 2025, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) conducted an unannounced draw, issuing 159 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. The selection specifically targeted international graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île who are currently living and working in the province. The move breaks from PEI’s regular draw schedule, signaling the province’s intention to accelerate its intake of skilled talent with local education and employment experience.
11/01/2025
Newfoundland and Labrador issues 100 invitations in latest 2025 draw
On October 22, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 100 invitations through its Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) — the lowest number of invitations in a single draw so far this year. Of these, 55 invitations were issued under the NLPNP and 45 under the AIP. The province did not disclose which specific NLPNP streams were included in this round, but as of now, Newfoundland and Labrador has held 12 selection rounds across both programs in 2025.
10/31/2025
Canada Holds Third-Largest Express Entry Draw of 2025, Issuing 6,000 ITAs to French-Speaking Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the third-largest Express Entry draw of 2025 on October 29, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 416. This result highlights IRCC’s continued commitment to supporting French-speaking communities across Canada through its language-focused immigration policies. So far, French-speaking candidates have received the most invitations this year, underscoring the federal government’s priority on promoting bilingualism and balanced demographic growth.
10/30/2025
IRCC Invites 1,000 Canadian Experience Class Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new round of Express Entry invitations on October 28, 2025, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. To be eligible for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 533 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 4:16 a.m. UTC on March 21, 2025. This was the 11th CEC-specific draw of 2025, and the fourth consecutive CEC draw with a consistent invitation size of 1,000 and CRS cut-off around 533–534 points — demonstrating continued stability in this program’s selection trend.
10/29/2025
IRCC Holds Another Provincial Nominee Program Draw, Inviting 302 Candidates
On October 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw through the Express Entry system, issuing 302 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. This was the second PNP draw of October and the fifth overall Express Entry draw this month, highlighting the federal government’s continued focus on supporting provincial immigration priorities.
10/28/2025
Prince Edward Island Holds Second Largest Provincial Nominee Draw of 2025, Focusing on Priority Occupations and International Graduates
On October 17, 2025, Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted its second-largest immigration draw of the year under the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), issuing 160 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination. The draw primarily targeted skilled workers already employed in the province in priority occupations, as well as international graduates from designated educational institutions. As of October 26, 2025, PEI has issued a total of 1,081 ITAs through its PNP this year.
10/27/2025
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