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 This federal policy allows provinces to opt-in; Alberta was initially one of three provinces to opt-in but has now withdrawn this decision.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.
Ontario Announces New Regulations to Streamline Certification for Interprovincial Professionals
The Government of Ontario has recently announced a major reform framework known as "As of Right," designed to break down interprovincial barriers and significantly simplify the certification process for professionals in regulated occupations coming from other Canadian provinces. The new rules, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, will shorten the certification period from the current several months to as little as 10 business days, thereby promoting free labour mobility within Canada. This initiative will not only have a profound impact on professions like architects and engineers but also establishes a special fast-track entry for certain healthcare professionals from Canada and the United States, potentially creating new opportunities for individuals seeking to immigrate through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
09/08/2025
Ontario PNP Issues Over 1,800 Invitations, Targeting In-Canada Candidates in High-Demand Occupations
On September 3, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted two pivotal draws, issuing 1,893 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination to candidates already residing in Canada and possessing job offers in 77 specific priority occupations. These draws primarily targeted the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student streams, with minimum scores of 42 and 63, respectively. Notably, these invitations were issued following the shift to an employer-led application process in Ontario's immigration system, underscoring the province's ongoing demand for specific skilled talent and reflecting its dynamic adjustments to immigration policy.
09/05/2025
Canada's Latest Express Entry Draw Issues 4,500 Invitations to French-Speaking Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its third Express Entry draw of the week on September 4, 2025, specifically inviting candidates with French-language proficiency. A total of 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued in this round, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 446. This draw highlights the Canadian immigration system's continued emphasis on supporting Francophone communities and attracting candidates with specific skills.
09/05/2025
Alberta PNP Targets Law Enforcement Professionals in New Draw, Minimum Score Hits 2025 Low
On August 19, 2025, the province of Alberta conducted a targeted draw through its Provincial Nominee Program's (AAIP) Law Enforcement Pathway. While fewer than 10 invitations were issued, the minimum qualifying score was only 45, one of the lowest this year. This dedicated immigration stream aims to help the province recruit police and other law enforcement professionals to address local public safety and recruitment objectives. Data reveals that despite the low score, competition remains high due to a limited annual quota and a significant number of candidates in the pool.
09/04/2025
Canada Issues New Round of Express Entry Invitations, Focusing on Canadian Experience Class
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its latest Express Entry draw on September 3, 2025. This draw specifically targeted candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), issuing a total of 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for invited candidates was 534. This draw marks the ninth invitation round for this category so far this year.
09/04/2025
Canada Invites 249 PNP Candidates in First Express Entry Draw of September
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of September on September 2, 2025, issuing 249 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 772. Data indicates that the PNP continues to be the primary category for invitations in 2025, highlighting its central role in Canada's immigration system.
09/03/2025
Ontario Provincial Nominee Program Issues New Invitations, Targeting Candidates in Northern Ontario and Specific Communities
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held five targeted provincial nomination draws on August 28, 2025, issuing a total of 468 invitations to apply to eligible candidates. These invitations primarily focused on two categories of applicants: foreign workers and international students with job offers in Northern Ontario, and candidates who qualify for the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program with an employer job offer in a specific community. This round of invitations again highlights Ontario's strategic direction of using immigration policy to address labour shortages in specific regions.
09/02/2025
Saskatchewan Receives Increased Immigration Allocation, Creating New Opportunities for Priority Sectors
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan has announced that its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (SINP) has received an additional 1,136 nominations from the federal government, bringing its total annual allocation to 4,761. This adjustment reopens application pathways for several sectors that were previously paused due to reaching their caps. Against a backdrop of diverging immigration allocation trends across Canada, this development in Saskatchewan, along with increases in several other provinces, highlights the complex and evolving landscape of federal and provincial immigration policies.
08/29/2025
PEI PNP Update: Eighth Draw of 2025 Targets In-Province Skilled Workers and Graduates from Designated Institutions
On August 21, 2025, Canada's Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its eighth Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) draw of the year, issuing a total of 132 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. This draw continued to focus on applicants already living and working in the province in high-demand occupations, with special priority given to international graduates from three designated local post-secondary institutions. To date, PEI has issued a cumulative total of 792 invitations in 2025.
08/28/2025
British Columbia Holds New Entrepreneur Immigration Draw, Score Requirements Shift
The province of British Columbia held a new Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 19, 2025, exclusively targeting candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category. A total of no more than 16 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued through the Base and Regional Pilot streams. The results confirm a clear trend in 2025, with the BC PNP prioritizing business and investment streams, marking this the sixth entrepreneur-focused draw of the year.
08/27/2025
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