Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Issues 165 Invitations in Recent Draws Across Four Streams
According to recent data published on the official website of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), between April 11 and 22, 2025, the AAIP actively conducted several targeted draws aimed at selecting international talent to meet the province's labour market needs. These draws collectively covered four main immigration streams under the AAIP, issuing a total of 165 invitations to eligible candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
Specific details of this series of draws are as follows:
| Draw Date | Worker Stream / Pathway | Minimum Score of Invited Candidates | Number of Invitations Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 22, 2025 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 71 | 22 |
| April 17, 2025 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway | 49 | 2 |
| April 15, 2025 | Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 73 | 33 |
| April 11, 2025 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 77 | 108 |
Several points among these draws are particularly noteworthy:
- Firstly, April 15, 2025, marked Alberta's first immigration selection through the Tourism and Hospitality stream in 2025.
- Secondly, these two draws for the Accelerated Tech Pathway and Law Enforcement Pathway were also the second selections for these two streams conducted in 2025.
- Furthermore, the draw on April 11, 2025, for the Alberta Opportunity Stream was the first "general" draw for this stream in 2025. Previous draws under the Alberta Opportunity Stream had focused primarily on professionals in the aviation and construction sectors.
The AAIP official website also provides transparent information regarding the current processing status of each stream, including the remaining nomination spaces for 2025, the current number of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in the selection pool, and the number of applications still to be processed. Data summarized as of the time of writing is as follows:
| Stream / Pathway | Nomination Spaces Remaining (2025) | Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in Selection Pool | Applications to be Processed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 1,529 | 35,479 | 1,501 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 182 | 5,508 | 321 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 89 | 3,007 | 81 |
| Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway | Not applicable (Total 2025 allocation is 20 nominations) | 97 | > 10 |
It is important to specifically explain to readers that within the context of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), "Invitation" and "Nomination" represent two distinct stages. Typically:
- Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI): Candidates first create an EOI profile, indicating their interest in immigrating to the province through a specific Provincial Nominee Program stream.
- Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Provincial Nomination: If the EOI meets the province's selection criteria and is chosen, the candidate will receive an invitation from the province to apply for provincial nomination.
- Submitting the Provincial Nomination Application: The candidate must submit a complete provincial nomination application package to the provincial government for processing.
- Obtaining Provincial Nomination: If the complete provincial nomination application is approved, the foreign national will formally receive the province's nomination.
- Applying for Permanent Residence (PR)
- Basic PNP Streams: After obtaining provincial nomination, the applicant can directly submit a permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Enhanced PNP Streams (aligned with Express Entry): After obtaining provincial nomination, the applicant's Express Entry profile will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This significantly boosts their ranking in the Express Entry pool, making them more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR in subsequent Express Entry draws. Upon receiving the ITA, the applicant can submit a complete PR application.
Alberta's recent series of draws once again highlights the province's strategy to actively attract and retain international talent that meets its economic development needs through its provincial immigration programs, particularly addressing labour shortages in key sectors such as technology, hospitality services, and law enforcement. Prospective immigration applicants should closely follow the requirements for AAIP streams and draw updates, and refer to the EOI pool and pending application data to assess their application opportunities.
Alberta Holds Three Immigration Draws in Mid-September, Issuing Over 1,400 Invitations to Tech, Law Enforcement, and General Workers
Between September 12 and 17, 2025, Alberta conducted three rounds of immigration invitations across different categories through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), issuing over 1,400 invitation letters to technology professionals, law enforcement workers, and candidates under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. This series of invitations demonstrates the province's targeted immigration strategy addressing specific labor market demands.
09/28/2025
Canada's Population Growth Hits Post-War Low as Immigration Policy Adjustments Accelerate Workforce Aging
Latest data released by Statistics Canada on September 24, 2025, reveals that Canada is facing a major demographic turning point. Affected by federal government immigration policy adjustments, Canada's population growth rate in Q2 2025 was only 0.1%, marking the lowest post-war level (excluding pandemic period). Meanwhile, population aging trends are accelerating again, posing severe challenges to the national labor market and economic development.
09/26/2025
IRCC Releases August Data: Backlog Increases, Study Permit Processing Times Extended
According to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as of August 31, 2025, the department's application backlog reached 958,850 cases, continuing to rise from July's 901,700 cases, representing a 6.33% increase. This marks the fourth consecutive month of worsening backlog issues for IRCC, with study permit applications experiencing particularly severe delays, surging from 23% in July to 32% in August.
09/25/2025
Prince Edward Island Issues 129 Invitations with Focus on Local Employment and University Graduates
Prince Edward Island issued 129 invitations through its Labour Impact and Express Entry categories in its latest Provincial Nominee Program draw held on September 19, 2025. The province continues to focus on occupational sectors with significant economic impact, prioritizing applicants employed locally and international graduates from provincial institutions.
09/24/2025
Manitoba Issues Provincial Nomination Invitations to Over 900 Skilled Workers
Manitoba's immigration department issued application invitations to 911 skilled worker candidates this week through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw covered both the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream and the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, with candidates primarily qualifying through strategic recruitment initiatives and temporary work permit facilitation policies. Notably, over 90% of the invitations were issued to applicants who benefited from the federal temporary work permit policy.
09/23/2025
H1-B Visa Fees Surge Dramatically in the US, Canada Work Permits Emerge as Popular Alternative
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09/22/2025
Alberta Issues Over 1,300 Provincial Nomination Invitations in Early September Draws
In early September 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted a series of seven immigration draws, issuing a total of 1,376 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. These draws primarily targeted applicants in the Alberta Express Entry stream and the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, focusing on inviting candidates with Alberta job offers who can help fill labor gaps in high-demand sectors. The number of invitations issued in the first half of September alone has already surpassed that of any other single month in 2025, indicating that the province is accelerating its efforts to meet its economic development needs.
09/20/2025
Canada Holds First Express Entry Draw of 2025 for Trade Occupations, CRS Score Rises Sharply
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of the year for trade occupations on September 18, 2025. A total of 1,250 candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score soared to 505, significantly higher than the previous draw for this category. The primary reason for the score increase is the long interval between draws, which led to an accumulation of high-scoring candidates. Additionally, internal documents suggest IRCC plans to issue more invitations to trade candidates in the second half of the year.
09/19/2025
Canada Conducts Express Entry Draw for Education Professionals, CRS Cut-off Score Drops to 462
On September 17, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the second-ever Express Entry draw targeting candidates in the "education" category. A total of 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 462. Compared to the inaugural draw for this category, this round featured a significantly lower cut-off score and a larger number of invitations, reflecting the flexibility and strategic focus of Canada's immigration policy on attracting professionals from specific fields.
09/18/2025
Alberta's Provincial Nomination Allocation for 2025 Raised to 6,403
The Canadian federal government has recently approved an increase to the 2025 allocation for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The province's nomination spots have been raised from the previously set 4,875 to 6,403, a net increase of 1,528. This adjustment comes after the federal government had drastically reduced overall PNP immigration targets in response to pressures such as housing shortages. The increased allocation is viewed as a positive response to lobbying by provinces to meet local labour demands, and it is anticipated that the new spots will be prioritized to support key industries and regional economic development. In addition to Alberta, several other Canadian provinces and territories have also received increased allocations.
09/17/2025
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