The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) recently announced results from multiple invitation rounds conducted between April 29 and May 8. Over this two-week period, AAIP issued a total of 295 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through six different immigration streams, aiming to attract talent across various sectors to meet the province's labor market needs.
Summary of AAIP Draws (April 29 - May 8)
According to retroactively published information by AAIP, these six draws varied in size and minimum cut-off scores, with the lowest score being 51. Details are as follows:
| Draw Date | Stream or Pathway | Number of Invitations Issued | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2025 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry | 35 | 53 |
| May 6, 2025 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Aviation) | 20 | 51 |
| May 5, 2025 | Rural Renewal Stream | 165 | 68 |
| May 1, 2025 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry | 36 | 59 |
| April 30, 2025 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Agriculture) | 19 | 64 |
| April 29, 2025 | Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Construction) | 20 | 67 |
Invitation Strategy Highlights
The draw results highlight Alberta's targeted invitation strategy. Two rounds specifically targeted healthcare professionals through both its Express Entry-aligned and non-Express Entry "Dedicated Health Care Pathway," issuing a total of 71 invitations, reflecting the province's ongoing efforts to fill labor shortages in the healthcare sector.
Another three draws targeted candidates in priority sectors under the "Alberta Express Entry Stream." These provincially identified sectors include agriculture, aviation, and construction. Notably, the May 6 draw for the aviation sector had a minimum score of just 51 points, the lowest in this series. The April 29 draw for construction workers was the province's first such invitation round this year.
The "Rural Renewal Stream" draw on May 5 issued 165 invitations, marking it the second-largest single draw for this stream in 2025 to date (after an initial draw of 190), underscoring Alberta's commitment to fostering economic development and population growth in its rural communities.
Significant Reduction in Annual Allocation May Intensify Competition
Alberta received a total allocation of 4,875 provincial nominations from the federal government for 2025, distributed across its various streams and pathways. This is a significant 50% reduction compared to the 9,750 nominations received in 2024, potentially leading to increased competition among applicants.
The AAIP website also provides an update on the status of its main immigration pathways, including allocations, remaining spaces, EOIs in the pool, and applications to be processed:
| Stream or Pathway | 2025 Nomination Allocation | 2025 Nomination Spaces Remaining | EOIs in the Selection Pool | Applications to be Processed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (Express Entry and non-Express Entry) | 500 | 358 | 1,356 | 123 |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (all) | 405 | 281 | 3,757 | 243 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 950 | 601 | 3,623 | 1,948 |
It is important to note that the data in the table above for the "Dedicated Health Care Pathways" combines figures for both Express Entry and non-Express Entry sub-streams. Similarly, data for the "Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors" (agriculture, aviation, construction) is consolidated and not broken down by individual sector for remaining nominations, EOIs in the pool, or applications to be processed.
These recent intensive invitation rounds by Alberta clearly demonstrate its strategy to proactively attract in-demand talent through diversified immigration pathways, supporting the province's economic and social development, even amidst a reduced nomination allocation. Prospective applicants should closely monitor official AAIP updates and select the most suitable immigration pathway based on their qualifications.
