Alberta's immigration authorities recently released the results of two new draws conducted in late June 2025 under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Departing from broader invitation rounds, these draws were targeted, precisely focusing on two priority sectors critical to the province's economy: construction and agriculture. This move reaffirms Alberta's strategy to attract talent with specific skills.

Details of the Late-June Draws

According to official data from the AAIP, the two draws were held on June 20 and June 25, involving the Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The results are as follows:

The data shows that the invitation scores for both streams were relatively low, particularly the 52-point cut-off for the agriculture sector. This suggests that candidates with relevant work experience in these priority industries have a strong chance of receiving an invitation from Alberta, even without an exceptionally high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

2025 Nomination Quota and Outlook

As of July 2, 2025, Alberta has issued 2,688 nominations out of its annual allocation of 4,875. This means the province still has 2,187 valuable nomination spots to distribute in the second half of the year.

However, a deeper analysis of the data for each stream reveals that future competition should not be underestimated:

Notably, a large volume of applications has accumulated in the candidate pools for both major streams. In the Alberta Opportunity Stream, nearly 40,000 candidates are competing for just over 1,000 remaining spots. Similarly, in the Express Entry – Priority Sectors stream, over 4,000 candidates are vying for only 182 remaining nominations. This stark contrast clearly indicates that while the invitation scores may seem accessible, applicants must possess solid work experience in a target industry and meet all eligibility criteria to stand out from the crowd.

In-Depth Look at the Draw Streams

To help potential applicants better understand these draws, here is an overview of the two key immigration streams:

• Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS):This stream provides a clear pathway to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers who are already employed full-time in Alberta. Applicants must have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Their work permit must be based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or fall under an accepted LMIA-exempt category. Additionally, applicants must meet minimum criteria for residency status, language proficiency, education, and relevant work experience.
• Alberta Express Entry Stream:This stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, allowing Alberta to search the federal pool and nominate qualified candidates. The province prioritizes inviting candidates whose experience can support the labor needs of its priority sectors. Currently, construction, agriculture, and aviation have been identified as key priority areas. This stream also includes several dedicated pathways:
• The Dedicated Health Care Pathway
• The Accelerated Tech Pathway
• The Law Enforcement Pathway

In summary, Alberta's recent immigration activities send a clear signal: the province is strategically leveraging its provincial nominee program to fill local labor market gaps. For applicants with skills in construction, agriculture, and other priority sectors, now may be an opportune time to plan for immigration to Alberta, but they must also be prepared for intense competition.