Because of its strong economy and high standard of living, Alberta Immigration Programs continue to be a popular option for newcomers. Nonetheless, the annual nomination caps set by the federal government indicate that there is a greater desire for immigration to Alberta than the province can accommodate.
For 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allocated 9,750 nominations to Alberta Immigration Programs. The maximum quantity of province nomination certificates that can be granted for this year.
In March 2024, Premier Danielle Smith wrote a letter to Justin Trudeau requesting an increase in the provincial nomination quotas. However, it appears she has not yet received a positive response.
As of May, Alberta Immigration Programs had already issued 4,337 nominations. The remaining nominations will be distributed strategically across different streams to maintain a balanced and effective allocation.
New Guidelines Introduced for 2024
To manage this demand effectively, the Alberta Immigration Programs Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has introduced new guidelines for 2024.
Resumption of Applications for the Opportunity Stream
To optimize processing times and manage application volumes, the AAIP has announced that the province will resume accepting applications for the Alberta Immigration Programs Opportunity Stream starting on June 11. This decision is part of a broader strategy to manage the high volume of applications and streamline the processing times for various immigration streams.
To further provide clarity on managing nomination targets and processing timeframes for 2024, the program has also released amended guidelines. These guidelines are designed to align with the annual PNP allocation set by the Canadian government, ensuring a fair and efficient distribution of nominations across different sectors and economic priorities. By implementing these changes, the AAIP aims to better balance the distribution of nominations throughout the year, addressing the needs of all economic sectors in the province.
Monthly Intake Limits and Application Dates for Various Streams
To streamline processing times and manage the volume of applications, the AAIP has introduced monthly intake limits for several streams. These caps are intended to guarantee that the economic priorities of all sectors are met and to aid in balancing the nomination process throughout the year. Monthly applications will be accepted beginning on the dates as listed:
September 10, October 8, November 5, and December 10; June 11, July 9, August 13, and September 10.
The Alberta Immigration Programs Opportunity Stream, Rural Renewal Stream, Accelerated Tech Pathway, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream will all benefit from this initiative. By organizing the remaining nominations for these streams evenly over the next seven months of 2024, the province aims to maintain a balanced approach to immigration intake.
Monthly Application Limits for Specific Streams
In addition, Alberta Immigration Programs will only be accepting a certain amount of applications per month for these streams in order to efficiently manage the flood of applications. This precaution enables for the complete processing of each application received while also guaranteeing immigration officials a manageable burden.
The monthly intake limits are as follows:
- Alberta Immigration Programs Opportunity Stream: 430-444 applications
- Accelerated Tech Pathway: 30-50 applications
- Rural Renewal Stream: 145-160 applications
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream: 130-143 applications
Although the application procedure have not been modified, each stream’s eligibility requirements have not altered. This consistency allows prospective immigrants to continue preparing their applications based on the existing requirements without having to adjust to new criteria.
The AAIP aims to address labor market needs and support economic growth across different sectors by managing nominations through specific streams. Dates for application acceptance, application targets, and processing times will be updated regularly. Candidates and prospective candidates should check back frequently for the most recent information, as these specifics are subject to change.
As mentioned earlier, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allocated 9,750 nominations to Alberta. As of May, Alberta had already issued 4,337 nominations. The remaining nominations will be distributed strategically across various streams to ensure a balanced and effective allocation. The programs with the most allocations left for the remainder of the year are the Alberta Immigration Programs Opportunity Stream, the Rural Renewal Stream, and the Express Entry Stream. The following are the nominations, broken down by stream:
| Stream / pathway | 2024 nominations issued | 2024 total estimated nominations allocated (subject to change) |
| Alberta Immigration Programs Opportunity Stream | 2,245 | 5,393 |
| Express Entry Stream | 983 | 1,775 |
| Dedicated Healthcare Pathways | 228 | 320 |
| Accelerated Tech Pathway | 536 | 1,047 |
| Priority Sector Draws and other initiatives | 116 | 231 |
| Family Connection and Occupation in Demand | 103 | 177 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 971 | 1,900 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 135 | 660 |
| Entrepreneurial Streams: Foreign Graduate, Graduate, Rural and Farm Streams combined | 3 | 22 |
| Grand Total | 4,337 | 9,750 |
Detailed Allocation for Streams
The immigration pathways provided by the Alberta Immigration Programs Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are:
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Alberta Express Entry Stream
- Accelerated Tech Pathway for Express Entry
- Alberta Opportunity Stream (currently paused)
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream
- Religious Workers Eligibility Program
- Rural Renewal Stream
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
Eligibility Criteria
The basic eligibility criteria for the Alberta Immigration Programs Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) include:
- Meeting the requirements of one of the AINP streams.
- Having a valid temporary resident status in Canada.
- Possessing an Albertan employer’s qualifying employment offer (for certain streams).
- Demonstrating the intention and ability to live and work in Alberta.
- Meeting minimum language requirements (for some streams).
- Having sufficient settlement funds (for some streams).
- Meeting any additional criteria specific to the chosen stream.
Alberta Express Entry draws for 2024:
- May 1, 2024: 40 letters expressing interest were sent. Create parameters: Committed Healthcare Pathway with a job offer from Alberta. The lowest-ranked candidate that received a Notification of Interest letter has a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 305.
- April 17, 2024: 49 Notification of Interest letters sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offered dedicated healthcare pathway. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 305.
- March 19, 2024: 41 letters expressing interest were sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offer with a dedicated healthcare pathway. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 304.
- March 5, 2024: 34 Letters of Interest Notification were sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offer with a dedicated healthcare pathway. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 303.
- February 20, 2024: 33 letters expressing interest were sent. Create parameters: Committed Healthcare Pathway with a job offer from Alberta. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 311.
- February 6, 2024: 44 Notification of Interest letters sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offer with a dedicated healthcare pathway. The lowest-ranked candidate that received a Notification of Interest letter has a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 302.
- February 1, 2024: 80 Notification of Interest letters sent. Draw parameters: Priority sector – construction occupation with Alberta job offer. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 382.
- January 30, 2024: 22 Notification of Interest letters sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offer with a dedicated healthcare pathway. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 312.
- January 16, 2024: 22 letters expressing interest were sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offer with a dedicated healthcare pathway. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 312.
- January 11, 2024: 44 Notification of Interest letters sent. Draw parameters: Priority sector – agriculture occupation with Alberta job offer. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter: 312.
- January 2, 2024: 42 Notification of Interest letters sent. Establish parameters: Alberta employment offer with a dedicated healthcare pathway. The lowest-ranked candidate that received a Notification of Interest letter has a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 309.
The proactive approach used by Alberta Immigration Programs to manage its immigration program is reflected in the new rules for 2024 by the AAIP. By introducing monthly intake limits and specific nomination targets, the province aims to address the high demand for immigration while supporting economic priorities across all sectors. Prospective immigrants should take note of these changes and plan their applications accordingly to ensure the best chance of success.
