AAIP Invites 767 Candidates in August 14–19 Provincial Draws
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program draws (Aug 14–19, 2026): 767 invitations and what applicants should watch
What happened and why it matters
Between August 14 and 19, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held two draws and issued a total of 767 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. Invitations were split across two streams: the Alberta Opportunity Stream (743 invitations; minimum score 58) and the Dedicated Health Care Pathway — non‑Express Entry (24 invitations; minimum score 60). These rounds reflect Alberta’s ongoing PNP activity and its sector priorities.
How these draws fit Alberta’s 2026 PNP picture
As of August 25, AAIP reported 71 draws in 2026 and at least 11,982 invitations issued year‑to‑date. The August 19 healthcare draw was the eighth healthcare‑targeted draw of 2026 and the smallest such draw so far this year. Alberta continues to target sectors such as healthcare, construction, technology, and manufacturing.
Nomination allocation — how many spots remain?
Alberta increased its 2026 AAIP allocation from 6,403 to 6,603 nomination spaces. By August 25, the province reported 4,560 nominations issued and 2,043 nomination slots remaining. Allocation and status by stream (as of Aug 25):
– Alberta Opportunity Stream — allocation 3,562; nominations issued 2,551; remaining 1,011
– Rural Renewal Stream — allocation 1,057; nominations issued 628; remaining 429
– Tourism & Hospitality Stream — allocation 156; nominations issued 140; remaining 16
– Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non‑EE) — allocation 518; nominations issued 284; remaining 234
– Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway — allocation 619; nominations issued 422; remaining 197
– Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway — allocation 12; nominations issued N/A
– Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives — allocation 619; nominations issued 495; remaining 124
– Entrepreneur streams — allocation 60; nominations issued 33; remaining 27
Separately, Alberta used supplementary nomination spaces to nominate 50 practice‑ready physicians and 12 francophone candidates.
WEOI pool and applications awaiting processing
As of Aug 25, Alberta’s Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) pool held 36,255 profiles. The Alberta Opportunity Stream accounted for about 62.5% of the pool (22,648 WEOIs). There were 1,335 nomination applications awaiting finalization. Breakdown by stream:
– Alberta Opportunity Stream — 22,648 WEOIs; 530 applications awaiting processing
– Rural Renewal Stream — 1,273 WEOIs; 94 applications awaiting processing
– Tourism & Hospitality Stream — 1,735 WEOIs; 7 applications awaiting processing
– Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non‑EE) — 3,437 WEOIs; 42 applications awaiting processing
– Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway — 2,102 WEOIs; 189 applications awaiting processing
– Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway — 48 WEOIs; applications awaiting processing not listed
– Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives — 5,012 WEOIs; 256 applications awaiting processing
– Entrepreneur streams — WEOIs not applicable; 217 applications awaiting processing
What the August draws reveal
– Alberta Opportunity Stream dominated these rounds (743 of 767 invitations, ~96.9%), showing Alberta’s reliance on that stream to convert in‑province workers to permanent residents.
– Dedicated Health Care Pathway draws remain active but selective; the Aug 19 draw was the smallest healthcare draw in 2026 so far.
– Recent minimum scores (58 for Alberta Opportunity; 60 for non‑EE health) offer a snapshot of current competitiveness.
Who is most affected
– Temporary workers in Alberta, especially those in the Alberta Opportunity Stream WEOI pool.
– Healthcare workers eligible under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway.
– Candidates in tech, construction, manufacturing and other priority sectors.
– Employers and recruitment teams monitoring allocation and draw patterns.
– Rural communities and hospitality employers tracking dedicated allocations.
Practical impact and next steps
– Competition remains high in large streams: the Alberta Opportunity Stream has a large WEOI pool and limited remaining slots.
– Use recent minimum scores as benchmarks when preparing or updating WEOI profiles.
– Account for processing backlogs (1,335 pending nomination applications) when estimating timelines.
– If eligible for multiple streams, compare remaining allocations and processing queues to choose the best route.
– Confirm specific pathway requirements (for example, the Dedicated Health Care Pathway) before relying on a sector pathway.
Key numbers and dates to watch
– Aug 14, 2026 — Alberta Opportunity Stream: 743 invitations; minimum score 58.
– Aug 19, 2026 — Dedicated Health Care Pathway (non‑EE): 24 invitations; minimum score 60.
– Total AAIP draws in 2026 (to Aug 25): 71.
– Invitations issued in 2026 (to Aug 25): at least 11,982.
– 2026 AAIP nomination allocation (revised): 6,603 total spaces (up from 6,403).
– Nominations issued (to Aug 25): 4,560; remaining slots: 2,043.
– WEOI pool size (to Aug 25): 36,255 profiles; Alberta Opportunity Stream: 22,648 WEOIs.
– Nomination applications awaiting final decision (to Aug 25): 1,335.
What to watch next
Watch for additional Dedicated Health Care Pathway rounds and other priority sector draws, shifts in minimum score thresholds, and updates to remaining allocations and processing dashboards.
Final remarks
The Aug 14–19 draws highlight Alberta’s continued emphasis on the Alberta Opportunity Stream for high‑volume invitations while using targeted pathways, like health care, to address specific workforce needs. Keep WEOI profiles current, use recent score benchmarks to assess competitiveness, and monitor Alberta’s published draw results and processing updates to adjust your strategy.
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