Alberta’s immigration program is moving quickly—and the latest numbers show why AAIP candidates need to watch more than just the score cut-off.
Between September 10 and September 23, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted six selection draws, issuing at least 380 invitations to prospective provincial nominees. Five of the six rounds were held through the Alberta Express Entry Stream, targeting priority sectors and pathways including healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, technology and law enforcement.
The sixth draw focused on the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
For applicants hoping to secure Alberta provincial nomination and eventually pursue Canadian permanent residence, the latest rounds offer an important snapshot of where Alberta’s immigration priorities are heading.
Alberta AAIP Draws: September 10–23, 2026
Here is a breakdown of the six reported AAIP draws:
| Date | AAIP Stream or Pathway | Minimum Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 23, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 58 | 113 |
| September 22, 2026 | Accelerated Tech Pathway | 59 | 100 |
| September 21, 2026 | Law Enforcement Pathway | 49 | Less than 10 |
| September 18, 2026 | Priority Sectors – Health Care | 62 | 100 |
| September 15, 2026 | Priority Sectors – Agriculture | 60 | 18 |
| September 10, 2026 | Priority Sectors – Manufacturing | 60 | 48 |
| Total | 379 + fewer than 10 |
Because Alberta reported the Law Enforcement round as “less than 10” invitations, the exact six-draw total is not publicly specified. The five rounds with published figures add up to 379 invitations, meaning the overall total was at least 380.
That distinction matters. Immigration headlines can make the number look exact when the province itself has not provided an exact figure.
Health Care Candidates Get a Bigger AAIP Draw
The healthcare round stands out.
On September 18, 2026, Alberta invited 100 candidates through the Priority Sectors – Health Care pathway with a minimum score of 62.
That was twice the number of invitations issued in Alberta’s August 4 healthcare priority-sector draw, when 50 candidates were invited at a minimum score of 66.
In other words, the latest round combined a larger invitation volume with a lower minimum score.
For healthcare professionals monitoring Alberta immigration draws, this is an important development because healthcare remains one of the sectors Alberta has identified as a priority for its worker streams in 2026.
Manufacturing and Agriculture Candidates Also Received Invitations
Alberta’s September draws were not limited to healthcare.
The September 10 manufacturing draw issued 48 invitations with a minimum score of 60.
This followed Alberta’s previous manufacturing round on June 15, which invited 56 candidates at a score of 50.
Then, on September 15, Alberta issued 18 invitations through the Priority Sectors – Agriculture pathway at a minimum score of 60.
The previous agriculture round, held August 7, invited 38 candidates at a cut-off of 55.
These numbers highlight an important point for prospective immigrants: AAIP selection is not simply a race to achieve the highest possible EOI score.
Alberta says its selection process considers multiple factors in Worker Expression of Interest profiles and provincial priorities. The province also states that draws are conducted as needed rather than on a fixed schedule.
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway Issues 100 Invitations
Technology candidates also had a major opportunity.
On September 22, the Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway issued 100 invitations at a minimum score of 59.
That was slightly below the September 3 round, which issued 96 invitations at a minimum score of 60.
For candidates working in eligible technology occupations, the AAIP Accelerated Tech Pathway remains one of the routes worth monitoring.
Alberta’s 2026 priorities include technology, alongside healthcare, construction, manufacturing, aviation and agriculture. The province also notes that the Accelerated Tech Pathway’s eligible occupation list includes jobs connected to data-centre needs in Alberta.
Law Enforcement Draw Had One of the Lowest Cut-Offs
The September 21 Law Enforcement Pathway round was much smaller.
Alberta invited fewer than 10 candidates at a minimum score of 49.
That is lower than the score of 52 recorded for the July 10 Law Enforcement Pathway draw.
However, a lower cut-off does not automatically mean that candidates with a similar score will receive an invitation in the next round.
Why?
Because AAIP draws are not fixed, and Alberta considers factors beyond the EOI score when selecting candidates. The province says it conducts draws according to sector needs and provincial priorities.
Alberta Opportunity Stream Issues 113 Invitations
The biggest published draw of this six-round period came through the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
On September 23, Alberta issued 113 invitations at a minimum score of 58.
That was significantly smaller than the 575 invitations issued through the stream on September 1 at a minimum score of 56.
For workers already established in Alberta, the Alberta Opportunity Stream can be an important pathway toward provincial nomination, but receiving an invitation is only one stage of the immigration process.
Applicants must still meet the relevant stream requirements and provide the required supporting documentation. Alberta states that candidates can only apply to an AAIP worker stream after receiving an invitation.
How Many AAIP Nomination Spaces Are Left in 2026?
Alberta’s 2026 immigration allocation is another number applicants should watch.
The province received an additional 200 nominations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), bringing its 2026 AAIP allocation to 6,603 nominations.
According to the September 23 figures provided for this update, Alberta had issued 5,221 nominations, leaving 1,382 nomination spaces for the remainder of the year.
The allocation was distributed across several pathways, including:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Rural Renewal Stream
- Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Priority Sectors and other Alberta Express Entry initiatives
- Law Enforcement Pathway
- Dedicated Health Care Pathways
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream
- Entrepreneur Streams
The allocation picture can change, however. Alberta specifically notes that nomination numbers, remaining spaces and processing information are subject to change without notice, including possible redistribution between streams or pathways.
Alberta’s EOI Pool Is Still Highly Competitive
There is another number applicants should not ignore: the size of the Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.
The reported September figures show tens of thousands of profiles across Alberta’s worker pathways, including:
- 22,315 Alberta Opportunity Stream profiles
- 5,011 Priority Sector and other Alberta Express Entry profiles
- 3,275 Tourism and Hospitality Stream profiles
- 1,992 Accelerated Tech Pathway profiles
- 1,736 Rural Renewal Stream profiles
- 1,222 Dedicated Health Care Pathway profiles
- 45 Law Enforcement Pathway profiles
That makes one thing clear: having an EOI profile does not guarantee an invitation.
Alberta’s official process explains that a Worker EOI is scored and ranked, but selection also considers provincial labour-market needs, priorities, available nominations and application volumes. Worker EOIs are generally valid for 12 months.
What These September AAIP Draws Mean for Candidates
If you are tracking Alberta PNP 2026, don’t make the mistake of treating the latest minimum score as a guaranteed target.
A score of 60 may have been enough for one pathway but not another. A healthcare draw, technology draw and Alberta Opportunity Stream draw can have completely different selection dynamics.
Instead, candidates should look at the bigger picture:
1. Check your AAIP pathway
Determine whether your profile fits the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta Express Entry Stream, Accelerated Tech Pathway, Dedicated Health Care Pathway, Rural Renewal Stream, Tourism and Hospitality Stream or another eligible pathway.
2. Review your EOI information
Your Worker Expression of Interest contains the information Alberta uses when considering candidates. Keeping your profile accurate and updated is therefore critical.
3. Monitor sector priorities
Alberta has identified sectors including healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation and agriculture among its 2026 worker-stream priorities.
4. Don’t focus only on CRS
For Alberta Express Entry candidates, provincial nomination can have a major effect on an Express Entry profile. After accepting an AAIP nomination, candidates can proceed through the federal permanent residence process, subject to IRCC requirements.
5. Keep your documents ready
An invitation is not the same as a nomination. Candidates still need to satisfy the requirements of the stream and provide the necessary documentation.
What Happens After an AAIP Invitation?
This is where some applicants get caught off guard.
An AAIP invitation to apply is not Canadian permanent residence. It is an opportunity to submit a provincial nomination application under the specific stream or pathway identified in the invitation.
For worker streams, Alberta’s process begins with a Worker Expression of Interest, followed by selection and an invitation to apply.
If you receive an invitation, review the stream requirements carefully before submitting your application.
For Alberta Express Entry nominations, candidates who receive a nomination must accept it through their IRCC Express Entry profile. Alberta states that candidates have 30 days to accept the nomination in their online IRCC profile.
After the provincial nomination stage, the federal government handles the permanent residence application.
The Bottom Line for Alberta Immigration Candidates
The latest Alberta AAIP draws show a program targeting specific labour-market needs while continuing to manage a large pool of potential applicants.
Healthcare received 100 invitations. Technology received another 100. Manufacturing and agriculture were also targeted, while the Alberta Opportunity Stream issued 113 invitations.
But there is no single magic AAIP score.
The September 2026 rounds ranged from 49 for Law Enforcement to 62 for Health Care, while the Alberta Opportunity Stream had a minimum score of 58 and the Accelerated Tech Pathway had a minimum of 59.
For anyone pursuing Alberta immigration, the smarter approach is to understand the pathway, occupation requirements, EOI profile, provincial priorities and available nomination spaces—not simply wait for a particular score to appear.
As Alberta continues conducting draws based on program priorities and labour-market needs, keeping your profile accurate and monitoring official AAIP updates remains essential.
