In late February 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) continued its aggressive recruitment strategy, issuing nearly 900 invitations across two major draws. These draws specifically targeted workers already integrated into Alberta’s economy, with a heavy focus on the tourism sector and other priority industries.
Here is the detailed breakdown of the draws conducted on February 20 and February 24, 2026.
1. February 24, 2026: Tourism and Hospitality Stream
This was a highly specialized draw aimed at securing long-term staff for Alberta’s world-class tourism industry, from the Rocky Mountains to the urban centers of Edmonton and Calgary.
| Feature | Details |
| Pathway | Tourism and Hospitality Stream |
| Invitations Issued | 68 |
| Minimum EOI Score | 73 Points |
| Candidate Profile | Candidates with a valid full-time job offer in an eligible tourism or hospitality occupation (e.g., Hotel Managers, Food Service Supervisors, Tour Guides). |
2. February 20, 2026: Alberta Opportunity Stream (Priority Sectors)
This massive round targeted workers in Priority Sectors—industries Alberta has identified as critical to the province’s 2026 growth plan, including Construction, Logistics, and Agri-food.
| Feature | Details |
| Pathway | Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) – Priority Sectors |
| Invitations Issued | 831 |
| Minimum EOI Score | 56 Points |
| Candidate Profile | Temporary foreign workers already living and working in Alberta on a valid work permit in a priority sector occupation. |
3. Why the Scores Differed
You might notice a significant gap between the 56-point threshold for Priority Sectors and the 73-point threshold for Tourism. This is due to the Quota vs. Demand ratio:
- The AOS Priority Draw was a high-volume round meant to capture a wide net of skilled trades and logistics workers.
- The Tourism Draw was more “boutique,” targeting a smaller number of candidates (68) for a stream that only has an allocation of 150 spaces for the entire year. Because the supply of candidates (nearly 5,000) far exceeds the small quota, the score naturally spiked to 73.
4. Alberta’s 2026 Progress Report
As of the end of February 2026, Alberta is moving through its federal quota quickly.
- Total Nominations Issued: 612 (out of 6,403 allocated).
- Pool Size: There are currently over 45,000 active EOIs in the pool across all streams.
- AOS Processing: The province is currently assessing applications received on or before November 1, 2025.
AAIP 2026 Allocation Usage
| Stream | 2026 Quota | Nominations Issued | Remaining |
| Alberta Opportunity (AOS) | 3,425 | 403 | 3,022 |
| Rural Renewal | 1,000 | <10 | 990+ |
| Tourism & Hospitality | 150 | 32 | 118 |
| Accelerated Tech | 600 | 54 | 546 |
Strategy for Candidates in March 2026
If you were not invited in these rounds, your strategy should focus on location points. With the Rural Renewal Stream having nearly 1,000 spaces remaining and almost zero nominations issued yet, moving your employment to a “Designated Community” in rural Alberta is currently the fastest and easiest way to secure a nomination in 2026.
