In February 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) made headlines by issuing 915 invitations through the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) with a surprisingly accessible minimum score of 57 points.
If you are wondering how the system “picked” these candidates, you need to understand the Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) system that was fully implemented late last year. Unlike the federal Express Entry system, Alberta’s selection process is highly localized and prioritizes your connection to the province over high test scores.
1. The Selection Engine: The 100-Point EOI Grid
The AAIP no longer operates on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Instead, every candidate in the pool is ranked using a 100-point grid. To be invited in the February 2nd draw, a candidate needed at least 57 points.
The points are divided into two main categories:
- Human Capital Factors (69 points): Age, education, language, and work experience.
- Economic Factors (31 points): Alberta job offer, job location, and regulated occupation status.
2. How Candidates Reach the 57-Point Threshold
To understand how a “Nail Salon Supervisor” or a “Retail Supervisor” gets invited with 60 points, let’s look at a typical successful profile from the February draw:
| Factor | Scenario Example | Points |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree (completed outside Canada) | 7 |
| Alberta Education | None | 0 |
| Language | CLB 5 (English) | 8 |
| Work Experience | 12+ months total experience | 11 |
| Alberta Experience | 6+ months working in Alberta | 10 |
| Age | 30 years old | 5 |
| Job Offer | Valid full-time job offer in Alberta | 10 |
| Job Location | Working in a small town (Rural/Other) | 5 |
| Total Score | 56 Points |
3. The Three “Filters” Alberta Used in February
Meeting the 57-point score wasn’t the only requirement. The AAIP uses “filters” to ensure they invite people who are most likely to stay and succeed.
A. The “Current Employment” Filter
You must be physically in Alberta and working in the occupation listed in your EOI. If you lost your job or moved to another province between submitting your EOI and the Feb 2nd draw, you would not have been picked, regardless of your score.
B. The “In-Demand” Occupation Filter
While AOS is a general stream, Alberta still prioritizes its 2026 Priority Sectors:
- Healthcare & Technology
- Construction & Manufacturing
- Agriculture & Aviation
C. The “Work Permit Expiry” Filter
Alberta often prioritizes candidates whose work permits are expiring soon. This is a “rescue” tactic to ensure skilled workers already in the province don’t have to leave while waiting for their Permanent Residency.
4. Why 2026 is Different: The End of “Maintained Status”
A critical rule for 2026 is that the AAIP has become much stricter regarding Maintained Status (formerly called Implied Status). To receive an invitation in the Feb 2026 draws, most candidates were required to have a valid, unexpired work permit at the time of the draw. If your permit had already expired and you were simply “waiting” for a renewal, you likely missed out on this round.
