Alberta PNP Express Entry Program:
Alberta Express Entry stream can be your golden chance if you are looking forward to getting permanent residence in Canada. If you are a qualified candidate and meet the requirements, you might get an invitation by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). If you are qualified you can apply for nominations in order to get PR. The Alberta Express Entry stream selects their lucky candidates from the Canada Express Entry pool. Furthermore, candidates get an invitation to submit the application for nomination on behalf of the province. AAIP has now published three sets of requirements for this stream: minimum assessment requirements, pathway requirements, and selection draw requirements. Meeting only the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation.
What Are The Eligibility Requirements for AAIP Express Entry Stream?
The main question is how you can be among the selected Express Entry Candidates? If you are a foreign national, the way to apply to the Alberta Express Entry stream is to first submit a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP portal. If you meet the eligibility requirements, the province may invite you to apply.
Once you have received a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter sent by the province, you can apply and move to the next stage.
The AINP will go through the candidates’ self-declared information and history given in their Express Entry profile.
There is a chance that Candidates will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) if:
- The candidate has an active Express Entry profile in the Express Entry pool of federal.
- The candidate has stated the purpose of immigrating to Alberta permanently.
- The candidate has been involved in such an activity that supports the economic development and diversification of Alberta.
- The candidate scored 300 minimum in CRS (still a minimum assessment requirement, but candidates must also meet pathway and selection draw requirements).
Selection is now based on AAIP pathways — including the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, Accelerated Tech Pathway, Law Enforcement Pathway, and priority sectors such as construction, agriculture, and aviation — along with EOI selection draws (Family Connection and Occupation in Demand selection criteria were updated on March 17, 2025):
- The candidate have valid work experience or a job offer in Alberta.
- The candidate be a graduate of a post-secondary institute and holds a valid job offer in Alberta.
- The candidate have any blood relative who is living in Alberta or a permanent resident of Canada.
It is mandatory for the candidate to first submit a Worker Expression of Interest and receive an invitation through the AAIP portal, then submit the application to participate in the AAIP.
The Application Procedure for Alberta Express Entry Stream:
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) works on the basis of invitations-only. If you want to apply to the stream, first, you have to meet the minimum eligibility requirements, create an Express Entry profile, and submit a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP portal. Then you need to sit back and wait for an invitation from the Alberta province.
It’s not sure that if you meet the minimum requirements, you will receive a guaranteed invitation from Alberta. The submitted Worker EOIs are reviewed by the province and they only contact those who they want to nominate. The lucky selected candidates by Alberta can move on further and submit a provincial nomination for AAIP.
After receiving an invitation, you will be further given a strict deadline to submit the remaining documents and complete your application for the AAIP. If your application is approved by the province, Alberta will inform you that they have chosen you for the provincial nomination. The applicant’s IRCC online account is a very important part of the Express Entry process, as all the notifications will be sent to this account. Once the candidate has accepted the provincial nomination results, the candidates’ CRS score will increase by 600 points. They will surely receive an email stating Invitation to Apply (ITA) confirmation to be an applicant in the next Express Entry draw for permanent residency.
Now the candidate should prepare all the legal and required documents to submit an official application in the given deadline for a permanent Canadian residency. IRCC’s current estimated processing time for provincial nominees applying online via Express Entry is about 7 months (last updated September 3, 2026).
