Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Processing times and inventory

Nomination certificate limits

The following numbers are accurate as of May 26, 2022.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets the limits for nominations the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) can issue each year. IRCC provided 6,250 nomination certificates to Alberta for 2021.

The AAIP has issued all 6,250 certificates for 2021. The AAIP will continue to assess applications in the queue; however, no further certificates will be issued until January 2022.

There are approximately 1,050 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications and 750 expression of interest applications in the Alberta Express Entry pool.

Information on application volumes and processing is available to help you determine the status of your application.

The AAIP does not provide status updates.

Application volumes and processing

Approximate volumes and assessment dates for each AAIP stream or category are provided below.

'Assessing' means an AAIP officer has been assigned a file to make an assessment and decision on eligibility.

Applications received after the date stated below have not yet been assigned to an officer for assessment.

The most common factors considered in AAIP application processing include:

• application quality (completeness, eligibility, outdated application information or documents)
• labour market information
• volume of applications received
• the date the application was received

Read the AAIP terms and conditions for each stream, for more information on AAIP application processing.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

Employer-Driven Stream

The AAIP is no longer accepting applications under this stream. All applications received under this stream have been assessed and received a decision. This includes applications under the following categories/industries:

• Food and beverage processing industry
• Food services industry (Pilot project)
• Hotel and lodging industry
• International graduate category
• Long-haul trucking industry
• Manufacturing industry
• Skilled worker category

Strategic Recruitment Stream

The AAIP is no longer accepting application under this stream. All applications received under this stream have been assessed and received a decision. This includes applications under the following categories:

• Compulsory and optional trades category
• Engineering occupations category
• Post-graduate worker category

Farm Stream

The AAIP works closely with Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development to assess the eligibility of applicants under this stream. Processing times are not available.

Application volumes by occupation

The AAIP has a high volume of applications and Alberta Express Entry submissions in the following occupations. These submissions may take longer to process.

• 6311 – Food service supervisors
• 6211 – Retail sales supervisor
• 1241 – Administrative assistants
• 1221 – Administrative officers
• 6322 – Cooks
• 7511 – Transport truck drivers
• 4214 – Early childhood educators and assistants
• 0621 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
• 1311 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
• 0631 – Restaurant and food service managers

Express Entry Stream selection

The AAIP regularly reviews available candidates in the federal Express Entry pool. Based on available profile information in the portal, the AAIP draws to select candidates from the pool, inviting them to submit a completed application to the AAIP. Information on Alberta Express Entry Stream Notification of Interest factors is included on the eligibility page.

Past draws

Information on draws will typically be posted approximately one month after the date of draw.