Alberta Issues Over 441 Immigration Invitations Across Six Draws in February 2026

If you’ve been eyeing Alberta as your next home, mid-February 2026 just gave you a lot of reasons to pay attention.

Between February 6 and February 19, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) ran six separate provincial immigration draws — issuing no fewer than 441 invitations to candidates across a range of streams. From tech workers and rural newcomers to construction professionals and law enforcement candidates, Alberta has made it clear: the province is actively looking for skilled people.

Let’s break down exactly what happened, what the numbers mean, and whether this affects your immigration pathway.

What Is the AAIP?

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is Alberta’s provincial nomination program under Canada’s broader Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) framework. It allows Alberta to select immigrants who match the province’s specific labour market and economic needs — people who will put roots down, fill critical jobs, and contribute to local communities.

In 2026, the federal government allocated Alberta 6,403 provincial nomination spaces — one of the most significant allocations the province has received. As of February 18, the AAIP had already issued 612 nominations, with 5,791 spaces still remaining.

That means the bulk of the opportunity is still ahead.

The Six February Draws: A Full Breakdown

Here’s a clear look at every draw that took place between February 6–19:

Draw Date	Stream / Pathway	Min. Score	Invitations
Feb 19, 2026	Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Construction)	61	50
Feb 17, 2026	Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Agriculture)	49	<10
Feb 12, 2026	Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Manufacturing)	50	32
Feb 11, 2026	Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway	59	147
Feb 10, 2026	Rural Renewal Stream	54	212
Feb 6, 2026	Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway	50	<10

A couple of things stand out here.

The Rural Renewal Stream draw on February 10 was the largest of the bunch — 212 invitations in a single draw. That’s significant on its own, but what makes it even more notable is that it was the first Rural Renewal draw since the AAIP tightened eligibility requirements on January 1, 2026. Starting this year, in-Canada applicants must hold a valid work permit to qualify, and designated rural communities now have annual caps on how many candidates they can endorse. If you’re planning to use this stream, those changes matter.

The Accelerated Tech Pathway draw on February 11 was the second largest, with 147 invitations going to tech sector candidates with scores of 59 or higher. Alberta’s tech sector continues to be a consistent draw priority — and the scores required reflect healthy competition.

Perhaps most interesting for industry professionals: the February 12 manufacturing draw was the first of its kind. Manufacturing was only added as a priority sector under the Alberta Express Entry stream in January 2026, making this draw a genuine milestone. If you work in manufacturing and haven’t looked at Alberta yet, now is the time.

What the Numbers Actually Tell Us

Here’s something most immigration articles skip over — the raw draw data only tells part of the story. What matters more is how many spaces each stream has left and how many people are competing for them.

As of February 18, here’s where each stream stands:

Stream	2026 Allocation	Issued So Far	Spaces Left	EOIs in Pool
Alberta Opportunity Stream	3,425	403	3,022	28,916
Rural Renewal Stream	1,000	<10	N/A	3,002
Tourism & Hospitality	150	32	118	4,758
Dedicated Health Care	500	47	453	1,572
Express Entry – Accelerated Tech	600	54	546	2,646
Express Entry – Law Enforcement	38	<10	N/A	88
Express Entry – Priority Sectors	600	68	532	4,600
Entrepreneur Streams	90	<10	N/A	N/A

The Alberta Opportunity Stream dominates in sheer volume — 3,425 allocations and nearly 29,000 EOIs competing for them. That’s a competitive pool. By contrast, the Law Enforcement Pathway has only 38 total spaces for 2026 and fewer than 88 candidates in the pool — making it one of the most niche but least-contested pathways available.

Healthcare candidates will also find a relatively favourable ratio: 500 spaces versus 1,572 EOIs, with 453 spaces still available.

What’s Changing in 2026 That You Should Know

A few shifts in the AAIP this year are worth flagging if you’re actively planning your application:

1. New eligibility rules for Rural Renewal — As noted, the January 2026 rule change means you must hold a valid Canadian work permit if applying from within Canada. The days of open-ended community endorsements are also over — communities now have annual caps.

2. Manufacturing is officially a priority sector — This is new for 2026. If you have experience in manufacturing roles, this opens a dedicated pathway that didn’t exist a year ago.

3. Alberta’s full nomination quota is 6,403 — With 5,791 spaces still remaining, the province has used less than 10% of its annual allocation as of mid-February. That said, demand ramps up as the year progresses — don’t assume there’s no urgency.

Should You Apply?

That depends on your profile. But the honest answer is: if you’ve been sitting on an Alberta EOI or thinking about submitting one, the data suggests the window is open and competitive — but not impossibly so.

The healthcare and law enforcement streams are genuinely underutilized relative to their allocations. The tech pathway had 147 invitations go out in a single draw, suggesting Alberta is actively pulling candidates. And the Rural Renewal stream, despite its new restrictions, just ran its first draw of the year with 212 invitations — the largest single draw in this two-week stretch.

If your score sits near the minimums shown above, it may be worth reviewing your Express of Interest profile to make sure it’s optimized and current.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer.