Alberta Introduces $135 Fee for Worker EOI Applications

Starting April 7, 2026, Alberta will require foreign workers to pay a $135 fee to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) under the Alberta immigration program. Until now, candidates could submit this profile at no cost. Officials confirmed that all other program fees will remain the same.

The WEOI acts as a first step for individuals who want to apply through Alberta’s worker immigration streams. With this change, every candidate must now pay before entering the selection pool.

Who Must Pay the Fee

The new charge applies to all worker pathways under the Alberta immigration program. These include streams for general workers, technology professionals, health care workers, rural communities, and tourism and hospitality employees.

Anyone planning to submit a profile under these streams must now include the fee as part of the process.

How the System Works

Alberta introduced the expression of interest system on September 30, 2024, to better manage applications. Candidates begin by filling out an online form and providing details about their work experience, education, and language skills.

The system assigns each profile a score and places it into a pool. Alberta then selects candidates through regular draws based on labour needs, priority sectors, and available spaces.

Selected candidates receive an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination. At that stage, they must submit a full application and pay a separate $1,500 fee. If approved, they receive a nomination that supports their application for permanent residence with the federal government.

The new $135 fee applies only to the initial profile submission and does not replace the existing application fee.

Recent Changes to Application Details

Earlier this year, on February 25, 2026, Alberta updated the WEOI form. The new version asks candidates with job offers in Alberta to provide details about wages and working hours.

Officials said the program may use this information in future selection draws. Candidates who submitted profiles before this update without these details will not qualify for draws that consider this information.

High Demand and Limited Spaces

Alberta received 6,403 nomination spaces for 2026 from the federal government. As of April 1, the province had already issued 1,475 nominations, leaving 4,928 spots available. At the same time, 1,418 applications remained under review.

The demand remains strong, with more than 44,000 profiles currently waiting in the selection pool across all worker streams.

Priority Sectors for 2026

Officials plan to focus on key industries this year. These include health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, and rural communities.

In addition, Alberta can issue extra nominations for certain groups, such as French-speaking candidates and doctors ready to practise. These special nominations fall under a separate federal plan and do not count toward the province’s main allocation