Alberta Gains More Provincial Nominations For 2025

Alberta will welcome more newcomers this year after receiving an increase in provincial nomination spots. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) can now nominate 6,403 candidates for permanent residence in 2025. That marks a boost of 1,528 spots from its earlier total of 4,875.

With this increase, Alberta has regained about 65 per cent of its 2024 allocation of 9,750 spots. The announcement gives the province more room to support employers and attract workers for key jobs.

Focus on labour needs

The AAIP has promised to update its processing page with details about how the new allocation will affect each stream. Officials say the extra spots will “strengthen our ability to support regional labour market needs and advance key provincial priorities.”

Last year, more than half of the nominations went to the Alberta Opportunity Stream, which targets workers already in the province. It remains unclear if the same pattern will continue in 2025, but observers expect more spaces will go to candidates with in-demand skills.

Why nominations dropped earlier

In late 2024, the federal government cut immigration levels to respond to housing pressures and affordability concerns. As part of that plan, Ottawa reduced the number of newcomers landing through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) by half. The yearly total fell from 110,000 to 55,000 landings.

This major cut directly lowered the number of nominations available to each province. Alberta’s allocation shrank to 4,875 in 2025, a steep drop compared to earlier years. Other provinces also faced similar reductions.

Provinces push for more spots

Provincial leaders and immigration authorities argued the cuts would hurt local labour markets. They lobbied Ottawa for increases, saying provinces need more control to meet workforce demands. The federal government has since responded by raising allocations in several regions.

Alberta is not the only province to benefit. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories also received increases in their allocations. Each jurisdiction says more nominations will help them attract needed workers and address economic gaps.

Balancing housing and workforce growth

The debate over nomination numbers reflects a larger challenge. Canada needs immigrants to fill labour shortages, but many worry that rapid population growth worsens housing shortages. Policymakers continue to balance these pressures while aiming to maintain strong economic growth.

For Alberta, the latest increase offers hope to both employers and skilled workers. More spaces mean more opportunities for candidates seeking permanent residence and a stronger ability for the province to target talent where it is needed most.