Alberta reveals its plan to select permanent residents in 2026

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program has shared how it plans to select immigrants for permanent residence in 2026. The province received 6,403 nomination spaces from the federal government, marking a strong increase from its original 2025 total. This rise gives Alberta more room to address labor shortages and support economic growth.

The program released these details on January 13, 2026. By that date, Alberta had already issued 111 nominations under its new allocation. Alberta became the fourth region in Canada to confirm its nomination numbers for 2026, following similar updates from other provinces and territories.

Where Alberta plans to use its nominations

Alberta shared a clear breakdown of how it expects to use its nomination spaces. More than half of all nominations will go through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, which focuses on workers already living and working in the province.

Other streams also received set targets, including rural communities, health care workers, technology professionals, and entrepreneurs. The province noted that it may shift nominations between streams at any time to respond to changing needs.

Priority jobs for 2026

For the coming year, Alberta plans to focus on workers in key sectors. These include health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, and agriculture. Manufacturing joins the priority list for the first time, showing growing demand in this field.

The province will also give special attention to workers with job offers in rural communities. Officials stressed that these priority areas guide selection, but they may still invite candidates from other occupations when needed.

Extra nominations outside Alberta’s main limit

The federal government has set aside 10,000 additional nomination spaces across Canada for two groups: licensed doctors with job offers and French-speaking workers. These nominations will not count toward Alberta’s regular total.

As a result, Alberta expects to nominate more than 6,403 people in 2026. Doctors must hold job offers in approved medical roles and meet provincial licensing rules. French-speaking candidates must work in eligible jobs and show strong language skills. The province plans to share more details once federal officials confirm final numbers.

Large pool of candidates waiting

Interest in Alberta remains high. As of January 13, more than 45,000 worker profiles sat in the province’s selection pool. Most belonged to the Alberta Opportunity Stream, followed by tourism, hospitality, and technology pathways.

At the same time, Alberta had 1,386 applications waiting for review. These files are spread across all streams, with the largest share again under the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

A look back at 2025

Last year, Alberta held 77 selection rounds and issued 6,603 nominations. Most invitations went to workers already in the province. This pattern signals Alberta’s ongoing focus on keeping skilled workers who already contribute to local communities.