Alberta Opportunity Stream
Alberta's main worker stream for temporary residents who already work full-time in Alberta and hold a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Candidates enter the points-based worker EOI pool and are invited in regular draws. It is the biggest AAIP stream by nominations and invitations.
Who it suits
- Temporary foreign workers currently working full-time in Alberta on a work permit that qualifies
- Post-graduation work permit holders who studied at an Alberta publicly funded institution and work in a field related to their studies
- Workers in NOC TEER 0-5 occupations not on the stream's ineligible list
Requirements
- Work experienceAt least 12 months of full-time (30+ hours per week) work in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, OR at least 24 months of full-time work in your current occupation in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months. PGWP holders need 6 months full-time in Alberta within the last 18 months. ↗ alberta.ca
- LanguageCLB/NCLC 5 in each ability for TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 occupations; CLB/NCLC 4 for TEER 4 and 5; CLB/NCLC 7 for NOC 33102 (nurse aides). Test must be under 2 years old when the application is submitted. ↗ alberta.ca
- EducationCanadian high school equivalent at minimum; an ECA is needed for foreign credentials unless you hold a Canadian degree/diploma or an Alberta trade certificate. PGWP holders must have graduated from an eligible Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded institution. ↗ alberta.ca
- Job offerFull-time employment contract with an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. Part-time, casual, seasonal, contractor, home-based and remote positions do not qualify. 33 occupations are listed as ineligible. ↗ alberta.ca
- PermitValid work permit that qualifies: LMIA-based, certain LMIA-exempt permits, open permits for vulnerable workers or family members, Alberta PGWP, or permits under certain IRCC temporary public policies. ↗ alberta.ca
- EmployerEmployer must have operated 2+ full fiscal years in Alberta, have at least $400,000 gross annual revenue and 3+ full-time-equivalent employees; job pays at least the lowest starting wage for the occupation in Alberta. ↗ alberta.ca
- FeesWorker EOI fee is $135 (effective 2026-04-07); application fee for worker streams is $1,500 (since 2025-04-01). Invited candidates have 15 days to accept an invitation and 30 days to finish the draft application. ↗ alberta.ca
How candidates are selected
Candidates submit a worker EOI (scored out of 100, valid 12 months). AAIP holds draws and invites candidates to apply. Worker EOI (WEOI) is scored out of 100 on education, work experience, language and age; AAIP also weighs non-scored data such as NOC, industry and wage, so score alone does not decide selection.
Location requirement: Must be living and working full-time in Alberta on a valid work permit.
Processing: AAIP was assessing Alberta Opportunity Stream applications received from 2026-06-17 onward (as of the 2026-09-23 update). The federal PR stage is separate.
Recent rounds
| Date | Round | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 58 | 113 |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 56 | 575 |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 58 | 743 |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 53 | 833 |
Related pathways
Official sources
- alberta.caProgram pageChecked 2026-10-01
- alberta.caEligibilityChecked 2026-10-01
- alberta.caHow to apply / EOIChecked 2026-10-01
- alberta.caDraws and allocationChecked 2026-10-01
- alberta.caAAIP updatesChecked 2026-10-01
- alberta.caEmployer and job offer requirementsChecked 2026-10-01
Program rules change often. This page summarizes the official pages listed above; the official page always takes precedence.