Alberta has been granted an increased provincial nomination allocation for this year, allowing for more newcomers to settle in the province.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has received a boost in its nomination spots from the federal government, with the allocation now set at 6,403 provincial nominations for 2025. This marks a significant increase of 1,528 spots compared to the previous limit of 4,875 nominations.

With this rise in allocation, the AAIP has regained 65% of its 2024 provincial nomination spots, totaling 9,750 nominations.

Implications for AAIP Candidates

The AAIP plans to update candidates on how this increased allocation will affect its various streams, aiming to support regional labor market needs and advance provincial priorities. While the focus may shift towards candidates with in-demand occupational experience, the exact distribution of the additional nominations is yet to be determined.

Reasons Behind the Initial Allocation Reduction

In response to housing supply shortages and affordability concerns, the previous administration reduced immigration levels for the next three years, impacting Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The overall landings allocation was halved from 110,000 to 55,000, directly affecting the number of nominations each province receives from the federal government.

Nationwide Impact of Nomination Allocation Cuts

The reduced nominations have led to a 50% decrease across all PNPs for 2025, prompting provinces to align their selections with local labor market demands and priorities.

Nationwide Increase in Nomination Allocations

Alberta is not the only province to benefit from an enhanced provincial nomination allocation, as provincial and territorial immigration authorities across Canada have been advocating for increased allocations in response to the reduced landings allocation.