Alberta has introduced a new $135 fee for submitting a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), effective April 7, 2026. This marks a significant shift, as submitting a WEOI — previously free — now carries a cost for foreign nationals seeking permanent residence through the province's worker streams.
The change applies across all AAIP worker pathways, including the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta Express Entry Stream (with sub-pathways like Accelerated Tech, Law Enforcement, and priority sector draws), Dedicated Health Care Pathways, Rural Renewal Stream, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream. The fee is separate from — and in addition to — the existing $1,500 application fee required once a candidate receives an invitation to apply.
Why the Fee?
Alberta’s immigration authorities have not explicitly detailed the rationale in public announcements, but the introduction of a fee at the expression-of-interest stage aligns with efforts to manage a high volume of interest while covering administrative costs. As of early April 2026, the AAIP selection pool already contains over 44,000 active WEOIs across worker streams. With only 6,403 nomination allocations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for 2026 — of which roughly 1,475 had been issued by April 1, leaving about 4,928 spaces — the program faces intense competition.
The WEOI system, introduced on September 30, 2024, functions as a candidate profile pool. Applicants self-declare details on work experience, education, language proficiency, and other factors. Each profile receives a score based on the program’s points grid and enters a pool. The AAIP then conducts targeted draws according to labour market needs, sector priorities, and available nomination allotments. Only selected candidates receive an invitation to submit a full application.
Recent Enhancements to the WEOI Process
On February 25, 2026, the AAIP added new fields to the WEOI form requiring details on wages and hours of work for candidates with a job offer in Alberta. Profiles submitted after that date must include this information, and the province has indicated it may factor these elements into future draw selections. Earlier submissions lacking these details will be excluded from such draws.
Full AAIP Fee Schedule (Effective April 7, 2026)
The $135 WEOI fee fits into a broader unchanged fee structure:
- Worker Expression of Interest: $135
- Worker stream application (Opportunity, Express Entry, Rural Renewal, Tourism & Hospitality): $1,500
- Entrepreneur stream applications: $3,500
- Entrepreneur Expression of Interest: $200
- Nomination extension request: $150
- 204(c) or 205(a) Letter of Support requests: $150 each
- Request for reconsideration: $250
- Business Performance Agreement changes: $150
Implications for Prospective Immigrants
This fee adds an upfront financial barrier for those testing the waters with an EOI. While $135 is relatively modest compared to the full $1,500 application fee or federal processing costs, it may discourage casual submissions and encourage candidates to assess their competitiveness more carefully before entering the pool. For serious applicants with strong profiles — especially in priority sectors such as healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, and rural communities — the fee represents a small investment toward a potential provincial nomination, which provides a direct pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
Alberta continues to prioritize occupations aligned with its economic needs. In addition to the base 6,403 nominations, the province can issue extra nominations for practice-ready physicians and Francophone candidates under a separate federal initiative offering up to 10,000 spaces nationwide.
Strategic Advice
Candidates should review their eligibility thoroughly, ensure all WEOI information (including the new wage and hours fields where applicable) is accurate and up-to-date, and monitor draw results closely. With a large pool and limited spots, a high-scoring profile remains essential for success.
Overall, the new fee reflects Alberta’s ongoing refinement of its immigration system to balance accessibility with efficient management of demand. While it introduces a modest cost at the entry point, the AAIP remains one of Canada’s more accessible Provincial Nominee Programs for skilled workers, particularly those with ties to the province’s labour market.
