Alberta will now be able to nominate more newcomers to settle in the province this year.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has received an increased provincial nomination allocation from Canada’s federal government, raising the number of newcomers the province can nominate for permanent residence (PR) in 2025.
The AAIP allocation now stands at 6,403 provincial nominations. This represents an increase of 1,528 nomination spots, compared to the previous limit of 4,875.
With this increase, the AAIP has recovered 65% of its 2024 provincial nomination allocation of 9,750 spots.
What does this mean for AAIP candidates?
The AAIP has indicated that it will soon share updates on how the increased allocation will affect each of its immigration streams.
The program noted that this additional allocation would strengthen its ability to support regional labour market needs and advance key provincial priorities. While it is expected that candidates with in-demand occupational experience may benefit, it is still too early to know exactly how the extra 1,500+ spots will be distributed.
Previously, under the 4,875 nomination cap, the Alberta Opportunity Stream alone received 2,592 nominations—over half of the allocation.
Why was the AAIP allocation reduced earlier?
In late 2024, the previous federal administration reduced immigration levels for 2025–2027. The decision was made in response to growing concerns about housing supply and affordability.
As part of this plan, the number of immigrants landing in Canada through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) was cut in half, from 110,000 to 55,000.
This reduction directly impacted the number of nominations allotted to each province, which in turn limited how many newcomers they could welcome. As a result, all Canadian provinces and territories saw a 50% decrease in their nomination allocations for 2025.
A new wave of increases
Alberta is not the only province to see an adjustment. Other provinces and territories have also successfully advocated for higher allocations to better meet their labour market demands.
These include:
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New Brunswick
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Newfoundland and Labrador
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Saskatchewan
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Yukon
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Northwest Territories
