Alberta increases application fees for worker immigration streams

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has raised application fees for their worker streams to $1,500.

The new fees were announced on April 1, 2025.

Prior to this change, the fee was $840.

Only those who submit an application or request on or after April 1 will be required to pay this new fee.

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Which streams are affected?

Only the AAIP’s worker streams will be affected by this change:

• The Alberta Opportunity Stream;
• The Alberta Express Entry Stream (and its associated pathways);
• The Rural Renewal Stream; and
• The Tourism and Hospitality stream.

Other fee changes

Alberta has also raised two other fees related to its AAIP, including

• The application fee for the Farm Stream; and
• The fee for a request of reissuance of an expired nomination certificate.

The application fee for the Farm Stream, designed for experienced farmers looking to establish or purchase a farm in Alberta, has gone from a $500 provincial nomination application fee to $3,500 fee.

No other entrepreneur streams have been subject to a fee increase.

The nomination certificate reissuance fee has gone from $100 to $150.

Both these fee changes came into effect on April 1, and are only applicable to those that submit an application for provincial nomination through the Farm Stream or make a request for an extended nomination on or after this date.

Other recent changes to AAIP

Along with the updated fees, the AAIP has made or been subject to other changes that will impact candidates of the PNP.

Temporary public policy for work permit facilitation

On March 17, 2025, Alberta announced that it would not be participating in the federal government’s temporary public policy to facilitate open work permits for prospective PNP candidates in 2025.

Provinces and territories had the option to opt-in to this policy, and Alberta was initially one of three to do so. It has since retracted this decision.

Family Connection and Occupation in Demand Pathway update

Also on March 17, Alberta made the decision to no longer invite candidates through this stream.

They have stated, however, that applicants can still claim points for having a valid familial connection in Alberta. This can be a parent, sibling, or child who is a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.

Acceptance of the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core

Effective April 1, the AAIP is accepting the PTE Core as a valid language proficiency test for all streams for applications received on or before that date.

This means that candidates now have a wider array of options available to them, allowing them to choose between the following language proficiency tests:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS);
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP);
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core;
• Test d'évaluation de Français Canada (TEF); and
• Test de connaissance du français (TCF).

Reduction of provincial allocations

Late last year, the federal government decided to reduce the overall immigrant landings under provincial immigration by 50% for 2025.

Early this year, former Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that this reduction would result in participating provinces and territories being able to nominate far fewer foreign nationals for permanent residence.

In 2024, the AAIP had a nomination allocation of 9,750. They’ve only been allocated 4,875 spots in 2025.

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