Canada: Alberta to charge fee for worker profile submissions under immigration program

Alberta will begin charging foreign workers a fee to submit profiles under its provincial immigration program from April 7, 2026. The province has introduced a $135 charge for Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) submissions, which were previously free, while keeping all other fees unchanged.

New fee for worker applicants

The fee will apply to all candidates applying through worker streams of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). These include the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta Express Entry Stream, Dedicated Health Care Pathways, Rural Renewal Stream, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream.

The WEOI acts as a candidate profile where applicants provide details on work experience, education, and language ability. Profiles are scored and placed in a pool, from which the province invites candidates based on labour market needs and available nomination spaces.


Selected candidates must then submit a full application with a separate $1,500 fee to seek a provincial nomination for permanent residence. The newly introduced $135 fee is in addition to this application cost.

Changes to application system

Alberta has been using the expression of interest system since September 30, 2024, to manage applications across worker streams.

Earlier this year, on February 25, 2026, the province also added new requirements to the WEOI form. Candidates with a job offer in Alberta must now provide details on wages and working hours. The province said this information may be used in future selection draws, and profiles missing these details will not be considered.

Nomination targets and demand

For 2026, Alberta has received an allocation of 6,403 nominations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As of April 1, the province had issued 1,475 nominations, leaving 4,928 spots available, with 1,418 applications under processing.

The pool currently has more than 44,000 candidate profiles across worker streams, reflecting strong demand for provincial nominations.

The province has indicated it will prioritise candidates in sectors such as health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, and rural communities under the Rural Renewal Stream.

The move to introduce a submission fee comes as provinces continue to refine immigration systems to manage high volumes of applications and align selections with labour market needs.