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AAIP Processing Times April 2026: Which Stream Is Fastest & How to Beat the 42,000 EOI Queue

If you’re waiting for a nomination from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), two numbers matter most: how many spots are left and how long your stream takes to process. As of April 15, 2026, the AAIP has issued 1,634 nominations across its worker streams, leaving 4,769 spaces for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the processing backlog ranges from under one month (Dedicated Health Care) to about 2.5 months (Alberta Opportunity Stream).

This guide breaks down every stream’s processing status, remaining allocation, EOI competition, and strategic tips to improve your chances. Plus, we reveal a special federal top‑up of up to 10,000 extra spaces for physicians and Francophone candidates.

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On This Page

• At a Glance: AAIP Processing Dashboard (April 15, 2026)
• Stream-by-Stream Analysis: Where Is the Fastest Processing?
• The EOI Bottleneck: 42,000 Active Profiles Fighting for 4,769 Spots
• Alberta’s 2026 Priority Sectors – Are You on the List?
• Special Federal Top‑Up: Up to 10,000 Extra Spots for Physicians & Francophones
• How to Speed Up Your AAIP Application – 5 Proven Tactics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Official Sources

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At a Glance: AAIP Processing Dashboard (April 15, 2026)

Stream / Pathway	2026 Allocation	Nominations Issued	Remaining Spots	Applications Received On/Before	Queue Size
Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)	3,425	996	2,429	Feb 2, 2026	656
Rural Renewal Stream	1,000	218	782	Mar 2, 2026	265
Dedicated Health Care Pathways	500	88	412	Apr 3, 2026	18
Tourism and Hospitality Stream	150	50	100	Mar 15, 2026	19
Accelerated Tech Pathway (Express Entry)	600	152	448	Jan 30, 2026	162
Priority Sector Draws (Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, etc.)	600	120	480	Mar 5, 2026	149
TOTAL (Worker Streams)	6,403	1,634	4,769		1,535

Note: The “Applications Received On/Before” date tells you how far back AAIP officers are currently working. For example, if your AOS application was complete on March 1, 2026, it is not yet being processed because they are still on February 2.

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Stream-by-Stream Analysis: Where Is the Fastest Processing?

1. Dedicated Health Care Pathways – Lightning Fast (~3‑4 weeks)

• Processing benchmark: April 3, 2026 (as of April 15, only 12 days of backlog)
• Queue: Only 18 applications
• Remaining spots: 412 out of 500

If you are a nurse, physician, medical technician, or other health professional, this is easily the fastest route. The AAIP is actively clearing Health Care applications within a month. With 412 spots left and a tiny queue, expect your nomination within 3–4 weeks of submitting a complete application.

2. Tourism and Hospitality Stream – Also Very Fast (~1 month)

• Processing benchmark: March 15, 2026 (roughly 1 month backlog)
• Queue: 19 applications
• Remaining spots: 100 out of 150

This stream has a small allocation, but the low volume keeps processing times very short. If you have a valid job offer in a tourism or hospitality occupation (NOC TEER 4 or 5), you should receive a decision within 4–6 weeks.

3. Rural Renewal Stream – Steady (~1.5 months)

• Processing benchmark: March 2, 2026 (about 6 weeks backlog)
• Queue: 265 applications
• Remaining spots: 782 out of 1,000

Rural Renewal remains a solid option for candidates with a community endorsement. With nearly 800 spots still available and a moderate queue, processing typically takes 6–8 weeks.

4. Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) – Slower, but Predictable (~2.5 months)

• Processing benchmark: February 2, 2026 (about 2.5 months backlog)
• Queue: 656 applications
• Remaining spots: 2,429 out of 3,425

AOS is the largest stream, and it shows. While the backlog is longer, the AAIP is moving steadily. If you submit a complete application today, expect a decision in 2.5 to 3 months. The good news: with over 2,400 spots left, AOS still has plenty of room.

5. Express Entry Streams (Tech & Priority Sectors) – Highly Variable

Pathway	Benchmark	Queue	Remaining Spots
Accelerated Tech Pathway	Jan 30, 2026	162	448
Priority Sector Draws	Mar 5, 2026	149	480

The Tech pathway has a larger backlog (January 30), meaning processing could take 2–3 months. Priority Sector draws (Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture) are processing March applications, so about 1–1.5 months. Both are competitive, but if you receive a Notification of Interest (NOI), the actual application stage moves reasonably fast.

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The EOI Bottleneck: 42,000 Active Profiles Fighting for 4,769 Spots

Before you even get to the application stage, you must be invited from the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool. As of April 15, 2026, the AAIP reported the following EOI counts:

Stream of Interest	Number of EOIs
Alberta Opportunity Stream	27,184
Priority Sector Draws (Express Entry)	4,646
Tourism and Hospitality Stream	4,251
Accelerated Tech Pathway (Express Entry)	2,457
Rural Renewal Stream	2,218
Dedicated Health Care Pathways	1,536
Law Enforcement Pathway	81
TOTAL	42,373

What this means:

• For AOS, there are 27,184 EOIs competing for just 2,429 remaining nomination spots – that’s an 11:1 ratio. A job offer in a priority sector is no longer a nice‑to‑have; it’s virtually essential.
• Health Care and Rural Renewal have much healthier ratios (around 3.7:1 and 2.8:1, respectively). This is why candidates in those streams receive NOIs faster.
• Tourism and Hospitality has 4,251 EOIs for only 100 remaining spots – an extremely tight 42:1 ratio. Only the strongest candidates (with high language scores and long experience) will be selected.

Strategic takeaway: If you are in the AOS or Tourism pools without a priority sector job offer, your chances of receiving an NOI in 2026 are low. Consider switching to a rural community or obtaining a job offer in health care, tech, construction, or manufacturing.

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Alberta’s 2026 Priority Sectors – Are You on the List?

The AAIP has explicitly identified the following sectors for targeted draws and faster processing:

1. Health Care (all occupations)
2. Technology (especially NOC 20012, 21220–21234, 21311, etc.)
3. Construction (trades, labourers, supervisors)
4. Manufacturing
5. Aviation
6. Agriculture
7. Rural Renewal Stream (any occupation endorsed by a participating community)

If your work experience and job offer fall into one of these categories, you are significantly more likely to receive an NOI – even with a moderate CRS score (in Express Entry) or a lower points total in AOS.

Special Federal Top‑Up: Up to 10,000 Extra Spaces for Physicians & Francophones

In a major development, the federal government has provided a separate, additional allocation for two groups that do not count against Alberta’s 6,403 quota:

• Practice‑Ready Physicians (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102) – unlimited within a federal pool of up to 10,000 spaces nationally.
• Francophone candidates – those with a minimum of CLB/NCLC 5 in French (all four abilities) can receive a nomination outside the AAIP’s main cap.

Why this matters:

• Physicians no longer compete for the limited 2,429 AOS spots. If you are a doctor with a job offer in Alberta, your path to nomination is wide open.
• French‑speaking candidates (even with lower CRS scores) have a unique advantage. The AAIP is actively seeking Francophone workers for rural and urban communities alike.

If you qualify under either category, do not wait. Contact the AAIP or a provincial nominating organization to express your interest.

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How to Speed Up Your AAIP Application – 5 Proven Tactics

1. Submit a complete, error‑free application. The biggest cause of delay is incomplete forms, missing signatures, or unsigned employer documents. Double‑check the checklist for your stream.
2. Target a fast‑processing stream. If you are eligible for Health Care, Rural Renewal, or Tourism and Hospitality, you will receive a decision in weeks, not months.
3. Secure a job offer in a priority sector. The AAIP publishes monthly EOI draws; priority sectors receive invitations at lower points thresholds. A job offer in construction or tech can make up for a low language score.
4. Use the federal top‑up if you are a Francophone. Even with only CLB 5 French, you can bypass the main quota. Include your French test results in your EOI profile.
5. Consider dual intent: work permit support letter. If you are eligible (e.g., under the temporary public policy for PNP candidates), a work permit support letter lets you start working while your AAIP nomination is processed – saving you months of waiting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to get an NOI (Notification of Interest) from the AAIP?

It depends entirely on your EOI score and stream. Health Care and Tech candidates may receive an NOI within weeks; AOS candidates without a priority job offer may wait months or never receive one. The EOI pool is drawn monthly.

Q: Can I apply to more than one AAIP stream?

No. You must choose one stream at a time. If you are not selected, you may withdraw your EOI and submit a new one under a different stream.

Q: My application has been in queue for longer than the posted benchmark. What should I do?

First, check that you are looking at the correct stream. Then, ensure your application was marked “complete” by AAIP. If you have been waiting significantly longer, you can use the AAIP web form to inquire – but only after the benchmark date has passed for your submission date.

Q: Is the Rural Renewal Stream still accepting new endorsements?

Yes, as of April 2026, the 14 participating rural communities are still issuing endorsements, but spaces are limited. Contact your local community’s economic development office directly.

Q: How often does the AAIP update its processing information?

The AAIP updates its “processing information” page approximately every 2–4 weeks. The data above is current as of April 15, 2026.

Official Sources

Resource	Link
AAIP Processing Information (official)	alberta.ca/aaip-processing-information
AAIP EOI points grid	alberta.ca/aaip-eoi
AAIP 2026 allocation and federal top‑up	alberta.ca/aaip-allocations

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Final Bottom Line

The AAIP is actively issuing nominations – but competition is fierce. As of mid‑April 2026:

• Fastest processing: Health Care (<1 month), Tourism & Hospitality (~1 month).
• Largest backlog: Alberta Opportunity Stream (~2.5 months).
• Biggest challenge: 42,000 EOIs chasing 4,769 spots. Priority sectors are the key.
• Hidden opportunity: Federal top‑up for physicians and Francophones – these nominations do not count against the main quota.

If you have a job offer in health care, tech, construction, manufacturing, or agriculture, you are in the express lane. If you are a physician or Francophone, you have an exclusive, no‑cap path.

Don’t wait. Check your EOI profile, update your job offer and language scores, and get your name into the next draw.

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This article is based on official AAIP data published as of April 15, 2026. Processing times and inventories are subject to change. Always refer to the Government of Alberta’s AAIP Processing Information page for the most current numbers.

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