AAIP Expression of Interest 2026 — New $135 Fee, April Draw Results, and What Changed
Priya had her AAIP profile ready to submit in early April. Her score was solid. Her employer qualified. She was days away from submitting until her colleague mentioned a new fee. Priya searched for it. It was real. The $135 WEOI fee went live on April 7, 2026, and nobody had told her.
The AAIP Expression of Interest 2026 process has changed in ways that matter — especially if you are planning to submit a profile, already have one in the pool, or are trying to understand the April draw results. This article covers every update, what the April draws revealed about program priorities, and the mistakes that are now more costly than ever.
What Is the AAIP WEOI, and How Does It Work?
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) uses an Expression of Interest system to manage candidates for all its worker streams. Since September 2024, you cannot apply directly to any AAIP worker stream. Instead, you submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) — essentially a scored candidate profile — and wait to be selected through a draw.
Your WEOI is scored on a points grid that covers your human capital, your job offer in Alberta, your language ability, your education, and other factors, depending on the stream. The highest-scoring profiles get invited first. Your profile stays in the pool for 12 months. If you are not invited at that time, you can submit a new one.
Sounds straightforward. However, three things changed in 2026 that every applicant needs to know.
Change 1 — Alberta Now Charges $135 to Submit a WEOI
Before April 7, 2026, submitting a WEOI was free. As of April 7, every candidate submitting a new Worker Expression of Interest must pay $135 CAD. This applies to all worker streams — the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta Express Entry Stream, Rural Renewal Stream, Dedicated Health Care Pathways, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream.
There are two critical rules around this fee:
It is non-refundable. Whether you are invited, not invited, or your profile expires after 12 months without a draw, the $135 does not come back.
You must pay within 24 hours. After submitting your WEOI form, you have 24 hours to pay via the AAIP portal using a credit or debit card. If you do not pay in time, the WEOI is not accepted into the pool. You are not selected. You do not get a second chance on the same submission.
This fee is also completely separate from the $1,500 application fee you pay if you receive an invitation to apply. In other words, the full cost of a successful AAIP worker stream application is now $1,635 minimum — not $1,500.
Why does this matter beyond the dollar amount?
Because a $135 non-refundable fee means that submitting a WEOI with incorrect information, a wrong points calculation, or an employer who does not actually meet the AOS criteria is now a financial loss — not just a wasted application. Every error has a price attached.
Change 2 — New Wage and Hours Fields Since February 25
On February 25, 2026, the AAIP added new mandatory fields to the WEOI form for candidates with an Alberta job offer. These fields collect your wage rate and hours of work. If you submitted your WEOI on or after February 25, your form must include this information.
Critically, if you submitted a WEOI before February 25 and it does not include wage and hours data, that profile will be excluded from draws that consider these factors. The AAIP has confirmed it may use wage and hours information in future draws.
This is not a theoretical exclusion. It means older profiles without this data are at a competitive disadvantage in draws where wages are weighted.
If your WEOI is in the pool and predates February 25, consider withdrawing it and resubmitting a complete profile with wage information included — and paying the $135 again. That decision depends on your score and draw eligibility. An RCIC can help you assess whether a resubmission makes sense.
What the April 2026 AAIP Draws Actually Showed
Between April 8 and April 14, the AAIP held four draws and issued 332 invitations. Here is the breakdown by pathway and what it tells you about the program’s current priorities:
Accelerated Tech Pathway (April 8) Minimum score: 60 | 146 April invitations. The tech pathway was the largest draw in April. Alberta is actively targeting technology workers—software developers, IT project managers, engineers, and related occupations. If you work in tech in Alberta, this is the most active pathway for you right now.
Construction and Skilled Trades — Priority Sector (April 14) Minimum score: 60 | 50 invitations Construction and skilled trades remain a consistent priority. Carpenters, electricians, welders, plumbers, and related tradespeople continue to receive invitations regularly throughout 2026.
Rural Renewal Stream (April 09) Minimum score: 50 | 74 invitations volume. The Rural Renewal Stream continues to run at lower minimum scores than the priority sector draws. If you hold a qualifying job offer in a designated rural Alberta community, this stream has some of the most accessible score thresholds in the entire program.
What This Means for Your AAIP Application
If you have not yet submitted a WEOI, the $135 fee is now part of your submission. Before you pay it, verify three things: your employer meets the AOS criteria (2 years operating, $400,000 revenue, 3 FT Alberta employees), your WEOI score is calculated correctly against the current points grid, and you are applying to the right stream for your occupation and situation.
If you already have a WEOI in the pool from before February 25: Your profile may be missing wage and hours data. Review your WEOI in the portal and assess whether resubmitting with complete information — and paying the $135 again — makes sense for your score and timeline. An RCIC can run that calculation for you.
If you are watching your score: Stop chasing a generic minimum score. The April draws showed scores ranging from 46 to 60, depending on the pathway. Your occupation and stream eligibility determine your real threshold — not a national average.
For a complete breakdown of AOS eligibility and the AAIP EOI points grid, read our Alberta Opportunity Stream 2026 Complete Guide. For the full AAIP program overview across all four streams, read our Alberta PNP 2026 Complete Guide.
Why Getting Your WEOI Right the First Time Matters More Than Ever
The $135 fee changes the calculus. Previously, submitting a speculative WEOI to test your score or see if you got invited cost nothing. Now it costs $135, non-refundable. A wrong NOC code, a miscalculated points total, or an employer that does not actually qualify means you paid $135 to be in a pool you should never have entered—and you may not find out for months.
A regulated RCIC reviews your WEOI before submission. They verify your employer, calculate your score against the actual points grid, confirm you are in the right stream, and check that your wage meets the Alberta median for your NOC code. That review is not optional in a $135, non-refundable, 24-hour-payment-deadline environment.
Rangers Immigration is based in Calgary and prepares AAIP WEOIs for workers across Alberta. Book a free assessment, and I will review your score estimate, your employer’s eligibility, and your stream fit before you pay anything.
Rangers Immigration & Consultancy Inc. Navjeet Kaur | RCIC #R707236 | Calgary, Alberta 📞 +1 587 221 1000 | rangersimmigration.com Consultations in English, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ & हिन्दी
This article is for general informational purposes only. All facts verified from alberta.ca and IRCC data as of April 2026. Program fees, draw schedules, and eligibility rules are subject to change without notice. Always verify current requirements before submitting any application.