TopNation Immigration Services

You've probably seen "AAIP" everywhere if you're thinking about settling in Alberta. So let's clear it up.

AAIP = the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. It's the province's own way of nominating people it wants to keep — workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs who fit Alberta's labour needs. A provincial nomination can strengthen a Canada PR application, but it isn't a separate "PR card" by itself — it works alongside the federal system.

The important part: AAIP has several streams, each with its own criteria. Whether one fits you depends on your work, your status in Canada, and your goals.

We're a CICC-licensed RCIC firm (R513508) right here in Edmonton, helping newcomers read the fine print since 2013.

Questions about AAIP? Comment below or DM "AAIP" and we'll point you to the right stream.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHO CAN YOU SPONSOR? Family Sponsorship Canada 2026.

If you're a Canadian citizen or PR, here's exactly who you can bring:

✅ SPOUSE OR PARTNER
Legally married, common-law (12+ months), or conjugal partner. Processing: outland ~15 months, inland ~21 months. No minimum income required. Fee: $1,205 total.

✅ DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Under 22, unmarried, no spouse or common-law partner. Children over 22 may qualify if financially dependent due to a physical or mental condition. Fee: $170 per child.

⛔ PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS
PGP is CLOSED for 2026 — no new applications accepted. IRCC has not announced a reopening date. Super Visa (up to 5 years per visit) is the best alternative right now.

⚠️ OTHER RELATIVES
Only in very limited cases: orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren under 18 (both parents deceased). Or the "Lonely Canadian" rule — one relative of any age if you have zero other family in Canada.

What most sponsors don't know:
→ If you got your PR through spousal sponsorship, you CANNOT sponsor a new spouse for 5 years
→ Undeclared family members face permanent sponsorship bans
→ Your undertaking is real: 3 years for a spouse, 10 years for a child under 22
→ Quebec has separate rules and its own caps

69,000 family class spots are allocated for 2026.

Full guide on our blog.

📖 topnation.ca
📍 Edmonton, AB | RCIC R513508

🏔 Alberta PNP Express Entry — the numbers that decide your PR.

The scoreboard:
→ 600 CRS points added with a nomination
→ 300+ minimum CRS to be considered
→ 6,403 total nominations for 2026
→ 44,094 candidates competing in the EOI pool

That's roughly 1 in 7. Strategy decides if you're the one.

What most people get wrong about AAIP:

Your CRS score matters far less than your occupation. Alberta headhunts by sector, not by points. A software developer with CRS 350 and an Alberta tech job gets invited. A general candidate with CRS 450 in a non-priority role waits indefinitely.

2026 priority sectors:
→ Healthcare (dedicated pathway for practice-ready professionals)
→ Technology (accelerated tech pathway — processing in 1 month)
→ Construction and manufacturing
→ Aviation
→ Agriculture

Francophone bonus: physicians and Francophone candidates get nominations from a separate federal pool of 10,000 spaces — they don't count against Alberta's 6,403 cap.

The $135 WEOI fee (April 7, 2026) means entering the pool now costs money. Don't submit without a strategy.

Full AAIP guide on our blog.

📖 topnation.ca
📍 Edmonton, AB | RCIC R513508