If you’ve been tracking Alberta’s immigration program for a while, you probably got used to the fact that submitting your Worker Expression of Interest was free. No upfront cost, no commitment — you filled out the form, entered the pool, and waited to see if a draw landed in your direction.
That changed on April 7, 2026.
Alberta’s Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) now charges a $135 fee to submit your Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI). It’s not a deposit. It’s not refundable in most situations. And it won’t be waived regardless of your score, occupation, or stream. Interested candidates will have to pay the fee, or their WEOI will not enter the pool.
What the Fee Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
The $135 applies specifically to the WEOI submission, the initial candidate profile step, not the full application. Think of it as the entry point: before Alberta even considers inviting you to apply, you now pay to be considered.
Below is a breakdown of Alberta’s Fee Structure as of April 2026:
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| Worker EOI submission (new as of April 7, 2026) | $135 |
| Full application — Alberta Opportunity, Express Entry, Rural Renewal, Tourism & Hospitality streams | $1,500 |
| Entrepreneur stream application | $3,500 |
| Entrepreneur EOI (Graduate, Foreign Graduate, Rural) | $200 |
| Request to extend nomination | $150 |
The $135 is separate from and in addition to the $1,500 application fee that will become payable when candidates receive an invitation to apply for one of the Alberta immigration programs.
Which Streams Are Affected
Every AAIP worker stream requires the WEOI, so the fee applies across the board. If you’re applying to any of the following programs, the new fee applies to your profile:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Alberta Express Entry Stream (including the Accelerated Tech Pathway, Law Enforcement Pathway, and priority sector draws)
- Dedicated Health Care Pathways (both Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
- Rural Renewal Stream
- Tourism and Hospitality Stream
There are no exemptions based on occupation, location, or score.
The 24-Hour Payment Window
After you complete and submit your WEOI form, you don’t pay immediately inside the form. Instead, your profile sits in a “Payment Pending” status, and you have 24 hours to complete payment through the portal. Instructions come through eServices, and the fee must be paid using a single credit or debit card.
Your WEOI will not be accepted into the selection pool until the payment goes through.
If you miss the 24-hour window, whether because of a technical issue, a card problem, or just not checking your email in time, you will need to start over.
If You Already Have a WEOI in the Pool
This is the question most candidates with existing profiles are asking, and the answer is: if your WEOI was submitted before April 7, 2026, you’re not retroactively charged. Your existing profile continues to sit in the pool under the original terms.
Making Minor Updates vs. Cancelling Entirely
Minor updates tied to your federal Express Entry information can be made without cancelling your profile. Everything else requires you to cancel your WEOI, submit a new one, and pay the $135 fee.
There is a narrow exception worth knowing: if you cancel and resubmit within 24 hours of the new submission, you can request a refund of the original WEOI fee through the Opportunity Alberta contact form.
Profiles Submitted Before February 25
On February 25, 2026, the AAIP added new mandatory fields to the WEOI form, collecting wage and hours of work information for candidates with an Alberta job offer. Any WEOI submitted on or after February 25 must include this data.
What This Means If You Submitted Before February 25
If your WEOI was submitted before that date, meaning it doesn’t have this information, your profile won’t be considered in draws that specifically factor in wages and hours. Alberta has confirmed these fields may be used in future targeted draws.
The Bigger Picture
Alberta remains one of the more active provincial nominee programs in Canada. For 2026, the AAIP has said it will prioritize draws in health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, and communities under the Rural Renewal Stream. Alberta provides a great opportunity for those with skills and experience that the province is looking for.
Have questions about your WEOI score or stream eligibility? Get in touch with us today— we’re happy to help you assess your profile.
The Team at Northern Connections Canada
