Foreign workers applying to move to Alberta will now be required to pay a $135 fee to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) profile under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
- +Alberta adds $135 fee for worker immigration applications in 2026
Effective immediately, a new charge applies at the very first stage of the immigration process, meaning candidates must now pay before entering the provincial selection pool, according to Travelbiz.
Effective immediately, a new charge applies at the very first stage of the immigration process, meaning candidates must now pay before entering the provincial selection pool, according to Travelbiz.
Until now, submitting a WEOI profile was free.
The fee does not replace existing costs, as successful candidates will still be required to pay a $1,500 provincial nomination application fee if invited to apply.
The WEOI serves as the first stage for candidates looking to secure provincial nomination, requiring applicants to provide key details such as education, work experience, and language proficiency before being ranked in a selection pool.
The new charge applies across several worker-focused pathways, including the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Alberta Express Entry Stream, Dedicated Health Care Pathways, Rural Renewal Stream, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream.
The development comes amid broader adjustments to Alberta’s Expression of Interest system, which was introduced on September 30, 2024, to better manage application volumes across immigration streams. More recently, the province updated the WEOI submission requirements, mandating that candidates with job offers provide additional details such as wage levels and working hours.
Applications that fail to include this information risk being disqualified, while the data may also influence candidate selection in future draws.
Demand for provincial nomination in Alberta remains robust despite the tighter requirements. For 2026, the federal government allocated 6,403 nomination slots to the province. As of early April, 1,475 nominations had already been issued, leaving 4,928 spots available.
Candidates with experience in these fields may stand a stronger chance of progressing through the selection system.
The introduction of the new fee reflects a broader trend across Canadian provincial immigration programmes aimed at managing surging interest from global talent. By attaching a cost to profile submissions, authorities are seeking to streamline applications and ensure that only serious candidates enter the selection pool.
