Effective January 1, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will introduce updates to the Rural Renewal Stream. Applications received on or after this date will follow the new criteria.
Due to reduced federal nomination allocations, the AAIP must prioritize nominations that support Alberta’s key goals, including rural development, economic diversification, and high-demand occupations. Growing interest in the program has also led to endorsement volumes exceeding available nomination spaces.
The updates include:
- Setting endorsement allocation limits for designated communities
- Establishing a one-year validity period for Endorsement of Candidate Letters
- Implementing a TEER-based endorsement model
- Requiring foreign nationals in Canada to hold a valid work permit at both application and assessment
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), the Rural Renewal stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Rural Renewal – Overview
The Rural Renewal (RR) stream is one of Alberta’s PNP streams that requires the candidate to hold a job offer from an employer in a designated rural community in Alberta to be eligible.
When receiving a nomination under the RR stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada.
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The RR stream does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates may also need to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
Applicants to the Rural Renewal stream already in Canada must hold a valid Work Permit.
Rural Renewal – Eligibility
There are 7 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You can apply to the Rural Renewal (RR) stream if you, your employer, and your job offer satisfy to all the requirements below.
Designated community
You must have an Endorsement of Candidate letter from a designated rural community. The letter must be issued by the local Economic Development Organization (EDO) of the community and must outline the following:
- name and address of the EDO supporting the application
- your full name and residential address
- details of the bona fide job offer:
- name of the business
- name and contact information of the employer
- location of employment
- position and description of job duties
- duration of employment and work conditions
- detailed description of how filling the position you are offered aligns with the economic growth of the designated community
- your employer’s efforts to fill the position within Canada and outcomes
- name, title and contact information of the person issuing the Endorsement of Candidate Letter.
Below is the list of eligible designated communities . The list will be updated when other communities are designated.
- City of Brooks (including: Town of Bassano, Village of Duchess, County of Newell, Village of Rosemary) – Designation date : May 13, 2022
- City of Grande Prairie – Designation date : July 6, 2022
- Town of Innisfail (including: Town of Olds, Town of Bowden) – Designation date : September 9, 2022
- Municipal District of Smoky River (including: Town of Falher, Village of Donnelly, Village of Girouxville) – Designation date : September 9, 2022
- County of Grande Prairie (including: Town of Sexsmith, Town of Wembley, Town of Beaverlodge, Village of Rycroft) – Designation date : September 9, 2022
- Town of Trochu (including: Village of Acme, Town of Three Hills, Village of Linden) – Designation date : September 9, 2022
- Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo – Designation date : September 9, 2022
- Municipality of Jasper – Designation date : September 13, 2022
- Town of Hinton – Designation date : November 8, 2022
- City of Medicine Hat (including: Town of Bow Island) – Designation date : January 13, 2023
- Town of Fox Creek – Designation date : February 13, 2023
- City of Cold Lake – Designation date : March 10, 2023
- County of St. Paul (including: Town of St Paul, Town of Elk Point, Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay) – Designation date : March 10, 2023
- Town of Drayton Valley – Designation date : March 10, 2023
- Town of Slave Lake (including: Sawridge First Nation, Town of High Prairie, Municipal District of Opportunity of Opportunity, Big Lakes County) – Designation date : March 10, 2023
- City of Lloydminster – Designation date : March 29, 2023
- Town of Westlock – Designation date : March 29, 2023
- Town of Peace River – Designation date : June 14, 2023
- City of Wetaskiwin – Designation date : August 2, 2023
- Special Areas 2, 3, 4 (including: Town of Hanna, Town of Oyen, Village of Consort, Village of Empress, Village of Veteran, Village of Youngstown, Municipal District of Acadia No. 34) – Designation date : August 2, 2023
- Growth Regional Economic Development Alliance (including: Woodlands County, Town of Swan Hills) – Designation date : September 22, 2023
- County of Northern Lights (including: Town of Manning) – Designation date : September 22, 2023
- Town of Bonnyville – Designation date : September 22, 2023
- Town of Two Hills – Designation date : September 22, 2023
- Lac La Biche County (including: Hamlet of Lac La Biche, Hamlet of Plamondon and Greater Region) – Designation date : October 4, 2023
- Town of High Level – Designation date : December 14, 2023
- Town of Didsbury – Designation date : December 14, 2023
- Town of Coronation (including: County of Paintearth, Hamlet of Brownfield, Town of Castor) – Designation date : September 9, 2024
- Smokey Lake Region (including: Smoky Lake County, Town of Smokey Lake, Village of Vilna, Village of Waskatenau) – Designation date : September 9, 2024
- Town of Rocky Mountain House –Designation date : December 13, 2024
- Town of Edson –Designation date : February 5, 2025
Job offer
To apply for the RR stream, you must have a valid full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in an eligible occupation in a designated community
To be eligible to the RR stream, the job offer must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer the following conditions :
- Continuous, paid work in a designated community.
- Full-time work (minimum of 30 hours/week).
- Employment for at least 12 months.
- Wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:
- meet or exceed the requirements set out in your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or
- if you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta.
- There are exceptions for NOC 41302 (Religious leaders) and NOC 42204 (Religion workers):
- If your job offer is LMIA exempt, your wages and benefits must meet or exceed minimum wage.
- Meal and lodging deductions that meet Employment Standards are permitted. Proof of employee authorization of deductions is required.
- Work for an occupation that is not in the list of ineligible occupations below:
- NOC 00010 – Legislators
- NOC 60040* – Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers
- NOC 41100 – Judges
- NOC 51111 – Authors and writers (except technical)
- NOC 51122 – Musicians and singers
- NOC 42200* – Justices of the peace
- NOC 53121 – Actors, comedians and circus performers
- NOC 53122 – Painters, sculptors and other visual artists
- NOC 53124 – Artisans and craftspersons
- NOC 53200 – Athletes
- NOC 33100* – Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers
- NOC 44100 – Home child care providers
- NOC 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
- NOC 64321 – Casino occupations
- NOC 55109 – Other performers
- NOC 65229 – Other support occupations in personal services
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
* These NOC codes consist of both eligible occupations and ineligible occupations. Only the occupations cited above next to the NOC code are considered ineligible.
The following job offer conditions and individuals are not eligible to the RR stream:
- Part-time, casual or seasonal employment, regardless of working hours.
- Independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as Directors, Shareholders or Agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES).
- Employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business.
- Employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a “virtual” location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta.
- Foreign nationals in Canada without a valid Work Permit
You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta. For example:
- If you are working in a compulsory trade in Alberta you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate.
- If you are working as childcare worker, you must have valid certification as a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker) or Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor).
Most occupations under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3,4 and 5 are eligible under AAIP with the following conditions:
- Eligible for TEERs 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5:
- Temporary workers who reside in Alberta and hold a valid Work Permit.
- Eligible for TEERs 0, 1, 2, and 3 only:
- Temporary workers who reside outside Alberta but within Canada and hold a valid Work Permit.
- Individuals who reside outside Canada.
Work experience
At the time your application is received by the AAIP, you need a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months.
To be considered valid, the work experience:
- must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours a week,
- must be of NOC:
- TEER Category 0 or 1 if the skill level of the job offer is TEER Category 0,
- TEER Category 0, 1 or 2 if the skill level of the job offer is TEER Category 1,
- TEER Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 if the skill level of the job offer is TEER Category 2,
- TEER Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 if the skill level of the job offer is TEER Category 3,
- TEER Category 2, 3, 4 or 5 if the skill level of the job offer is TEER Category 4,
- TEER Category 5 and must be in the same occupation if the TEER Category of the job offer is TEER 5,
- must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada, and
- cannot have been gained while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program. The exception to this rule is for PGWP holders: work experience completed during paid co-op work terms that were part of a program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution can be used as long as the work experience was full-time (minimum 30 hours per week) and was all gained in Alberta.
Post-Graduation Work Permit holders who have completed a 2-year postsecondary education program at a designated learning institution in their Designated Community are not required to meet the 12 months of work experience criteria.
Language
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 4 or 5 either in French or in English.
If you are working in an NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation, the minimum requirement is CLB5 for each language skill.
The language requirement for NOC TEER Category 4 or 5 occupations is CLB4 for each language skill.
Education
You only need to have completed a minimum of high school education in Canada or in your country of origin. You must provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your highest level of education, unless (i) you have a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary, technical college or secondary institution, or (ii) you have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).
Settlement funds
You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members to settle in your designated community if you are not residing in Canada, or if you are currently in Canada but are not working.
The minimum required funds are set below and depend on the population size of your designated community.
Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) Points Grid
Candidates must submit a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) if they are interested in receiving an invitation to the Rural Renewal (RR) stream. Based on your EOI, you are given a score out of 100 points, that depends on two factors. Receiving an invitation to apply will depend on your score and specific profiles Alberta is looking for.
| Factors | Sub-factors | Maximum Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Human Capital Factors
(69 points) |
(i) Education | 22 |
| (ii) Language | 13 | |
| (iii) Work Experience | 21 | |
| (iv) Age | 5 | |
| (v) Family Connection in Alberta | 8 | |
| 2. Economic Factors
(31 points) |
(i) Alberta Job Offer | 31 |
| Total | 100 |
1. Human Capital Factors
1.(i). Education
You can earn a maximum of 22 points with your highest educational credential.
| 1.(i). Education (Max 22 points) | Points |
|---|---|
| Highest Level of Education Completed (Max 12 points) | 12 |
| – Doctoral Degree | 12 |
| – Master’s Degree | 10 |
| – Bachelor’s Degree | 7 |
| – Trades Certificate/Diploma | 7 |
| – Diploma/Certificate | 4 |
| – Secondary (High) school or less | 0 |
| Location of Highest Level of Education Completed in Canada (Max 10 points) | 10 |
| – Completed in Alberta | 10 |
| – Completed in another Canadian province or territory | 6 |
1.(ii). Language
You can earn up to 13 points depending on your language proficiency in French or English. You need to pass an approved language test, and your scores can be translated to Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).
Points are awarded according to the lowest CLB score obtained in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading and writing. If proficient in both English and French, points will be awarded to the higher points between the two scores.
| 1.(ii). Language (Max 13 points) | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Language Proficiency (Max 10 points) | English | French |
| – CLB6 or higher | 10 | 8 |
| – CLB5 | 8 | 5 |
| – CLB4 | 5 | 3 |
| – CLB3 or lower | 0 | 0 |
| Additional Points (Max 3 points) | ||
| – Language proficiency level of CLB4 in both French and English | 3 | |
1.(iii). Work Experience
You can earn up to 21 points if you have enough work experience in Canada and/or outside Canada.
| 1.(iii). Work Experience (Max 21 points) | Points |
|---|---|
| Total Work Experience (Max 11 points) | 11 |
| – 12 months of work experience or more | 11 |
| – 6 to 11 months of work experience | 7 |
| – Less than 6 months of work experience | 3 |
| Work Experience in Canada (Max 10 points) | 10 |
| – 6 months or more work experience in Alberta | 10 |
| – 6 months or more work experience in another Canadian province or territory | 6 |
1.(iv). Age
You can earn up to 5 points depending on your age.
| 1.(iv). Age (Max 5 points) | Points |
|---|---|
| 18-20 years old | 3 |
| 21-34 years old | 5 |
| 35-49 years old | 4 |
| 50 years and older | 3 |
1.(iv). Family Connection in Alberta
You can earn up to 8 points if you have Canadian or permanent resident family members residing in Alberta.
| 1.(v). Family Connection in Alberta (Max 8 points) | Points |
|---|---|
| You or your spouse/partner have a relative, permanent resident or Canadian citizen, residing in Alberta. The relative can be a (i) parent, (ii) grandparent, (iii) child of a parent (sibling), (iv) child of a grandparent (uncle or aunt), or (v) grandchild of a parent (nephew or niece). Points are not awarded for family connections for your in-laws. | 8 |
2. Economic Factors
2.(i). Alberta Job Offer
You can earn up to 31 points if you have a job offer from an employer in Alberta, based on the following criteria.
| 2.(i). Alberta Job Offer (Max 31 points) | Points |
|---|---|
| Job offer for permanent full-time employment in Alberta | 10 |
| Job offer to work in select Alberta rural communities or sector (Max 6 points) | 6 |
| – Endorsement letter from a designated community in the Rural Renewal Stream | 6 |
| – Job offer for the tourism and hospitality sector from an employer who is a member of a required sector association under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 6 |
| – Job offer in a law enforcement occupation from an employer who is a member of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) | 6 |
| Alberta job offer location (Max 5 points) | 5 |
| – Calgary Census Metropolitan area | 0 |
| – Edmonton Census Metropolitan area | 0 |
| – Rural Renewal Stream designated community | 5 |
| – Other Alberta community | 5 |
| Job offer in a regulated occupation in Alberta and candidate meets regulatory requirements to practice the occupation in Alberta | 10 |
Rural Renewal – Application Process
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the Rural Renewal (RR) stream. Candidates must:
- Receive an Endorsement of Candidate letter from their designated community.
- Qualify for the minimum RR stream eligibility requirements and submit a Worker Expression of Interest in the AAIP portal.
- Obtain an invitation to apply directly in the AAIP portal.
- Apply to the RR stream by submitting their application through their AAIP portal (filling in forms and uploading required documents).
- Apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC) within 6 months of receiving the nomination (after AAIP processes their application). Candidates need to apply online to IRCC, and include the nomination documentation received from the AAIP.
Rural Renewal – Application Fees
Rural Renewal – Processing Times
As of June 3, 2026
Rural Renewal Stream
- Number of applications in the queue: Less than 99
- The AAIP is assessing applications received before: March 2, 2026
- Number of allocations issued in 2026 to date: 480
- Number of total nominations for 2026 (total allocation): 1,000
Rural Renewal – Latest News & Data
Rural Renewal – In-Demand Occupations?
You can find out about the other provinces’ in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
