Immigration Alert: Alberta Adds EOI Fee – What It Means for You

Starting April 7, 2026, the province of Alberta has officially introduced a new fee for foreign workers submitting a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

Applicants must now pay CAD $135 to submit their EOI profile—marking a significant shift from the previous system, where EOI submissions were completely free. 

Key Change: New $135 EOI Submission Fee

• Effective date: April 7, 2026
• Fee amount: CAD $135
• Applies to: Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) submissions
• Previous cost: Free

This fee is separate from the main application fee, which remains CAD $1,500 for AAIP worker streams. 

Why Alberta Introduced This Fee

The Alberta government implemented the new fee to:

• Manage increasing demand from immigration candidates
• Improve application system efficiency
• Allocate resources more effectively for processing

With tens of thousands of EOIs already in the pool, the province is under pressure to better control intake and selection volumes. 

What Is a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI)?

A Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) is the first step for many AAIP streams. Candidates submit a profile outlining:

• Work experience
• Education
• Language ability
• Connection to Alberta

Based on this information, applicants receive a score and may be invited to apply for provincial nomination. 

Impact on Immigration Applicants

Higher upfront cost

Candidates must now pay before even being considered for selection.

More competitive pool

The fee may discourage low-quality or speculative applications, leading to:

• Stronger candidate pool
• Potentially higher EOI cut-off scores

Additional financial planning

Applicants should now budget for:

• $135 EOI fee
• $1,500 application fee
• Federal PR processing fees

What Remains Unchanged

• AAIP application fees for worker streams remain $1,500
• Selection process and scoring system are unchanged
• Provincial nomination allocations continue to be limited

Strategic Insight

This move aligns Alberta with broader immigration trends across Canada, where provinces are increasingly:

• Introducing cost-recovery measures
• Tightening control over candidate intake
• Prioritizing high-demand occupations

Conclusion

The introduction of a $135 EOI submission fee represents a notable policy shift in Alberta’s immigration system. While modest in size, it signals a move toward a more controlled and competitive AAIP selection process.

Planning to immigrate to Alberta? Make sure your profile is competitive before submitting your EOI. Contact our experts today for a personalized eligibility assessment and maximize your chances of receiving an invitation