Alberta’s Rural Renewal Stream under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) continues to connect skilled newcomers with designated rural communities. Between January and June 2025, the province held six Rural Renewal draws, issuing a total of 965 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 68 or higher.
2025 Draw Summary January to June
| Draw Date | ITAs Issued | Minimum EOI Score |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 185 | 68 |
| Feb 19 | 190 | 68 |
| Mar 19 | 160 | 68 |
| Apr 23 | 125 | 68 |
| May 5 | 165 | 68 |
| Jun 18 | 140 | 68 |
| Total | 965 | 68 |
Source: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Processing Information & Draw History
Which Communities Lead the Way?
While Alberta.ca does not publish exact numbers per town, we know,
Over 90 designated rural municipalities participate in the stream.
High Level, Westlock County, Municipal District of Taber, and Vermilion are among the most active communities regularly issuing Letters of Support.
The communities with the most job postings are Grand Prairie, Fort Mcmurray and Lethbridge.
There are currently almost 3000 PR eligible jobs under the RRS
Top Occupations Invited
Rural Renewal draws target key labour shortages in agriculture, resource extraction, and local services. The most common National Occupational Classification (NOC) job titles include,
General Farm Workers & Labourers (NOC 85100)
Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 75210)
Truck Drivers (NOC 71100)
Food Service Supervisors (NOC 63100)
Early Childhood Educators & Assistants (NOC 42202)
These roles reflect rural Alberta’s reliance on farming, mining, transportation, hospitality, and childcare to sustain regional economies.
How the Rural Renewal Stream Works
Securing an eligible job from an eligible employer in Alberta is the main and primary step. There are a series of steps required to be completed in order to be granted a PR under this program. The steps and process can be confusing and complex and this is the reason why QuestJobs included the "Roadmap" to its sets of information provided to the public. In a nutshell though, this pathway does not require an express entry account. This pathway is a direct PR pathway applied to the IRCC.
Not all jobs are created equal
Just the same as other PR Pathways, RRS has its own set of eligible and ineligible jobs. Most TEER 0 -5 jobs are eligible except for some jobs that has been listed as exception. Searching for the jobs , companies and communities that are eligible is not an easy task. It takes time , so much effort and resources to identify even one job. This is the reason why QuestJobs opted to include this pathway in its categorization alongside other PNP's in BC, NB, NS, ON, SK, MB, PEI and NL. There are almost 20,000 PR eligible jobs and 20 PR pathways in the portal.
Looking Ahead
Alberta’s July 2025 Rural Renewal draw is expected to issue another 140–180 ITAs in mid-August. Candidates should,
Monitor EOI Status: Keep your profile updated and ensure accurate work experience and language scores.
Engage Local Sponsors: Reach out to municipal offices early to secure your Letter of Support.
Prepare PR Documents: Gather medical, police, and identity documents ahead of your ITA.
Related Resources,
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AAIP Processing & Draw History: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-processing-information
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Designated Rural Communities: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-community-designation
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IRCC Permanent Residence: https://www.canada.ca/express-entry