Provincial Immigration Update 2026
Key Changes Across Alberta, British Columbia & Ontario PNP Programs
With development seen in 2026 for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs, there is much for prospective immigrants to consider. In Alberta, a new Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) fee has been added. System features have been updated along with new eligibility requirements for some streams.
The nomination priorities for British Columbia have been revised, application fees have increased, and program guides have been updated. Major regulatory changes have been seen in Ontario for self-employed physicians and a complete change in the nominee program streams.
This newsletter reviews recent official reports, outlines impacts for prospective applicants, and provides pertinent details to aid responses to the changing Canadian immigration system.
| Program | Date | Key Change | Streams Affected | Action for Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta (AAIP) | Nov 18, 2025 | New Rural Renewal criteria effective Jan 1, 2026 | Rural Renewal | Check new eligibility (work permit, etc.) |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Introduced $135 fee for Worker EOI submissions | All Worker streams (EOI-based) | Budget fee; prepare EOI carefully | |
| May 26, 2026 | WEOI Edit feature: candidates can modify or reject invites | All Worker streams (EOI-based) | Update or refine your EOI profile | |
| British Columbia (BC PNP) | Jan 22, 2026 | Skills Immigration fee increased to $1,750 | All Skills streams | Plan for higher fees |
| Apr 23, 2026 | Program priorities updated (Care, Build, Innovate) | All Skills Immigration streams | Target in-demand occupations | |
| May 28, 2026 | New Skills Immigration guide in effect; Rural/Remote Health intake opens (June 2026) | All Skills streams + special health initiative | Review updated guide; watch for registration dates | |
|
Ontario (OINP) (Note: Ontario updates are detailed on the official OINP webpage) |
Jan 1, 2026 | Self-employed physicians eligible (no job offer) | Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | Physicians with provisional CPSO + OHIP can apply |
| Feb-Apr 2026 | Multiple draws held (e.g., 1,635 invites on Apr 8) | Employer Job Offer (Foreign Worker, International Student) | Check official draw announcements for results | |
| May 30, 2026 | All existing streams revoked (major program redesign) | All OINP streams | Submit pending applications ASAP; prepare for new system |
Alberta PNP Updates: New EOI Fee and Edit Option Introduced
- Mandatory Worker EOI system (launched Sept 30, 2024) – Alberta has implemented an online Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) for candidates across all worker streams (Tourism/Hospitality, Opportunity, Express Entry and Rural Renewal). This is a major shift (via Alberta’s new EOI system) that enables advanced selection.
- Rural Renewal Stream Changes (effective Jan 1, 2026) – The Rural Renewal Stream was adapted in Alberta because of the limited nomination opportunities. Changes to the rules include per-community endorsement allocation limits, endorsement letters valid for 1 year, a TEER-based model, and a new rule requiring applicants in Canada to have a valid work permit at the time of application.
- Additional WEOI Fields (Feb 25, 2026) – Alberta has also added fields on the WEOI to gather wages and hours of work for candidates who are issued an Alberta job offer. This information will be required in all new WEOIs from Feb 25, 2026. These details will be taken into account in future draws and may not be considered in some selection rounds if the EOI is not complete.
- New WEOI Fee (Apr 7, 2026) – Effective April 7, 2026, Alberta introduced a $135 fee for each Worker EOI. (Other fees for AAIP remain the same.) Candidates should ensure that they are prepared to pay this fee when they submit/re-submit their EOI.
- Editing and Refunds for WEOIs (May 26, 2026) – The AAIP portal now lets candidates edit an existing WEOI (valid 1 year) and reject undesired stream invitations within the 15-day period. Candidates who paid the WEOI fee ($135) and cancelled (to update) between Apr 7–May 26, 2026 can request a refund via the Opportunity Alberta contact form. (See the Rural Renewal eligibility page for details.)
- Other Points – Alberta now accepts the Pearson PTE Core English test for all AAIP streams (for applications on/after Apr 1, 2025). The AAIP also released FAQs, fraud-reporting instructions, and processing updates to assist applicants in the new EOI system.
Important BC PNP Changes: Closed Streams and Focused Invitations
- Increased Application Fee (Jan 22, 2026): As of January 22, 2026, BC PNP increased the application fee for its Skills Immigration category from $1,475 to $1,750. Budget appropriately if you intend to apply within a Skills Immigration stream. For Entrepreneur streams, there has been no increase in fees.
- New Program Priorities (Apr 23, 2026): B.C. announced a strategic refocus of the PNP around three priorities: Care, Build and Innovate. The “Care” priority includes positions related to healthcare, education, childcare, and veterinary professions. The “Build” category concerns trade positions, while “Innovate” applies to occupations in which skills and talents have a high economic impact (for example, IT specialists). In addition, British Columbia will target candidates living outside the Vancouver metro area for at least 35% of all nominations. Some occupational categories have become the target of specific draws (for example, teachers fluent in French, ECE positions, and certified trades), which will increase the importance of regional postings.
- New Skills Immigration Guide (May 28, 2026): An updated version of the Skills Immigration Program Guide was released on 28 May 2026 and included changes made to the program on 23 April. A one-time draw to attract up to 250 rural/remote health support staff (healthcare-related positions for workers such as cleaning personnel or security personnel) is also introduced as part of the “Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative”. A webinar on 10 June 2026 will clarify the “Care” priority.
- Stream Closures and Clean-up: BC PNP formally terminated the Entry Level Cleanup-Skilled Stream (also known as the ELSS stream), as the last ELSS draws took place on 10 December 2024. BC has not announced any replacement studentspecific Skills Immigration stream, and has indicated no plan to reintroduce ELSS. The last BC tech-specialization draw was held on 3 December 2024, but the High Economic Impact invites (under the Innovate Stream) would continue.
Ontario OINP Overhaul
- Physician Eligibility Expanded (Jan 1, 2026): Ontario has updated its Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream so that a defined group of self-employed doctors can be nominated even without the usual employer job offer, as long as they meet specific licensing and OHIP billing conditions set by the province. In practice, this means internationally trained physicians working in eligible NOC categories, who hold an appropriate CPSO license (including the newer provisional class) and have an active OHIP billing number, can be treated as self-employed for OINP purposes under this stream. By contrast, doctors who only have a postgraduate education license no longer qualify in the self-employed grouping and would still need a valid job offer from an Ontario employer if they wish to apply through the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker pathway.
- Major Program Overhaul (May 30, 2026): On 30 May 2026, the nine existing streams within the OINP program were abolished by the Ontario government through a regulatory change (amendments to Ontario Regulation 421/17). This was not a temporary change but a structural reform. As of May 30, the three Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills) have been merged into a single Employer Job Offer stream (TEER 0-3 and TEER 4-5 pathways). The second phase of reorganization in 2026 will introduce the Priority Healthcare and Exceptional Talent streams, among others. All other current streams (e.g. Masters/PhD Graduate, Skilled Trades, French-Speaking, Entrepreneur) have been eliminated and will be replaced under the new framework.
The team at Duvera Immigration is here to guide you through the latest PNP updates and help you identify the best pathway for your profile.
Contact us or email us at connect@duveraimmigration.com today to discuss your options.