Alberta Closes 2025 PNP Nominations While Saskatchewan Redefines Immigration Priorities for 2026
Alberta Shuts the Door on 2025 Nominations as Saskatchewan Redefines PNP Priorities for 2026
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs are entering 2026 with a noticeable shift in direction. Recent announcements from Saskatchewan and Alberta highlight how provinces are tightening selection criteria, reallocating nomination spaces, and focusing heavily on priority occupations rather than broad-based intake.
Also Check out the Saskatchewan Occupation in-demand List
New Financial Thresholds by Family Size
The adjustment is a 31.94% increase for individual applicants. For example, one must now have at least $10,507 in available funds, a rise from the previous $7,963. Settlement fund balances fluctuate with family size:
| Family Size | Required Funds (as of July 29, 2025) | Previous Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10,507 | $7,963 |
| 2 | $13,080 | $9,692 |
| 3 | $16,080 | $12,069 |
| 4 | $19,524 | $15,056 |
| 5 | $22,143 | $17,145 |
| 6 | $24,975 | $19,015 |
| 7 | $27,806 | $20,884 |
| Each additional member | $2,831 | $1,869 |
Saskatchewan Confirms 2026 Nomination Allocation and Sector-Based Strategy
No Draw, No ITAs, No CRS Announced
- Invitations to Apply (ITAs): Not issued
- CRS score: Not applicable
Instead, the province has outlined how these nominations will be strategically allocated in 2026.
Priority Sectors Take Centre Stage
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Skilled trades
- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Technology
Within this group, 750 nomination spaces have been specifically earmarked for graduates of Saskatchewan Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) who are employed in these priority occupations. A notable shift for 2026 is that priority-sector applicants will not be bound by fixed intake windows and may apply from outside Canada, significantly widening access for qualified candidates.
Capped Occupations and Tighter Graduate Rules
- Accommodation and food services
- Trucking
- Retail trade
These sectors will be limited to 25 per cent of total nominations, with applications accepted only during short, controlled intake periods. Saskatchewan has also tightened eligibility rules for post-graduation work permit holders. Graduates who studied outside the province will no longer qualify under Saskatchewan Experience pathways, and several open work permit categories – including some spousal open work permits – will face new limitations.
Alberta PNP Concludes 2025 with Final Healthcare-Focused Draws
Also Check out The New life in Canada
Final Draw Details
- Total ITAs issued: 107
- Number of draws: 2 healthcare-specific rounds
- CRS score: Not disclosed by Alberta
Alberta does not publicly release CRS cut-off scores for many of its PNP streams, and no CRS information was shared for these final rounds.
2025 by the Numbers
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Rural Renewal Stream
- Healthcare pathways
No Invitations Until 2026
- No further ITAs will be issued in 2025
- Its 2026 nomination allocation has not yet been announced
What These Updates Signal for PNP Applicants in 2026
- Priority occupations will dominate provincial selection
- In-province work experience and local education carry increasing weight
- Open access streams are narrowing
- Alignment with provincial labour needs matters more than CRS alone
Metro Areas Now Ineligible for Low-Wage LMIA Applications
| Family Size | Minimum Required Funds (Annual) |
|---|---|
| 1 person (student only) | CAD $22,895 |
| 2 people | CAD $28,502 |
| 3 people | CAD $35,040 |
| 4 people | CAD $42,543 |
| 5 people | CAD $48,252 |
| 6 people | CAD $54,420 |
| 7 people | CAD $60,589 |
| Additional family member | CAD $6,170 |
These figures represent a significant increase from the earlier requirement of CAD $20,635 for a single applicant, which had been in effect since January 1, 2024.
What It Means to Applicants
For those who aspire to immigrate to Saskatchewan, the increased quota provides new possibilities—especially for applicants in the service industry whose files were rejected a few months back. With the processing reopened, many such workers could once again be eligible for provincial nomination.
