Workforce Immigration & Support Program (WISP)

WISP Eligibility Survey & Application Requirement

The WISP eligibility survey is currently closed. The AAIP has advised that our community has reached its 2026 endorsement letter limit. It will reopen in January 2027.

Once intake reopens in January 2027, the application process will be as follows:

1. The employer completes the eligibility survey, one per candidate.
   • If not eligible: the employer will be redirected to alternative AAIP pathways.
   • If eligible: the employer may receive a unique invitation link to complete the application form.
2. The employer submits the application form with required documentation.
3. The WISP team reviews and verifies the application.
4. The employer receives next steps and outcome, such as community endorsement or redirection to alternative AAIP pathways.

Current Status of the WISP

Effective November 5, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has advised that our community has reached its 2026 endorsement letter limit and that no further endorsement letters can be issued this year. As a result, WISP is not accepting new eligibility surveys. The process outlined above will apply when intake reopens in January 2027.

Applications already received or in progress will continue to be processed; however, WISP will not issue any endorsement letters until January 2027 to align with AAIP. Please plan accordingly.

We understand this may be disappointing and appreciate your patience. Our team is working to connect employers with other recruitment and immigration programs to support the transition out of the Rural Renewal Stream.

Important Reminders

• As of September 9, 2027, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo's five-year term as a designated community under the AAIP Rural Renewal Stream ends and cannot be renewed. WISP will not issue any endorsement letters after that date.
• All endorsement letters issued prior to 2026 have expired and must be reissued following a successful eligibility survey and application form submission. This does not apply to candidates who have already received a nomination for permanent residence.
• Due to the new AAIP requirements, reissuance is not guaranteed, even if previously approved.
• Due to reduced community allocations, the endorsement process is now more competitive:
• Not all eligible employers will receive an invitation to apply.
• A successful eligibility survey and application do not guarantee a WISP endorsement.
• An Expression of Interest (EOI), Invitation to Apply (ITA), or nomination for permanent residence through the AAIP does not guarantee permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Employer Information Session – Year End and 2027 Program

To support employers in understanding program updates, the next Employer Information Session will be held:

• Date: November 16, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM ABT
• Format: Virtual (registration required)
• Attendees: Employers only
• Register for the Employer Information Session here.
• **Access recording from **previous Employer Information Session here (Passcode: 9d#qtaJk)

Special Notice for Candidates with Invitations to Apply (ITA)

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) does not confirm eligibility or guarantee permanent residency. AAIP will independently verify all requirements before issuing a nomination.

Employers must contact workforce@fmwb.ca to proceed with candidates who have previously received an Invitation to Apply from AAIP. Do not complete the WISP Eligibility Survey until you have connected with the WISP team.

The Government of Alberta created the Rural Renewal Stream to address current labour needs and skill shortages at the local level and help newcomers settle into rural communities. The Workforce Immigration & Support Program (WISP) is our community approach to the Government of Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream.

WISP supports local employers experiencing ongoing labour shortages by providing a fast-track to permanent residency combined with newcomer support services.

The program’s goal is to help employers address ongoing labour shortages by supporting newcomers who qualify to pursue permanent residency through the AAIP.

The rural immigration streams are part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, a federal-provincial program which nominates individuals for permanent residence.

The Rural Renewal Stream supports the attraction and retention of newcomers to rural Alberta through a community-driven approach that supports local economic development needs and contributes to the growth of the community. The Rural Renewal Stream empowers rural communities to recruit and retain foreign nationals to live, work and settle in their communities.

Program Eligibility Criteria

As of March 2026, the following criteria apply. Each designated community now has a limited number of endorsements per year. Therefore, it is a competitive, merit-based program, and Candidates are assessed relative to other Candidates. Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee endorsement from FMWB or nomination through AAIP.

***The program was revised in Jan 2026 as per AAIP’s requirements, and all previously issued endorsement letters from 2025 and earlier have expired and must be reissued to align with current program requirements, regardless of the date on the original letter. At this time, FMWB cannot guarantee reissuance of an endorsement, even where a letter was previously granted. All applications will be processed within the limits of AAIP’s annual community allocation, and the eligibility criteria below. For full details, please visit the ***AAIP website.

Job Criteria

There are several criteria that must be met for a job to be valid for WISP:

1. Full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
2. Permanent (12 months or more)
3. Year-round
4. Genuine and represents a labour market need
5. Wage and benefits meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for the occupation (as set out on the Alis website)
6. In an eligible occupation
7. Attempt was made to fill the role locally
8. Teer 4 and 5 positions must have Candidates currently working with a valid work permit in Alberta.

Candidate Criteria

• There are nine criteria that each candidate must meet to be valid for WISP:
  1. Candidate meets all criteria laid out by the Rural Renewal Stream Program
  2. Candidate has required licensing, registration and certification requirements
  3. Candidate has 12 months full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months (or is a Post-Graduation Work Permit Holder)
  4. Candidate meets all language test score in English or French
  5. Candidate meets educational requirements (Educational Credential Assessment, or a recognized Canadian degree, diploma or certificate, or a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate)
  6. Candidate meets settlement fund requirements if not currently working in Canada.
  7. Candidates are expected to remain in the community for at least 3 years
  8. Candidates cannot be participating in another AAIP Stream at the same time
  9. Candidates that are in-Canada must hold valid work permits at the time of application, EOI, ITA, and application submission. (Maintained status alone does not meet this requirement at these stages.)

Employer requirements

The Workforce Immigration & Support Program has zero tolerance for fraud. Any employer or candidate with confirmed fraud cases will be disqualified from accessing the program for all associated companies and applications.

A cap on endorsements has been implemented. Endorsements per employer will be capped at 25% of that employer’s estimated Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) for the entire duration of the program.

The employer who is providing your Alberta job offer must demonstrate to AAIP’s satisfaction that:

• the business is not charging employees fees for a job or employment offer. Employer fees are illegal and suspected fraud can be reported here.
• the business is legitimate
• they are providing a good or service in Alberta
• you are being offered employment consistent with their business activities or needs
• they can fulfill all of the terms of the job offer or employment contract, based on the following employer requirements, which must be verifiable by the AAIP

The Alberta employer must:

• be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory or the Parliament of Canada and that is operating an established production capacity, plant or a place of business in Alberta
• have been in continuous and active operation at a commercial location in Alberta for a minimum of 2 complete fiscal years (the year used for tax or accounting purposes) prior to application submission. Businesses that move locations during the 2-year period will not be eligible
• have an active place of doing business in Alberta where employees can report to work regularly as needed and where work assignments are issued (verified via site visit and other requested formats)
• demonstrate the need for the position, by providing:
  • a valid work permit issued under the federal Temporary Foreign Worker or International Mobility programs, or
  • evidence the employer made reasonable efforts to fill the position with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, as demonstrated by recruitment outcomes (federal recruitment and advertising requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will be used as a broad guideline when a nominee applicant is not already living and working in Alberta), or as pre-existing stream or pathway criteria already stipulates.
• have a minimum total gross annual revenue of $400,000 for the most recent fiscal year (the year used for tax or accounting purposes) and employment of a minimum of 3 full-time (or full-time equivalent) employees in Alberta –
  • Independent contractors are not considered as indeterminate employees and do not count.
  • Two part-time employees may be considered as 1 full-time equivalent position, as long as the total hours add up to at least an average of 30 hours per week.

Note: If an employer cannot demonstrate a gross annual revenue of $400,000 for the most recent tax year and a minimum of 3 full-time employees, the employer can qualify for the program but will be restricted in the number of nominee applicants they can support, based on the number of years the employer has been operating in Alberta:

• 2 years of operation in Alberta: a total of 1 nominee.
• 3 years of operation in Alberta: a total 2 nominees.
• For each additional year of operation, 1 additional nominee can be supported.
• Indigenous, municipal, provincial, and federal government employers do not need to meet revenue and minimum employee requirements.
• Caps on number of nominees an employer can support will be applied to applications received on or after March 18, 2024. Note, if a nominee leaves the employer, the nomination will continue to be counted towards job offer eligibility/employer operations.
• You must confirm with your employer that they are able to support your application. Your application fee will not be refunded if your employer supports more applicants than permitted based on their years of operation in Alberta.

FMWBEDT’s role in the program

Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism (FMWBEDT) issues Letters of Endorsement to candidates who:

1. meet the Workforce Immigration & Support Program (WISP) criteria outlined above; and
2. are competitively selected from the applicant pool.

An FMWBEDT Endorsement Letter does not guarantee provincial nomination. Candidates must still submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Expression of Interest must be submitted with 2 weeks of receiving a letter, and the employer must provide proof of submission to FMWBEDT. If a Candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and/or Provincial Nomination for Permanent Residency through AAIP, the employer must notify FMWBEDT.

FMWBEDT works directly with employers only. Candidates should have their employer submit requests on their behalf.

Alternative Candidate Supports 

If candidates are not selected or wish to explore other options:

• YMCA of Northern Alberta – Foreign Worker Program: support with employment readiness and settlement. Book an appointment by calling 780-715-5945. 
• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP): explore other immigration pathways (learn more). 

Alternate Employer Workforce Development Supports 

These organizations can assist with hiring talent outside of immigration pathways. They have pre-vetted jobseekers and insight into talent availability in the region.

• CAREERS: Next Gen — training young talent and providing grant funding to eligible employers. (learn more) 
• Lifemark Vocational Services — support to overcome hiring challenges, improve recruitment, and increase employee retention (learn more). 
• Manpower — workforce and staffing solutions for employers (learn more).

Common Questions

• Is WISP currently accepting new eligibility surveys?

  No. Effective November 5, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has advised that our community has reached its 2026 endorsement letter limit and that no further endorsement letters can be issued this year. As a result, WISP is not accepting new eligibility surveys for the Rural Renewal Stream.

• When will the WISP eligibility survey reopen?

  The WISP eligibility survey will reopen in January 2027 for the 2027 intake.

• Who can apply through the WISP program?

  Employers must meet all current WISP and Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Rural Renewal Stream requirements. Candidates must also meet the applicable AAIP eligibility requirements for their occupation, immigration status, work authorization, job offer, and location. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee that an application will be approved or that an endorsement letter will be issued.

• What is the first step in the application process?

  When intake reopens in January 2027, the employer must first complete the WISP Eligibility Survey for each candidate. If successful, the employer will receive a unique link to the WISP Application Form. Employers should not submit documents or fees through AAIP until they have completed all required WISP steps.

• My candidate received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in 2026. What is the next step?

  If your candidate received an ITA during the period when WISP applications were under review and reissuance, you must contact workforce@fmwb.ca.

• I received an email indicating my candidate’s endorsement letter was cancelled. What can I do now?

  A previous cancellation does not automatically prevent an employer from submitting a new application. The employer and candidate must meet all current requirements and complete the current application process. A new application will be assessed independently and is not guaranteed to result in an endorsement. If you would like to reapply for the candidate, please complete a new Eligibility Survey once intake reopens in January 2027.

• Does receiving an Endorsement Letter from FMWB or an ITA from AAIP guarantee permanent residency?
  No. Neither an Endorsement Letter from FMWB nor an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) confirms eligibility or guarantees permanent residency. AAIP will independently verify all requirements before issuing a nomination.

• Why are endorsement allocations limited, and how does this affect the candidate?

  Under AAIP’s new community-based model, each designated community receives a fixed number of endorsements per year. Once the allocation is reached, no additional endorsements can be issued until the next program year. Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo has reached its 2026 allocation, so no further endorsement letters will be issued until January 2027.

  This means:

  • Endorsements are now competitive
  • Labour-market priorities influence decisions
  • Not all candidates will be able to receive or renew endorsements

  These limits are set by the Province of Alberta and are required across all participating rural communities.

• Will endorsement letters issued prior to January 1, 2026 remain valid for use in an AAIP application under the updated program requirements?

  All previous endorsement letters prior to January 1, 2026 are cancelled and will have to be re-issued through the new process.

• Do we need to fill out a survey for each candidate?

  Yes. Employers are required to complete a separate eligibility survey for every individual candidate connected to their organization that wishes to receive an Endorsement Letter. Each candidate’s situation is unique, and the survey collects personal and application‑specific information that cannot be consolidated across multiple employees.

• Does the survey apply to new applicants not yet in the system?

  Yes, employers must complete the WISP Eligibility Survey for all candidates - existing or new - that are seeking an Endorsement Letter. This is the standardized first step for all candidates.

• What jobs will be prioritized?

  Job prioritization will depend on a combination of factors, including how competitive each candidate is based on their eligibility survey responses and how strongly their role aligns with current labour market needs in the region. While no fixed list of prioritized occupations has been published, employers can refer to AAIP’s points grid and local job vacancy patterns to get a sense of where demand may be higher.

• Are there changes for TEER 2 and 3?

  Yes. Under the updated requirements, candidates who are already in Canada and applying under TEER 2 or TEER 3 must hold a valid work permit at the time of application. This aligns with AAIP’s emphasis on ensuring immigration pathways are reserved for applicants who are fully authorized to work in the country at the time of submission.

• What happens after a candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

  Once a candidate receives an ITA from AAIP, the employer must email the WISP team with the official proof of the invitation and next steps.

• What if a candidate does not receive an ITA before the Endorsement Letter expires?

  If a candidate does not receive an Invitation to Apply within the twelve month time period, the endorsement will expire. In these cases, the candidate may not be able to continue under the WISP pathway, and the employer may wish to explore alternative immigration or workforce strategies.

• Will the program continue after September 2027?

  No. Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo's five-year term as a designated community under the AAIP Rural Renewal Stream ends on September 9, 2027, and cannot be renewed. WISP will not issue any endorsement letters after that date. Employers should plan around this end date and may wish to explore alternative immigration or workforce strategies.

• Can TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 candidates apply from outside Canada?

  Yes. Candidates applying for TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3 roles may still apply from outside Canada. Only TEER 4 and TEER 5 roles now require candidates to already be residing in Alberta with a valid work permit in order to be eligible.

• How should candidates under maintained status be handled?

  WISP requires candidates who are already in Canada to hold a valid work permit (valid for at least 90 days) at the time of application, EOI, ITA, and application submission. Maintained status alone does not meet this requirement at these stages.

• When will new endorsement letters be issued?

  No endorsement letters will be issued until January 2027. Once issuing resumes, endorsement letters will be issued as applications are processed, provided the WISP Eligibility Survey, WISP Application Form and all required documentation meet the requirements and are submitted in full. While the WISP team will work through these as efficiently as possible, no specific timeline can be guaranteed due to the high number of submissions expected.

• Is there a limit on the number of endorsements per employer?

  Yes. Historically, employers have been limited to endorsement letters for up to 25% of their full‑time workforce. Small businesses with four or fewer employees are generally limited to one endorsement. The WISP team is currently reviewing how this policy interacts with recently expired or withdrawn endorsements.

• What happens if an endorsement is cancelled?

  If an endorsement letter is cancelled, the candidate must log in to their AAIP portal and formally withdraw their Expression of Interest. Not doing so can delay processing, reduce the community’s future endorsement allocation, and may affect the employer’s ability to submit future applications.

• What about candidates already at the federal PR stage?

  For candidates who have already received a provincial nomination and are moving through federal processing, employers will need to reach out to AAIP or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) directly. The WISP team does not manage or influence federal‑level stages.

• Does submitting a WISP application guarantee an endorsement?

  No. Applications must pass employer and candidate eligibility reviews and may also be assessed against regional labour-market priorities and available community allocations. A complete application does not guarantee that an endorsement letter will be issued.

• Can a candidate apply directly to WISP?

  No. WISP is an employer-led program. The eligible employer must complete and submit the required WISP application for the candidate. Candidates should work directly with their employer regarding the status of the employer’s WISP submission. The WISP Team speaks with the employer only.

• Where can employers access the new application forms?

  When it reopens, the WISP Eligibility Survey will be publicly available on the program website. Employers who are determined to be eligible will receive the application form, document requirements, and secure upload link directly from the WISP team. Employers should use only the application materials and upload link provided to them by the WISP team.