Workforce Immigration & Support Program (WISP)

WISP Program – Mandatory Candidate Reassessment Under AAIP Changes

Due to Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) changes, all WISP candidates must undergo reassessment by Feb. 28, 2026. Employers are required to complete the mandatory WISP Eligibility Survey for every Candidate. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of endorsement letters.

The Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Workforce Immigration Support Program (WISP) is implementing mandatory changes in response to updates announced by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Please see the bottom of this page for common questions and responses regarding these changes.

AAIP has introduced a community-based endorsement allocation model, under which:

• Endorsement letters are now valid for 12 months only
• Eligibility and assessment criteria have been refined and tightened
• Each designated community receives a limited number of endorsements per year
• Once the allocation is reached, no further endorsements can be issued until the next program year
• Endorsements are prioritized based on local labour needs

As a result, WISP is required to reassess all existing and future candidate files to ensure compliance with AAIP’s updated Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) framework effective January 1, 2026.

What This Means for Employers

• Employers must complete a mandatory WISP Eligibility Survey for every candidate prior to Feb. 28, 2026, including:
• Candidates with previously issued endorsement letters (expired, active, or nearing expiry)
• Candidates with permanent residence
• Candidates with paused, in-progress, or inactive applications
• Candidates no longer employed
• Failure to complete the survey will result in automatic cancellation of the endorsement letter.

At this time, WISP cannot guarantee endorsement reissuance, even where a letter was previously granted. Processing will occur within the limits of AAIP’s annual community allocation.

We recognize the impact these changes may have on employers and candidates. These requirements are mandated by AAIP and apply to all designated rural communities across Alberta.

Updates will be shared as timelines and next steps are finalized.

For official AAIP details, visit https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-updates 
All WISP communications must be directed to workforce@fmwb.ca.

Eligibility Survey Details

The survey is used to:

• Confirm continued eligibility under AAIP’s updated criteria
• Assess competitiveness given limited community endorsement allocations
• Determine next steps for each candidate file

Deadline:  
February 28, 2026

For more information on the survey, please reach out to workforce@fmwb.ca or register for the Employer Information Session.

**TAKE THE SURVEY **HERE

Employer Information Session – WISP Eligibility Survey

WISP is hosting a virtual Employer Information Session to review the mandatory WISP Eligibility Survey, AAIP program changes, and employer responsibilities. The session will be recorded for employers who are unable to attend.

Date: February 17, 2025 
Time: 11:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) 
Format: Virtual (Zoom)
Register **HERE**

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

Job Criteria

There are seven 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

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

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) provides Letters of Endorsement to Candidates who meet the Criteria of Workforce Immigrant & Support Program (WISP) outlined above. We deal directly with Employers on these requests.

If you are a Candidate, please contact a prospective Employer directly. Once you receive our Endorsement Letter, you are still required to apply for provincial nomination of permanent residency through the AAIP, which is a detailed process.

Common Questions

1. Why is WISP required to reassess all candidates?

   The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has introduced significant changes to the Rural Renewal Stream, including a new community‑based endorsement allocation model and updated eligibility criteria. These updates apply to all designated rural communities across Alberta.

   As a result, WISP must reassess every candidate file, including those with previous endorsement letters and those with applications currently in progress. These requirements are mandated by AAIP and must be followed to ensure full program compliance.

2. What happens if an employer does not complete the WISP Eligibility Survey for a candidate?

   If an employer does not complete the mandatory WISP Eligibility Survey by February 28, 2026, the candidate’s endorsement letter will be automatically cancelled. This applies to all candidates—active and inactive applications; former and current employees.

   These requirements come directly from AAIP’s updated Rural Renewal Stream framework. WISP is not permitted to maintain or reissue endorsements without updated eligibility confirmation.

3. Will previously issued endorsement letters be reissued after reassessment?

   Reissuance is not guaranteed, even for candidates who previously received an endorsement.
   AAIP now limits the number of endorsements available each year, and eligibility criteria have become more competitive and focused on local labour needs.

   WISP will review each survey submission and determine next steps based on:

   • AAIP’s updated requirements
   • The candidate’s eligibility
   • The community’s endorsement allocation limits

   If a candidate cannot be reendorsed, WISP may share information about other immigration pathways where appropriate. For questions, please email workforce@fmwb.ca.

4. 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.

   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.

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

   Endorsement letters are valid for one year from the date of issuance. However, a survey must be completed for each candidate, or the endorsement letter will be cancelled. Some endorsement letters that were issued are expected to be revoked due to the new criteria setout by AAIP.

6. How do we get endorsement letters renewed if they expire?

   To renew an endorsement letter that has expired, employers will first need to complete the eligibility survey for the candidate. The WISP team will review the survey and determine whether the employer must resubmit the full application or simply verify specific components based on how recently the original submission was made.

   A new endorsement letter will only be received once the employer provides proof that the candidate has received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

7. 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. Each candidate’s situation is unique, and the survey collects personal and application‑specific information that cannot be consolidated across multiple employees.

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

   At this time, the survey is only required for candidates who already have an application or endorsement connected to the WISP program.

   Once the existing backlog is reviewed and processed, the program may reopen for new applications, at which point the survey will become a standard first step for all future candidates.

9. Survey Question 4 is confusing. What should we select?

   In Question 4, employers should only select an option if it accurately reflects the candidate’s status—for example, if the individual no longer works for the organization or if the employer is no longer participating in the program. If none of the listed options apply to the candidate, employers may simply leave all boxes unselected.

   1. What if the candidate’s Expression of Interest has expired?

   If a candidate's Expression of Interest (EOI) has expired, employers should still indicate that the EOI was submitted by selecting the relevant option. In the comment box for that section, they can add a brief note explaining that the EOI has since expired. This provides helpful context for the WISP team when reviewing the file.

   1. 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.

   1. 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.

   1. Do employees who already received Permanent Residency still need a survey?

   Yes. Even if a candidate has already obtained Permanent Residency, employers still need to complete the survey for them. This allows the WISP team to maintain accurate records, track program outcomes, and correctly account for endorsement allocations.

   1. What if we don’t know which employees participated in the program?

   Employers are responsible for keeping their own internal records about which employees have participated in the WISP process. The WISP team cannot provide a list, as this would compromise process integrity. Employers can refer to past endorsement letters, application confirmations, or internal HR notes to rebuild their list if needed.

   1. 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. After receiving this documentation, the WISP team will issue an updated endorsement letter with a new six‑month expiry date to align with provincial program rules. Note: this assumes the Candidate has passed the new Eligibility requirements in the survey.

   1. What if a candidate does not receive an ITA within six months?

   If a candidate does not receive an Invitation to Apply within six months of their initial endorsement letter being issued, 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.

   1. Will the program continue after September 2027?

   Based on the most recent information, the Rural Renewal Stream designation for Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo will conclude on September 9, 2027. The province has not indicated whether the program will be extended, replaced, or modified, so employers should plan around the current program end date until further direction is provided.

   1. Do new employers need to complete the survey?

   New employers will only need to complete the survey if they already have candidates who previously submitted applications or received endorsement letters through WISP. For employers new to the program with no existing candidate files, the survey is not required at this stage.

   1. 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.

   1. How should candidates under maintained status be handled?

   Employers should verify whether candidates under maintained status are still legally authorized to work based on federal rules. The WISP program requires candidates already in Canada to hold a valid work permit, so employers should ensure they understand how maintained status applies to their employee’s situation.

   1. When will new endorsement letters be issued?

   New endorsement letters will begin to be issued after the February 28 deadline, once all surveys have been collected and grouped for review. 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.

   1. 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.

   1. 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.

   1. 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.

   1. What if a candidate no longer works for the employer?

   Even if a candidate no longer works for the employer, the employer must still complete the survey so the WISP team can account for the status of the endorsement and maintain accurate program tracking.

   1. What about candidates under restoration status?

   Cases involving candidates under restoration status (a work permit has expired in the last 90 days and they are applying to “restore” their legal ability to stay and possibly work) can be complex, and employers are encouraged to contact the WISP team at workforce@fmwb.ca so the details of the situation can be reviewed individually.