Frequently Asked Questions

Program Update:

Effective February 20, 2025, the Southeast Alberta Municipal Immigration program for the City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Bow Island is temporarily paused. This decision follows recent Federal and Provincial immigration policy changes that have lowered immigration allocation spaces throughout the province. During this time, no new applications will be accepted. All applications received before this date will be duly processed.

The status of the program in Medicine Hat will be reviewed in January 2026, and updates will be posted on our website and social media channels.

Timelines for program resumption is unknown at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

For the most accurate information on processing times and inventory, be sure to check the AAIP website.

On November 18, 2025, AAIP announced upcoming changes to the Rural Renewal Stream, which will take effect January 1, 2026. These updates are intended to better align with provincial priorities and manage nomination spaces. Detailed information is available on the official AAIP website and the RRS eligibility page.  https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-eligibility

Important Notes for Candidates:

Candidates with an endorsement letter in the EOI pool who have not yet received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) should note that the one-year endorsement letter validity now applies. Decisions on endorsement letter renewals will be announced once community allocation limits are confirmed. All updates will be communicated to affected candidates by email.

Candidates residing in Canada must hold a valid work permit at the time of application and assessment. Maintained status is acceptable if valid at the point of application assessment by the province.

If you have already submitted an application to the province, these changes do not affect your application.

I just submitted a request to participate form, and I am awaiting an employer consultation. Will my application still be considered?

Yes, you will be contacted to schedule an employer consultation and follow through with the next steps as per the current process.

I am already a participating employer who has supported candidates in the past. Can I submit new job offer forms?

We will not be accepting new job offer forms. Any new job offers submitted after the pause will be declined.

I submitted a job offer form before the pause was announced, what happens to my candidate?

We will review all job offer forms for accuracy and proceed with the next steps as per the current process.

Does the pause affect candidates who have received an endorsement letter or are in the provincial queue?

No. The Southeast Alberta Municipal Immigration will maintain the Rural Renewal designation with the province. All endorsement letters issued before or after the pause are still considered valid.

I have employees whose work permits are expiring this year, and they have not received a draw. What can I do?

For expert advice on actions to take regarding expiring work permits, kindly reach out to a registered immigration consultant/lawyer.

Is the Rural Renewal program resuming in January 2026?

A resumption date is unknown at this time. The program will be evaluated in January 2026 and a decision will be posted once decided.

My endorsement letter is expiring/ has expired, how can I renew it?

An endorsement renewal process has not yet been established. Once decided, candidates will receive an email about the renewal procedure.

If my work permit expired before getting an ITA to apply to the Province, can the city provide a work permit extension?

No, the city is unable to provide work permit extensions. The City only administers the Rural Renewal Program. For work permit extensions and enquiries, kindly contact a registered immigration consultant/lawyer

Still have questions?

Contact us.

Southeast Alberta Municipal Immigration
533 First Street SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 0A9
Email: immigration@medicinehat.ca

Contact Us

533 First Street SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 0A9
403-502-8578
Email Us

Participating Municipalities

Contact Us

Email: immigration@medicinehat.ca
Phone: 403-502-8578

Address

533 First Street SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 0A9