Time is running out to cash in on the $5,000 'Alberta is Calling' moving bonus
If you were among the many people who called Alberta home for the first time in 2024, you may still be eligible for the Alberta is Calling moving bonus.
The moving bonus is a one-time refundable tax credit worth $5,000, available to eligible skilled trades workers who moved to Alberta in 2024 and meet specific criteria. The program is intended to address labour shortages in the skilled trades by attracting workers from other parts of Canada.
As of Jan. 19, 2026, 731 of the program’s 2,000 available spots had been filled, Hunter Baril, press secretary for the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, told Daily Hive.
For those looking to cash in before it closes, new applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on March 15, 2026, and are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Applicants must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have moved to Alberta between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, lived in the province for at least 12 consecutive months, received their 2024 CRA notice of assessment, and be employed or self-employed in an eligible occupation.
An eligible trade list can be found on the Alberta Government website. The bonus is not taxable.
As the final phase of the Alberta is Calling campaign winds down, it appears people answered the call, with several Alberta cities posting double-digit growth over the past five years.