Maple News reports that Alberta has issued 250 invitations to Express Entry candidates through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) in a draw held on May 18 and officially announced on May 25. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this selection round was 301, making it one of the more accessible draws for candidates in the Express Entry pool this year.
This marks Alberta’s 10th invitation round in 2021, bringing its total number of invited candidates to 1,909 since the province resumed issuing nominations in January after a temporary pause. The Alberta Express Entry stream, which operates under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), targets skilled foreign workers who have the potential to meet the province’s labor market needs.
Candidates invited through this stream receive a provincial nomination, which instantly boosts their CRS score by 600 points. This significant increase nearly guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.
The Alberta Express Entry stream is considered an “enhanced” PNP stream, as it selects candidates from the federal Express Entry system. To be considered, applicants must first submit a profile to the Express Entry pool, where candidates are ranked by CRS scores based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency in English or French.
Express Entry is the federal government’s online system that manages applications for three economic immigration categories: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Alberta’s integration with this system allows the province to nominate high-ranking candidates who can support regional economic development.
Alberta continues to be an attractive destination for skilled immigrants, especially those in sectors aligned with the province’s economic priorities, such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology. The provincial government has not publicly disclosed the specific occupations targeted in this draw, but historically Alberta has favored candidates with in-demand skills and existing ties to the province.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments in provincial draws as Canadian provinces seek to attract global talent to fill labor shortages and drive local economic growth.