Maple News reports that Alberta has conducted a new round of invitations under its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), targeting Express Entry candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of 300 or higher. The draw took place on June 16 and resulted in 184 invitations through the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
This marks the second draw in June with the same CRS cutoff score — a relatively low threshold that signals Alberta’s continued efforts to attract skilled professionals who can contribute to the province’s economic goals. The previous draw occurred on June 5, also inviting candidates with a minimum score of 300.
Since resuming draws in January 2021 following a pandemic-related pause, Alberta has issued a total of 2,284 invitations via the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The program, part of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), allows the province to select candidates from the federal Express Entry pool who meet Alberta’s specific labor and economic needs.
Initially during the pandemic, Alberta limited invitations to candidates already residing within the province. However, the AINP has now lifted those temporary restrictions. As confirmed by Alberta’s Ministry of Labour and Immigration, candidates no longer need to be residing in Alberta to qualify. Eligible applicants may also be selected if they have a valid job offer in Alberta or recent work experience in key sectors that support economic diversification.
“Immigration continues to be a cornerstone of Alberta’s recovery strategy, helping to fuel job creation and economic growth,” said Joseph Dow, Press Secretary to Alberta’s Minister of Labour and Immigration. “We’re focused on attracting skilled professionals who can contribute to the province’s long-term development.”
For 2021, Alberta has an allocation of 6,250 nomination certificates. However, not every invited applicant is guaranteed a nomination. The final decision hinges on the completeness of applications and continued eligibility throughout the process, including federal review.
The Alberta Express Entry Stream is an enhanced PNP stream, meaning that candidates selected by Alberta receive an additional 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a future federal Express Entry draw.
Maple News will continue to monitor updates on provincial draws and federal immigration programs as Canada maintains strong interest in skilled immigration to support labor market recovery.