Maple News reports that the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) held its largest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of 2021 on August 10, inviting 396 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. This marks the highest number of invitations issued in a single Alberta draw this year, with the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required holding steady at 300.
Since resuming draws in January 2021, Alberta has now invited a total of 3,157 Express Entry candidates under the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The program had paused invitation rounds in late 2020, making 2021’s substantial activity particularly notable. Alberta has a 2021 provincial nomination allocation of 6,250 certificates, and this draw underscores the province’s ongoing efforts to attract skilled professionals to address labour market needs.
The Alberta Express Entry Stream enables the provincial government to select candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool. This pool includes applicants from Canada’s three key economic immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Eligible candidates in the Express Entry system are ranked using the CRS, a points-based system that evaluates age, education level, work experience, language proficiency (English or French), and other human capital factors. While strong candidates can receive invitations directly from the federal government, Alberta’s draw offers an opportunity for those with lower CRS scores to strengthen their immigration prospects.
A nomination from Alberta automatically provides an additional 600 CRS points, which positions candidates strongly for an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a future federal Express Entry draw. For instance, those who were invited in this August 10 draw with a minimum CRS of 300 would see their total CRS score jump to 900 after receiving a nomination, effectively guaranteeing their selection in upcoming federal rounds.
This robust activity highlights Alberta’s commitment to supporting regional economic growth by harnessing the federal Express Entry system to attract talented newcomers. For skilled workers with ties to Alberta, or those whose experience matches the province’s in-demand occupations, the Alberta Express Entry Stream remains a viable and strategic entry point into Canada.
According to Maple News, with multiple draws expected throughout the rest of the year and thousands of nominations still available, candidates eyeing permanent residency in Canada should pay close attention to Alberta’s ongoing invitation rounds.