Maple News reports that the province of Alberta held a new immigration draw on October 12, extending invitations to 293 Express Entry candidates. To be considered, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.
This marks Alberta’s first draw in October, following a robust month in September during which the province conducted four similar selection rounds and issued a total of 1,610 invitations. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), specifically its Express Entry stream, has now invited 5,910 candidates in 2021 alone, following a pause in late 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Alberta Express Entry stream functions as an enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), allowing the province to select candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool. This gives provincial governments the ability to increase their immigration intake by targeting candidates whose skills align with local labor market needs.
Express Entry itself is Canada’s main application management system for federal economic immigration categories, including the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked using the CRS—a points system based on factors such as age, education, skilled work experience, and language proficiency.
For those with lower CRS scores, a provincial nomination is a powerful advantage. Candidates nominated through a PNP receive an automatic 600-point boost to their CRS score, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency in upcoming federal Express Entry draws.
This year, Alberta has a maximum allocation of 6,250 nomination certificates. As the province continues to extend invitations through targeted draws, candidates aiming to immigrate to Canada with ties to Alberta or skills that match the province’s economic needs will likely see more opportunities arise.
According to Maple News, Alberta’s strategy reflects Canada’s broader aim to decentralize immigration selection across provinces to address regional labor shortages and promote balanced economic growth.