Maple News reports that on November 24, Alberta carried out a focused Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw, inviting 100 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. This draw, while modest in size, stands out for having one of the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score thresholds of the year at 350 points.
Most Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) draws in 2021 have typically invited more than 200 candidates. Only one other draw this year had such a low count—also at 100 candidates in January. The highest minimum CRS requirement in 2021 was 360, also recorded in January, making this recent draw’s cut-off the second highest so far this year.
The limited number of invitations may be due to Alberta nearing its quota for nominations. The federal department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), set Alberta’s 2021 nomination allocation at 6,250. As of early December, Alberta had issued 6,094 of those certificates, leaving just 156 spots available for the remainder of the year.
There are currently around 400 applications under the Alberta Opportunity Stream and another 825 expressions of interest in the Alberta Express Entry pool. This limited capacity could explain the selective and high-score nature of the latest draw.
The Alberta Express Entry Stream is an enhanced version of the Provincial Nominee Program. It allows Alberta to select candidates directly from the federal Express Entry system. Eligible candidates must demonstrate ties to Alberta and have the potential to contribute economically to the province.
The Express Entry system manages applications under three federal immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates receive a CRS score based on factors such as age, education, professional experience, and language skills.
A nomination from a province like Alberta significantly boosts an applicant’s CRS score by 600 points, essentially guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a subsequent federal draw. This makes provincial nominations a strategic pathway for skilled immigrants seeking to settle in Canada.
As Alberta approaches the end of its 2021 nomination quota, future draws may continue to target higher-scoring candidates with strong connections to the province. Maple News will continue to monitor developments as provinces adjust their immigration strategies to align with federal allocations and labour market needs.