Express Entry-Aligned Alberta PNP Draw

Key Highlights:

• Overview
• Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
• Federal Express Entry System
• Alberta’s Express Entry Stream
• AINP 2020

Express Entry-aligned Alberta PNP draw invited 200 candidates in the latest round held on 10 February 2021. The minimum CRS cutoff score was 301 points.

The minimum score dropped about 60 points since the previous invitation round.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The latest AINP draw invited a total of 200 Express Entry candidates. These candidates only needed a CRS score of 301 points to apply.

All candidates needed to have an Express Entry profile to receive an invitation to this Alberta’s provincial nominee program.

Federal Express Entry System

Express Entry is the application management system of Canada for three Federal High Skilled immigration streams. It includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

All Express Entry immigration candidates in the pool receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on several factors that help the government determine success in the local labour market.

Apart from the applicant’s age, education, and work experience, these factors include language abilities of the candidate in English and/or French. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds a couple of Express Entry draws each month.

Highest-scoring applicants receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for immigration to Canada. Approved candidates are given a Confirmation of Permanent Residence, which is the final step for them to land in Canada.

Additional 600 CRS points are awarded to all candidates receiving a provincial nomination through the AINP. 

Alberta’s Express Entry Stream

Express Entry candidates have an opportunity to receive an invitation to apply through AINP. However, for now, Alberta is only considering candidates already living and working within the province during the pandemic.

All selected candidates are required to have work experience in an eligible occupation. AINP provides a list of occupations that will not be considered in this draw.

AINP 2020

The year 2020 saw AINP issue 6,250 provincial nominations. Alberta reduced their allocation to 4,000 subsequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic by June 2020. There were no draws in the second half of last year.

AINP has not yet disclosed the allocation of provincial nominations for the year 2021.