Alberta PNP draw invites Express Entry candidates with CRS of at least 352

Shelby Thevenot
Published: March 3, 2021

Alberta has released the details of its February 16 draw.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program invited a total of 159 Express Entry candidates to apply for the Alberta Express Entry stream. Invited candidates only needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 352. These candidates can now apply for a provincial nomination, which will bump them to the top of the Express Entry pool.

All candidates invited in Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw had a profile in the Express Entry system.

Express Entry is Canada’s application management system for the three Federal High Skilled immigration pathways, which include the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

Find out if you’re eligible for Canadian immigration

Eligible immigration candidates are given a score based on the CRS. Points are awarded for factors that the government has determined will help a prospective immigrant succeed in Canada’s labour market. These factors include a candidate’s age, education, work experience, language ability in English or French, and others.

Canada's immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly holds Express Entry draws, inviting the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Those who receive the provincial nomination from Alberta will automatically get an additional 600 CRS points added to their overall score. That means the lowest-scoring candidates in this draw would get a new score of 952.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

This enhanced PNP is for Express Entry candidates who have strong ties to Alberta, or who can support the government's economic development and diversification priorities. During the pandemic, Alberta is only considering candidates who are already living and working in the province.

Candidates also need to have work experience in an eligible occupation. The AINP only provides a list of occupations that they will not consider. Any other occupation may be considered.

On November 1, 2020, the federal government increased the number of occupations that are not eligible to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in Alberta. However, candidates who received a Notification of Interest on or after November 1, 2020 can be selected through the Alberta Express Entry Stream, even if they are working in an occupation that the federal government will not process an LMIA for.

Alberta was allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates in 2020. However, due to COVID-19, Alberta reduced their allocation to 4,000 nominations. All of these nominations were issued by June 2020. This is why there were no draws for the second half of the year.

The number of provincial nominations allocated to Alberta for 2021 has not yet been released.

Find out if you’re eligible for Canadian immigration

© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
December 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people on the sky bridge located in Jasper, Alberta.
ANALYSIS: How many Express Entry ITAs can we expect to see in December?
A young woman crosses her fingers in anticipation and hope that she may receive some good news.
Canada holds first healthcare Express Entry draw since July
A scenic lake with a mountain in the background on a summer day
British Columbia and Alberta invite PNP candidates
Top Stories
Are you eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian immigration?
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Citizenship
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
A young woman sits at a table with books and a laptop.
How can I apply for Canadian citizenship?
A picture of a girl holding two Canadian flags
Here’s what you can expect during your virtual citizenship ceremony in Canada
A woman in a red blazer smiles while sitting in front of a laptop.
What’s the difference between Canadian permanent residency and Canadian citizenship?
A person with a packed bag stands on a road with the Canadian flag in front of them.
Link copied to clipboard