Alberta Issues 293 Invitations in Recent PNP Draw

Canada aims to increase the number of newcomers this year after suffering immigration losses in 2020 due to the pandemic. The Canadian provinces are hence inviting more skilled candidates in 2021 to fill their labor gaps and meet the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) goals. 

The PNP is one of the most accessible immigration pathways in Canada for skilled immigrants who want to settle in Canada permanently. It allows provinces and territories to explore the Express Entry pool and select the most suitable candidates to fill the labor gaps in their respective markets. 

Details of the draw

The province of Alberta held its most recent draw on October 12 under the PNP. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) draw issued a total of 293 invitations to eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool. The minimum score cutoff for candidates to receive invitations in this draw was 300. All the candidates who were invited in the October 12 can apply for a provincial nomination. 

While the invitation is not a guarantee that they will get the provincial nomination, they do have a good chance of becoming a provincial nominee if they meet all the eligibility requirements. Provincial nominations can be highly beneficial for candidates because they reward candidates with 600 extra CRS points automatically. 

Alberta has issued 5,910 invitations to eligible Express Entry candidates so far in 2021. If you are interested in qualifying for a provincial nomination via the Alberta Express Entry stream, you must have work experience in any of the eligible occupations. The AINP has created a list of the occupations that are not eligible so you can check your eligibility.