CRS score requirement is only 360 in Alberta’s new draw

The Comprehensive Ranking System score requirement has gone down in the second Provincial Nominee Program draw held by Alberta. The province has conducted another draw in January after being inactive for several months. It has issued 100 invitations in the latest AINP (Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program) draw with the CRS score requirement of 360 only. The 100 candidates invited belonged to the Express Entry Stream of the AlNP. Immigration candidates have to apply to the federal government’s Express Entry System first in order to become eligible for the AINP’s Express Entry Stream.

What you need to know about the AlNP

The western province of Canada, Alberta has its own nominee program – Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. Through this immigrant program, the province invites skilled candidates who are required as per the province’s labor market needs.

Candidates get selected through the following streams of the AINP:

Alberta Express Entry Stream;

Alberta Opportunity Stream; and

Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream.

Alberta typically invites candidates through the Alberta Express Entry Stream in most of the draws that it conducts.

AINP: Express Entry Stream

Express Entry candidates can apply to the AINP’s Express Entry Stream if they have work experience in one of the eligible occupations that can help the province in economic development. Alberta has a separate list of occupations that will not be considered by the province. So, if you have work experience in any of those occupations, you might not be eligible to apply for Alberta’s provincial nomination.

Why Alberta did not conduct any draw for 7 months?

In 2020, the allocation provided to Alberta by the federal government was 6,250. So, the province could issue only these many nomination certificates to candidates. However, due to the growing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, Alberta had to reduce its allocation to 4,000. And therefore, the province could not conduct any PNP draw in the second half of 2020. After being inactive for such a long period, the western province has finally started conducting regular AINP draws.