CRS score drops in the new Alberta PNP Draw

The province of Alberta was inactive for the entire second half of 2020, it has finally started conducting regular AINP draws. Alberta has reduced the Comprehensive System Score requirement in the newest Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program Draw. The province has invited nearly 200 Express Entry candidates with a comprehensive ranking system score of 301 or higher. This score is 60 points lower than the score of the previous AINP draw.

Alberta nominates candidates through the following streams:

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Alberta Opportunity Stream
Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream

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 support 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. In November, the Canadian government increased the count of occupations that do not qualify to get a Labor Market Impact Assessment. Nonetheless, immigration candidates who have already received Notifications of Interest on or after 1st November 2020 are eligible for selection under the Express Entry stream of AINP, even if they work in an occupation that is not eligible for an LMIA now. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alberta issued only 4,000 nominations in 2020 despite having an allocation of 6,250 nomination certificates. The number of allocations that the federal government set for Alberta for 2021 is yet to be disclosed.