Canadian immigration: How to improve your Express Entry CRS score

August 24, 2022 Abraham Smith

A CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score is the most influential factor in obtaining an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada through the Express Entry system.

Simply put, candidates with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive an ITA. If you’re not sure if your CRS score is high enough, you can change a few factors to get a higher score.

The CRS was shaped by Canadian government studies of the outcomes of business-class immigrants. It takes this research into account and is designed to help predict a candidate’s potential for success in the Canadian job market.

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CRS components

The maximum CRS score a candidate can achieve is 1,200 points – 600 points under core, spouse and competency transferability components and 600 points under the additional point components.

An Express Entry candidate can earn a maximum of 600 points in the first four components, regardless of their relationship status. The only difference is that the points are split and distributed differently. For the purposes of this article, we will assume that the candidate does not have an accompanying spouse.

Within the additional points component, a candidate may receive points for a provincial nomination (600 points), arranged employment (50 or 200 points), Canadian post-secondary educational credentials (15 or 30 points), proficiency in French (25 or 50 points), or a sibling in Canada (15 points).

Candidates in the Express Entry pool are required to update their profile to reflect changes in circumstances that may affect their CRS score. Some updates are triggered automatically, e.g. B. on your birthday or when your language test results expire. For example, your score may increase if you update your profile with a valid job offer, get a higher score on your language proficiency test, or take an educational test for a foreign education.

Start checking your score

If you’re curious, you can check your unofficial score before applying for Express Entry. However, remember that only IRCC can tell you your actual score once you submit your receipts to the express entry system. Online calculators, including IRCCs, are only as good as the information you put in and will not necessarily represent your bottom line, and it’s important to be careful as some online CRS calculators are not accurate.

That being said, you can get a good idea of where your personal profile ranks you in the Express Entry system. Once you know that, you can decide if you need to improve your score and how you want to do it.

If you are not confident that your CRS score is high enough to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), there are a few ways to increase it.

Apply early

Age is one of the more influential factors in the system. If you apply while you are between the ages of 20 and 29, you will automatically receive 110 CRS points. After that, the number of points for age gradually decreases, up to 45, i.e. 0 points. It’s important to note that once you exceed 30, the system will automatically start deducting points. Applying early is one of the easiest ways to maximize your score.

Improve your language rating

Language skills are also a crucial factor. Candidates are assessed on four skills: reading, speaking, listening and writing. Each skill receives a separate Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). You need a CLB 4 to score points, and between CLB 6 and CLB 9 there is a big jump in each level. For example, increasing your score to CLB 7 already adds 8 more points to your score per skill. Candidates in the FSWP must have a minimum of CLB 7 in Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing to even be eligible for express registration.

If you can add knowledge of French, you can get up to 6 points for each skill in a second language. If French is your first language, you must achieve NCLC 7 or higher on all four French skills and CLB 4 or higher on all four English skills to earn the same point gain. With an NCLC 7 and CLB 5 you can earn up to 50 additional points.

Include your experience abroad

Work experience abroad alone does not add points to your CRS score. However, the more qualified work experience you have combined with a high CLB, the better. In fact, candidates under the federal skilled worker program already have at least one year of skilled work experience and a CLB of 7.

Nevertheless, more than one year of experience abroad in your training occupation can increase your CRS score. For example, a combination of one year of international experience and a CLB of 7 results in 13 points. If you have two years or more experience abroad, you can receive an additional 25 to 50 points.

The same rule applies if you have some work experience in Canada. One year of Canadian work experience combined with one year of foreign qualified work experience can earn an additional 13 CRS points and up to 50 points if you have more than two years each.

Gain Canadian work experience

Canadian work experience can give candidates up to 80 points depending on how many years of experience they have. Just one year of work experience in a qualified occupation in Canada is 40 points.

One of the most common ways to gain experience is through a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). After completing an educational program in Canada, PGWP holders can work in Canada for up to three years, depending on the length of their program, and use that experience toward a higher CRS score.

Get another ID

If the benefit outweighs the risk, acquiring an additional educational certificate can increase your score.

If you have already earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from a three-year or multi-year program, you will receive 112 credits. You can increase your score to 119 points by completing an additional year-long program and earning another certificate, diploma, or degree.

Do you have siblings in Canada?

If you have a sibling in Canada, you may be able to score an additional 15 points if they are a citizen or permanent resident.

PNP Advantage

Some provinces screen the Express Entry Pool for candidates who may be eligible for their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). They look for skilled immigrants who are well placed to contribute to the province’s workforce.

Earning a provincial nomination can increase your CRS by 600 points. This is the maximum increase of any single factor. If you receive a provincial nomination, you have a high probability of receiving an ITA.

Conclusion

A low CRS does not mean you will never receive an ITA. The minimum CRS score changes with each draw. Draws for Express Entry for all programs resumed on July 6 of this year. Over 1000 candidates were issued ITAs each time and the scores were not identical. It pays to submit your profile early and work on increasing your score while you wait for IRCC to issue you an invite. There is almost always a way to affect your score.