Welcome to this comprehensive guide that will equip you with all the essential information on enhancing your Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Improving your CRS score is crucial for increasing your chances of immigrating to Canada, and there are two primary methods to achieve this. First, we’ll delve into optimizing your Express Entry profile, and then we’ll explore proactive preparation for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or Provincial Nomination. Keep scrolling to discover more.

Perfect your Profile

Accurate representation of yourself in your Express Entry profile is of utmost importance. Not only does it have the potential to earn you additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but it also helps you avoid severe penalties for any misrepresentation.

It’s essential to note that the credentials needed to enter the Express Entry pool may differ from those that can maximize your CRS score. In other words, meeting the basic requirements for entry is not sufficient to achieve the highest possible CRS score. Further steps and improvements in your profile are necessary to boost your chances of success.

How to Improve your CRS Score

1. Language Proficiency:

• • Achieve high scores in language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF) for English and French. Higher language proficiency scores result in more CRS points.
  • Aim for CLB 9 or higher to maximize points for the first official language.

2. Education:

• • Obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm the equivalency of your foreign education to Canadian standards.
  • Pursue higher education, as higher levels of education lead to more CRS points.

3. Spouse/Partner as a Principal Applicant:

• • If your spouse or partner has a higher CRS score potential, consider having them as the principal applicant.
  • Ensure their language proficiency, education, and work experience are well-documented to maximize CRS points.

4. Work Experience:

• • Accumulate work experience in a skilled occupation, preferably in Canada, to gain additional CRS points.
  • Both Canadian and foreign work experience can contribute to your CRS score, so highlight all relevant experience.

5. Proactively Prepare for an ITA or Provincial Nomination:

• • Stay up-to-date with the latest Express Entry draws and CRS score trends to gauge your chances of receiving an ITA.
  • Improve your CRS score by retaking language tests, pursuing higher education, or gaining more work experience.
  • Explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and target provinces that align with your skills and qualifications.

6. Additional Factors:

• • Obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer, as it can significantly boost your CRS score.
  • Enhance your adaptability by securing a valid job offer, obtaining Canadian education, or having a close relative in Canada.

Language

Language proficiency is undoubtedly a crucial and valuable factor within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry. It holds the potential to earn applicants a substantial number of CRS points, especially when combined with other factors such as post-secondary education. Let’s explore how language proficiency can impact the CRS score:

1. Points Allocation for Language Proficiency:

• • Language proficiency, when combined with other factors, can be worth up to 310 CRS points for individual applicants.
  • For applicants who are married or in a common-law relationship, this value can rise even further, up to 320 CRS points.

2. Gaining Points Above Minimum Requirements:

• • While the Federal Skilled Worker program requires a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in all abilities, applicants can earn additional points by achieving higher language abilities.
  • For instance, achieving CLB 10 in all abilities can result in more CRS points.

3. Relevance in Multiple Sections of the CRS:

• • Language proficiency contributes to the CRS score in several sections:
    • Human Capital Factors: Language abilities play a significant role in determining human capital points.
    • Spousal Factors: If the applicant is married or in a common-law partnership, their spouse’s language proficiency can also add points to the CRS score.
    • Skill Transferability “Combinations”: Language proficiency is considered in combination with other factors to determine skill transferability points.
    • Additional Factors: Language abilities are further valued in the additional CRS points category.

The following table shows how language combined with another factor, in this case, education can be worth up to 50 points.

Education

Education is a crucial factor in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of Express Entry, and it can significantly impact an applicant’s CRS score. Here’s how education can affect your CRS points:

1. Points for Education Outside Canada:

• • If an applicant studied exclusively outside of Canada, their education can be worth up to 200 CRS points based on their educational qualifications.

2. Points for Canadian Post-Secondary Credential:

• • Applicants with a post-secondary credential from a recognized Canadian institution can earn up to 250 CRS points for their Canadian education.

3. Improving Education Score:

• • Applicants have several ways to improve their education score, such as: a. Obtaining Additional Credentials: Completing another degree or obtaining additional certifications can add more points to the CRS score. b. Obtaining Additional Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs): Earning ECAs for existing degrees obtained outside Canada can also increase CRS points.

4. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA):

• • An ECA is mandatory for evaluating education obtained outside of Canada to claim CRS points.
  • For Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates educated outside Canada, the principal applicant requires only one ECA to enter the Express Entry pool.

5. Exemption from ECA for Certain Classes:

• • Candidates in the Federal Skilled Trades Class or the Canadian Experience Class do not need an ECA to enter the Express Entry pool.

Spouse or Common-law Partner Might be a Better Principal Applicant

Considering whether a spouse or common-law partner should be the principal applicant in the Express Entry profile can be a strategic decision to maximize CRS scores. Here’s why:

1. Compare CRS Scores:

• • It is essential to compare the CRS scores of both partners as principal applicants.
  • There are instances where the accompanying partner might have a higher CRS score than the main applicant.

2. Optimal Principal Applicant:

• • If the accompanying partner’s CRS score is higher than that of the main applicant, it might be more advantageous to designate the partner as the principal applicant.
  • By doing so, the couple can maximize their CRS points and improve their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.

3. CRS Points from Skills and Education:

• • Factors like language proficiency, education, and work experience contribute significantly to the CRS score.
  • If the accompanying partner has superior language skills, a higher level of education, or more relevant work experience, it could boost their CRS score.

4. Consider Other Factors:

• • Other factors like adaptability and having a valid job offer in Canada can also influence the decision.
  • Weighing all aspects can help determine the most suitable principal applicant.

Work Experience

Work experience is a significant factor in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of Express Entry, and there are ways to increase your CRS score in this category:

1. Documenting Work Experience:

• • Better documentation of your current work experience or obtaining additional work experience can positively impact your CRS score.
  • Some candidates may have job titles that seem unskilled but have performed duties that are considered skilled under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC).

2. Matching Duties with NOC:

• • It’s crucial to go beyond job titles and compare the duties you performed with the duties listed in the NOC’s different occupations.
  • This comparison helps determine if your work is considered skilled or unskilled, potentially resulting in additional points for claimed skills.

3. Calculating Work Duration:

• • After selecting the right NOC for your work experience, the next step is calculating the time spent in each job.
  • Points are awarded based on full-time or equivalent part-time work experience.

4. Points for Work Experience:

• • Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates require at least one year of continuous, skilled work experience to enter the Express Entry pool.
  • However, even non-continuous work experience can count toward earning CRS points.

Job Offers

Having a valid job offer in Canada can significantly boost a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry system. Here’s how a valid job offer can impact the CRS points:

1. Job Offer in NOC 0, A, or B Level:

• • Candidates with a valid job offer in an occupation classified under NOC 0 (Managerial Occupations), A (Professional Occupations), or B (Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades) levels may earn 50 additional CRS points.

2. Job Offer in Major Group 00 – Senior Management:

• • Candidates with a valid job offer in an occupation classified under Major Group 00 – Senior Management Occupations may be awarded an impressive 200 additional CRS points.

3. Job Offer Requirements:

• • According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a valid job offer must be provided in writing and must include detailed job requirements, such as pay and deductions, job duties, and conditions of employment.

Proactively Prepare for an ITA or Provincial Nomination

Proactive preparation for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or Provincial Nomination is essential for all candidates in the Express Entry pool, regardless of their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Here’s why being prepared is crucial:

1. Potential for Substantial Score Increase:

• • Even with a modest CRS score, receiving a provincial nomination can significantly boost your CRS points by up to 600 points.
  • This substantial increase can make an ITA in the next Express Entry invitation round almost guaranteed.

2. Limited Time to Submit Application:

• • Candidates typically have only 60 days to submit their complete application after receiving an ITA.
  • Some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) may offer even less time for submission.

3. Preparedness is Key:

• • Having your documents prepared in advance allows you to respond promptly once you receive an ITA or provincial nomination.
  • This way, you can submit a complete and well-organized application without delays, increasing your chances of success.