Age is an important factor in immigration through Express Entry and some applicants are penalized for their age. Here are several strategies you can adopt to maximize your Express Entry CRS score as an applicant who is over the age of 30.
Express Entry is the largest source of immigration into Canada.
When applicants apply to immigrate to this country via Express Entry, eligible Express Entry applicants are scored through a point-allocation grid called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Introduction to Express Entry and CRS
The CRS is a point grid used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to rank Canadian immigration candidates out of three programs contained within the Express Entry System Application Management System – Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal apply through any Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The CRS begins by assessing what the Canadian government refers to as the “key human capital factor”, which includes the following characteristics: age, education, first language ability (English or French), second language ability (English or French). ) and Canadian work experience.
For these purposes, we’ll focus on the first item in the list above, age.
Canada’s CRS system assigns the highest age scores to Express Entry applicants aged 20–29 (100). If you are 30 years of age or older, the marks you get in the age group will progressively decrease every year (95 marks for 30-year-old applicants, 90 for 31-year-olds, and so forth). Applicants who are 45 years of age or above get 0 marks in the age group under CRS.
Thankfully, just being 30 or over doesn’t mean an applicant’s hopes of express entry are gone with the wind. There are several ways that potential Express Entry applicants can maximize their CRS scores if they are applying at or after age 30.
Strategy 1: Achieve provincial enrollment through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
One way for applicants to increase their CRS score is to enroll through any of Canada’s Advanced Provincial Enrolled Program streams that are linked to Express Entry. In fact, a provincial enrollment through a PNP is the single best way to maximize CRS scores and receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency because applicants receiving nominations prior to applying through Express Entry may get an additional 600 marks.
PNPs exist in all Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) as a tool for each individual territory to designate permanent residency candidates who are interested in settling in a particular region within Canada. Huh.
Designed to spread the benefits of immigration across Canada—particularly because Canadian immigration has historically been disproportionate from Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec—there are currently more than 80 nationwide for potential Canadian immigrants in Canada’s 11 PNPs. PnP streams are available.
If an Express Entry candidate applies to PNP and receives an invitation to apply, applies and receives a Provincial Enrollment Certificate, they can proceed to upload their certificate to their Express Entry profile. and can get 600 available CRS marks. Again, this would practically guarantee that they would receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Strategy 2: Getting a Job Offer
Another way an applicant can maximize their CRS score is by applying through Express Entry while making a valid job offer that is in writing and details all job requirements, including salary, duties, and conditions of employment. gives. In fact, this strategy is one of the best ways to boost an applicant’s CRS score as a candidate with a valid offer of employment can score an additional 50 or 200 CRS points depending on the position.
Strategy 3: Evaluation of work experience
Work experience can help improve an applicant’s CRS score in several different ways. First, simply gaining additional work experience can help an applicant improve his or her score. In addition, a lot can be done to help applicants by better expressing current work experience.
Strategy 4: Improve language ability
Language ability is another important element of the CRS score which falls under the category of “key human capital factor”. As mentioned above, language as a large category is divided into first language ability and second language ability to test the applicant’s proficiency in English and French. This component of an applicant’s CRS score can add up to a significant number of points, making it an essential part of any Express Entry application.
The language – divided into proficiency in writing, reading, speaking and listening – can earn a single applicant between 128 and 136 points (depending on the status of the spouse/partner, but more on that later).
Additionally, the language category is valuable for maximizing CRS scores because of its ability to calculate scores across multiple sections. More specifically, language as an individual element of the CRS can be counted for scores within the following four large categories: human capital factor; Spouse factors (if applicable); Skill transferability and “additional factors”.
In addition, language can also be combined with other factors such as education to further improve an applicant’s CRS score.
Example 1: One or more years of post-secondary program credential + a first language in one or more abilities An applicant with the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 (and an ability in CLB 9) may earn an applicant 13 CRS points
Example 2: An applicant with two or more post-secondary program credentials (one at least 3 years long) + CLB 9 or higher in all first language abilities may earn 50 CRS points
Strategy 5: Strengthening academic credentials
Education, another element of the “key human capital factors”, can count between 200 and 250 CRS score points, depending on whether the applicant obtained their credential (inside or outside Canada). Therefore, earning additional credentials such as another degree or obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for an existing degree can help applicants maximize their Express Entry CRS scores.
Strategy 6: Consider using a spouse/partner as the main applicant (if applicable)
In some cases, Express Entry applicants may find that their spouse or common law partner has a better CRS score. In situations like this, it may be appropriate to consider swapping the main applicant and dependent spouse or common law partner.