- 1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
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1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
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Express Entry: How to Improve Your CRS Score
This comprehensive guide from THE MILLEENIUM IMMIGRATION provides everything you need to know about improving your Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
There are two major ways to enhance your CRS score and increase your chances of immigrating to Canada: perfecting your Express Entry profile and proactively preparing for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or Provincial Nomination. Scroll down to learn more.
How to Improve Your CRS Score
- Language
- Education
- Spouse/Partner as a Principal Applicant
- Work Experience
- Proactively Prepare for an ITA or Provincial Nomination
- Contact Us for Assistance
- Perfect Your Profile
Representing yourself accurately in your Express Entry profile is crucial. Not only can it earn you extra CRS points, but misrepresentation can lead to serious penalties.
The first thing to keep in mind is that the credentials required to enter the Express Entry pool may not be the same as those that will maximize your CRS score.
Language
Language is a valuable factor within the CRS and can be worth up to 310 CRS points when combined with other factors (such as post-secondary education). This can increase to 320 points if the applicant is married or in a common-law relationship.
Language is an area where you can often improve your score because you can gain points for exceeding the minimum requirements. For example, the Federal Skilled Worker program requires only CLB 7 in all abilities, but achieving higher scores can earn additional points.
Language also contributes to points in several CRS sections:
- Within human capital factors
- Within spousal factors (if applicable)
- Within skill-transferability combinations
- Within additional factors
For example, a CLB of 9 or higher in all four abilities—reading, speaking, writing, and listening—can earn you up to 50 points. Even one ability below CLB 9 could limit your potential points, while improving a single ability could result in a significant score increase.
Education
Education can account for up to 200 CRS points for credentials obtained outside Canada and up to 250 points for Canadian post-secondary credentials. You can enhance your initial education score by completing additional degrees or obtaining Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) for existing degrees.
An ECA is necessary for obtaining CRS points for education acquired outside Canada. For Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates educated outside Canada, only one ECA is required to enter the pool. Candidates in the Federal Skilled Trades Class or the Canadian Experience Class do not need an ECA to enter Express Entry.
Spouse or Common-law Partner as Principal Applicant
If you have a spouse or common-law partner, it may be beneficial to compare your CRS scores as principal applicants. Sometimes, the main applicant’s CRS score may be lower than that of their partner, making it advisable for the spouse or common-law partner to be the principal applicant.
Work Experience
Gaining additional work experience or better documenting your current work experience can help increase your CRS score. Some candidates with seemingly unskilled job titles may actually have performed skilled duties as defined by Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Evaluating your job duties against the NOC’s classifications can clarify whether your work qualifies as skilled. Points are awarded for full-time or equivalent part-time work experience.
Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates must have at least one year of continuous, skilled work experience to enter the pool, but non-continuous work experience can also contribute to CRS points.
Job Offers
Candidates with valid job offers can earn an additional 50 or 200 CRS points depending on the position. Those with a job offer in a NOC 0, A, or B level occupation may receive 50 additional points, while a valid offer in a Major Group 00 Senior Management position can result in 200 extra points.
IRCC specifies that a job offer must be in writing, detailing the job requirements, pay/deductions, job duties, and conditions of employment.
Work Experience and Provincial Nominee Programs
Accurate documentation of your work experience can also make you eligible for a nomination by one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Express Entry candidates nominated by a province receive an additional 600 points toward their CRS score.
Provinces often seek candidates with specific work experience that may not seem relevant to your principal occupation but could still enhance your candidacy.
| Nova Scotia’s Demand: Express Entry | |
|---|---|
| Does it consider your CRS score? | NO |
| Is it open to specific occupations? | YES |
| What is the selection system? | Its own, unique, eligibility and points-system |
| Does Nova Scotia provide advance notice of when the next time the program opens up and you can submit your application? | 1 DAY |
| How long does it take for the intake threshold to reach its capacity? | LESS THAN A DAY |
Regardless of your CRS score, everyone in the Express Entry pool should proactively prepare for an ITA or provincial nomination.
You might have a CRS score of just 299, but a provincial nomination could boost your score by 600 points, making an ITA in the next Express Entry invitation round almost guaranteed.
Candidates have only 60 days to submit their complete application after receiving an ITA, and several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow even less time. Having documents prepared in advance means you can hit the ground running as soon as you’re invited.
Express Entry Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Among these are several programs that:
- Do not consider a candidate’s CRS score among their eligibility requirements.
- Are open to candidates with no ties to Canada, such as relatives, job offers, or previous Canadian work or study.
These PNPs can be incredibly valuable to Express Entry candidates and are thus extremely popular.
Some operate on a first-come, first-served basis and may reach their intake quotas within a day of opening, making proactive preparation essential for a successful application.
A popular example of a first-come, first-served PNP stream is the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry.
The stream does not consider a candidate’s CRS score and has a unique points system along with a list of eligible occupations.
Nova Scotia provides little notice, and the application intake threshold is often reached just hours after opening.
Given this small application window, many applicants prepare well in advance in anticipation of these streams reopening.
There is an element of risk in preparing in advance, as PNP requirements and eligibility criteria can change without notice.
However, the silver lining is that many of the documents required by PNPs are also needed for pursuing an Express Entry ITA.
Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream
Another PNP that may reward proactive candidates is Ontario’s popular Express Entry-linked Human Capital Priorities Stream.
This stream follows a passive model, allowing Ontario to search the Express Entry pool and select candidates with a CRS score above 400 who possess specific skills that match the province’s labor needs. It’s worth noting that Ontario has previously waived the 400 CRS point requirement for IT professionals.
Express Entry candidates who receive an invitation through the Human Capital Priorities Stream must submit their application within 45 days, which can be a tight timeline for gathering all required documents.
In addition to collecting documents, Ontario advises Express Entry candidates interested in the Human Capital Priorities Stream to create a new profile in the Express Entry system. This makes it easier for Ontario to identify candidates’ profiles when searching the pool.
As with the Nova Scotia Express Entry stream mentioned earlier, candidates interested in the Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream should stay informed about new developments and take proactive steps when opportunities arise.
Other Express Entry-Linked PNPs
The provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island have also introduced streams where eligible Express Entry candidates can proactively submit profiles to the provinces, which then rank candidates within their own pools and ranking systems.
The Province of New Brunswick has also opened its Express Entry Labour Market Stream for limited periods, targeting both IT professionals and others.
One common factor among these various PNPs is that they reward proactive, informed candidates.
PNPs will continue to play a significant role in economic immigration to Canada, with increasing admission targets each year. So, keep an eye on PNPs and start preparing those documents!
Contact us for Assistance
THE MILLEENIUM IMMIGRATION is a leading Canadian immigration law firm with over 11 years of experience. THE MILLEENIUM IMMIGRATION has a team of over 60 immigration lawyers, paralegals, and other professionals.THE MILLEENIUM IMMIGRATION has developed significant expertise in Express Entry since it was launched in 2013. To benefit from our expertise, please complete the form below so we can help you improve your CRS score.