Last Updated On 7 June 2024, 10:08 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Express Entry (EE) is the most expeditious and widely used method of relocating to Canada, with a processing time of less than 6 months.

More than 100,000 skilled workers apply annually through this stream to obtain permanent residency (PR) in Canada.

Nevertheless, EE is also one of the most competitive systems, especially with the introduction of category-based selections in 2023.

In general, only candidates with high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores receive invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residency (PR).

Therefore, if you have created your Express Entry profile or are thinking of creating one, but your CRS score is lower than the prevailing cutoffs, it is wise to work on improving the score.

This article provides a comprehensive list of the most effective methods for enhancing your CRS score.

Have you claimed all of the points for which you are eligible?

To begin, it is imperative that you check if you have claimed all the points that can contribute to your score.

Make sure you have included all the relevant factors from the list below that pertain to your situation.

Siblings in Canada: If you or your spouse have a sibling or sister who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you are eligible to receive 15 additional points.

Furthermore, this connection may take place through adoption, marriage, or a common-law partnership.

Canadian Education: This criterion can help you increase your CRS score for all the programs run under the Express Entry system.

Therefore, if you are attempting to immigrate under these streams, you are not required to submit an educational credential assessment if you have finished a Canadian education.

It is important to keep in mind that the education factor is worth 140 points for individuals and 150 for married/common-law partners.

Second language: The CRS allows you to claim marks for both English and French.

Therefore, we recommend taking an approved language test in each language if you are proficient in both. This will result in an increase in your grade.

5 Strategies for Enhancing Your Express Entry CRS Score

After you have claimed all eligible points, the following is a method by which you can improve your score:

1. Take the first language test again

If you have the opportunity to improve your language proficiency score, you should retake the test with some additional preparation this time.

One of the most critical components of the CRS is language proficiency, which can get you a maximum of 150 points.

Therefore, allocate additional time to enhance your language skills and retry the examination. This will elevate your overall score.

2. Acquire proficiency in French

This is not only the most valuable method of enhancing the CRS score, but it can also make your PR journey much easier via French-targeted EE draws.

While your profile is in the Express Entry system pool, you should work towards advancing your French language skills.

Strong French language abilities can earn you up to 50 additional points, regardless of whether French is your second language.

Additionally, proficiency in French will facilitate your employment search upon arrival in Canada.

3. Qualifying for a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

Provincial nomination provides an additional 600 points to your Express Entry profile.

You can either specify the province in which your skill is in high demand or register for a PNP separately.

Applying through a PNP indicates that you are halfway to achieving the optimal CRS score of 1200.

It is essential to determine the province in which you are interested.

The eligibility criteria and requirements of each province are distinct so either do your research thoroughly or take the help of a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

4. Complete an additional educational program

Including an additional program can significantly improve your score.

For instance, if you possess a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to enroll in an eight-month program.

Consequently, you will receive a greater number of points for the skill transferability factors.

However, if you are eligible, it is always advisable to create an express entry profile and focus on improving your CRS scores once the profile is active since it stays valid for 12 months.

5. Create Your Profile with or without a spouse/common-law partner

It is up to you to select whether your spouse/common-law partner will accompany you as a permanent resident or not.

Your partner’s abilities can get you a maximum of 40 points, but you need to determine whether their abilities actually meet the requirements.

You can try playing around with the CRS calculator to see if your overall CRS score is increasing or decreasing with the addition of your partner.

Based on this, you can create a profile without your spouse if their abilities are reducing your CRS score.

Otherwise, it is always recommended to include your spouse if they have a neutral to positive effect on your overall score.

Jump Back to Top

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website