Canada point based immigration system has gained international acclaim for its effectiveness in attracting skilled individuals who can contribute to the country’s economy and society. The immigration system’s primary goal is to select immigrants based on their potential to thrive and succeed in Canada. This approach ensures that newcomers can make a meaningful contribution to the nation while fostering their own personal and professional growth.
What Is The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?
The Comprehensive Ranking System is a points-based system used by the Canadian government to evaluate and rank candidates who apply for certain immigration programs, such as the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Under the CRS, candidates are assigned scores based on various factors, including age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. These scores are used to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. Periodically, the Canadian government conducts draws from this pool and invites candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residency.
Factors Affecting The CRS Score:
CRS assigns scores to candidates based on a number of factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency and so on. Each of these factors reflect a key aspect of an individual’s profile. The following are the factors affecting CRS scores:
Age: Age plays an important role in CRS scores. The younger the candidate, the higher the CRS scores assigned to the applicant. It is believed that younger candidates can contribute more to the Canadian economy over the long term. Candidates between the age group of 20–29 are awarded the highest scores. The points start to decrease for candidates who are younger than 20 or older than 29 and once an applicant crosses the age of 45 years, they do not receive any points for age.
Education: Your level of education is a critical factor in assessing CRS scores. Having a higher level of education can significantly boost CRS scores. All education must be assessed and recognized by a designated organization that does the Education Credit Assessment (ECA), recognized by the IRCC. The CRS break-up of points based on education can be explained as follows:
| Lesser than Secondary School/ High School Education | 0 points |
| Secondary / High School Education | 28 points |
Post-Secondary Education:
| 1 or 2 years Post-Secondary program | 84 points |
| 3 years Post-Secondary program (Bachelor’s degree equivalent) | 91 points |
| Master’s degree or equivalent | 105 points |
| Doctoral degree or equivalent | 112 points |
Work Experience
Work experience is a crucial factor in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The system awards points to both Canadian as well as foreign work experience, depending on the number of years of experience a candidate has. It’s important to note that to be eligible for CRS points for work experience, your work must be in a skilled occupation as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Skilled work experience generally means that your job duties and responsibilities align with the skill level required for NOC skill types 0 (management occupations), A (professional occupations), or B (technical occupations and skilled trades).
Additionally, the work experience you claim must be verifiable and supported by appropriate documentation, including reference letters from employers and pay stubs. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how the work experience (both Canadian and abroad) affects the CRS scores:
Canadian Work Experience
- 1 year – 40 points
- 2 years – 53 points
Foreign Work Experience
- 1 year – 40 points
- 2 years – 53 points
- 3 years – 64 points
- 4 years – 72 points
- 5 years – 80 points
Language Proficiency
Proficiency in English and/or French is an essential factor affecting CRS scores. Language proficiency is assessed through standardized language tests, such as the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) for English and the TEF (Test d’Évaluation de Français) for French. Here’s how language proficiency affects CRS scores:
Language Proficiency in English
- Maximum Points for the Principal Applicant (out of 1360 points): 136 points
- Maximum Points for a Spouse or Common-law Partner (if applicable, out of 1360 points): 40 points
The points awarded for language proficiency in English are distributed based on your scores in four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
- Maximum Points per Skill: 34 points
- Minimum Points per Skill (for CLB 5 or NCLC 5): 6 points
Language Proficiency in French
- Maximum Points for the Principal Applicant (out of 1360 points): 136 points
- Maximum Points for a Spouse or Common-law Partner (if applicable, out of 1360 points): 40 points
Similar to English, the points awarded for language proficiency in French are distributed based on your scores in four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
- Maximum Points per Skill: 34 points
- Minimum Points per Skill (for CLB 5 or NCLC 5): 6 points
Spouse/ Common law partner’s profile: The CRS takes into account various factors related to your spouse/ partner, such as language proficiency, Canadian work experience, skills transferability, age and so on. A spouse/ partner can contribute to as much as:
- Language Proficiency – 20 points
- Education – 10 points
- Canadian Work Experience – 10 points
- Transferability – 20 points
- Age – 10 points
It’s important to note that if you are applying as a couple (i.e., both you and your spouse or partner are included in the Express Entry application), the CRS score is based on the combination of both of your factors. This means that the language proficiency, education, work experience, and other relevant factors of both the principal applicant and their spouse or partner are considered.
Having a spouse or common-law partner with strong language skills and relevant education and work experience can significantly boost your overall CRS score and improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada through the Express Entry system.
Enhancing CRS Scores:
Candidates looking to improve their CRS scores can take several strategic steps like:
- Improving language proficiency in English and French
- Obtaining higher education in Canada
- Accumulating more skilled work experience
- Obtaining a provincial nomination through Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Benefits and Criticisms of The Canada Point Based Immigration System
Benefits:
- Economic Contribution: The system attracts individuals with skills and experience that directly contribute to Canada’s economic growth and innovation.
- Transparency: Canada point based immigration system is transparent, ensuring that candidates understand how they are evaluated and ranked.
- Flexibility: The system considers a broad range of factors, allowing candidates with varying strengths to apply.
Criticisms:
- Competition: The high demand for immigration to Canada often results in intense competition, making it challenging for certain candidates to secure an invitation.
- Inflexibility: The system might not fully account for certain factors like exceptional talent or unique contributions that candidates could bring.
In conclusion, navigating Canada point based immigration system can be a tricky journey, with various factors to consider, points to accumulate, and ever-evolving requirements. However, you don’t have to embark on this complex journey alone. Visa Ethics, under the guidance of experienced Immigration lawyer Dr. Khushwinder Singh, is here to be your compass in this process. With his in-depth knowledge of the Canadian immigration system, he can help you strategically navigate the CRS system, optimize your profile, and help you gain your Permanent Residency (PR) in a smooth and effective manner. Let Visa Ethics be your trusted partner for personalized guidance and a smoother PR journey to Canada.