What is CRS Score and How Does It Affect Your Canada Immigration?

Securing a Canadian Permanent residency is a dream for many immigrants, as Canada offers numerous economic and employment opportunities. Applying for Canadian immigration is done through many programs out of which the express entry program is one.

The CRS or comprehensive ranking system is a merit point-based system that is used by the government of Canada to rank the candidates in the Express entry pool and choose the highest-ranking candidate to receive an invitation to apply for Canadian PR.

The CRS is calculated on the basis of the candidate’s education, age, work experience, and other factors.

In this guide, we will explore the significance of the CRS score, methods for boosting it, and how this score can maximize one’s chances of successfully immigrating to Canada.

What is a CRS Score

The CRS is linked to the Canada Express Entry program, which manages applications for three main programs:

  • The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Candidates who want to immigrate through one of these programs, create an Express Entry program, where you are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score.

Significance of CRS Score

This score is crucial in determining your chances and eligibility for permanent residence in Canada. The total Comprehensive Ranking System score will be out of 1200, with 600 being the core points. 

A high score increases an individual’s chances of obtaining a permanent residency and ranks candidates applying for Canadian immigration.

CRS Score Criteria:

The CRS score which ranks you in the express entry pool, constitutes a total of 1200 points, which is made up of 600 core and 600 additional points.

The core points are calculated through factors such as skills transferability, spouse factors, skills and experience factors along educational skills.

The additional points include Canadian degrees or diplomas, a job offer, and siblings who are citizens or permanent residents in Canada. Additional: Up to 600 points.

Maximizing Your Chances of Securing Permanent Residency in Canada

Express entry is a pathway to migrate to Canada which is characterized by the CRS score that determines the fate of your PR application.

Boosting your score in the Express Entry system is crucial because it tends to affect your eligibility for Canadian Immigration and Permanent Residency directly. A higher score makes you more competitive in this pool, improving your prospects for achieving Canadian immigration.

Boosting Your CRS Score

Your CRS score is calculated through 6 factors, such as:

  • Educational qualifications
  • Age
  • work experience
  • employment in Canada
  • language proficiency
  • adaptability.

To boost your score, consider following the following methods:

Securing a Job Offer from a Canadian Company:

Having an eligible job offer from a Canadian company can boost your score up to 200 CRS, which can make it easier to qualify for Permanent residency. Try to connect with Canadian employers through networking sites as well as private job boards.

Obtaining a better IELTS score:

If your initial English proficiency test score is low, you can always increase it by effectively working on your mistakes and retaking the test. You need to score at least CLB 7 to be eligible for express entry under the FSWP. For this purpose, improving your IELTS score will enhance your CLB as well as your chances of increasing your score. You can take up IELTS as many times, and update your profile concerning it. 

Get marital or spousal points: 

Choosing the principal applicant wisely is crucial if you are applying for a joint express entry profile. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, you have three possibilities to enhance your score. Your spouse may get you more points by getting an Educational credential assessment (ECA)  for any post-secondary education they have, furthermore, there is a possibility that your score can get higher if you list your spouse as non accompanying, and join or sponsor them afterward. And lastly, your spouse can be the principal applicant and can boost your score. 

Significance of Work Experience:

Your work experience is a crucial aspect of enhancing your score. Express entry uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) that assigns points to all occupations, hence choosing the effective NOC code, with the help of a professional,  is one of the simplest ways to increase your score.

Apply Through the PNP:

Applying for Canada Immigration through the Provincial Nominee program, you can get an additional 600 score. This is the maximum possible score for additional factors, acquiring a Provincial nomination could compensate for your low score and can guarantee a PR. 

Applying for a work permit in Canada: 

Applying for a work permit, and with a year of work experience in Canada can add additional points to your score. Additionally, you can get skill transferability points as well as qualify for the CEC program under the express entry, if you have fluency in English or French and have foreign work experience. 

Consider Investing in educational certificates:

Investing in post-secondary certificates can have a big impact on your score, as Canadian educational credentials are highly valued in Express Entry, taking additional certificates can claim additional points for you, and increase your chances of qualifying for a PR.

Conclusion

In short, the CRS score is a determining factor in securing Permanent residency in Canada. If your overall score is less, it will affect your Canadian immigration process.

For this reason, it is crucial to take such measures and steps that boost your score and maximize your chances of immigrating smoothly to Canada.