Introduction

Trying to figure out how to increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be: the right approach can help you boost your Express Entry draw chances in no time.

The CRS score is used by the Express Entry system in Canada to determine the eligibility of a potential immigrant to apply for permanent residence. It comes into play when you make an online profile. The higher your CRS score, the better chance you have at being selected in an Express Entry draw and getting invited to apply for permanent residence.

What’s more, there are a number of ways you can increase your CRS score without having to change who you are or what you have achieved in life. To help you on your journey, we’ve put together this guide that takes a look at some of the most effective strategies. This will help in  boosting your CRS score and increasing your chances of success with Express Entry draws.

What Is The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?

So, you’re ready to take the next step in your journey to Canada. The Express Entry system is your ticket—but it’s not as simple as just buying a ticket and hopping on the plane. Before you can be approved for immigration to Canada, you need to pass a certain threshold in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Just what is the CRS? Think of it as a points system that evaluates all potential immigrants based on their education qualifications, work experience, language proficiency and more. Each factor is given a weight, and these weights are added together to determine an overall CRS score. A higher CRS score means that you’re more likely to be accepted into Canada through Express Entry.

The CRS score is dynamic; as factors change—like if you take extra classes or get promoted at work—your score will go up or down accordingly. Since prospective immigrants are ranked relative to one another, it’s important to make sure your CRS score has maximum possible value in order to increase your chances of being accepted into Express Entry.

How Is a CRS Score Calculated?

So, if you want to boost your Express Entry draw chances, one way is to increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score—but how is it calculated? Well, the CRS score is based off of several factors that weigh in your eligibility for permanent residence in Canada.

Your CRS score considers:

• Core Human Capital Factors: age, level of education, language ability (English and/or French), and Canadian work experience
• Accompanying Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors: same factors as core human capital
• Skill Transferability Factors: additional points for education and work experience in combination with language ability
• Provincial Nomination Factors: positive factors for those with a provincial nomination from a participating province
• Additional Points Awarded for Arranged Employment or Canadian Studies: recognition of arranged employment or Canadian studies completed in Canada by the candidate

Comprising a total of 1,200 points out of 100 possible points, your CRS score is an important factor that indicates how likely you are to be invited to apply for permanent residence. By familiarizing yourself with the different components of your CRS score and increasing what you can control—like language proficiency and work experience—you can increase your chances of being invited to apply!

What Are Express Entry Draws and Why They Are Important?

Express Entry draws determine who gets invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence, so they are incredibly important if you want to immigrate to Canada. Each draw has a predetermined minimum cutoff score, and if your CRS score is above the cutoff – you get an invitation.

How draw selection works

The Express Entry pool functions as a ranking system based on Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. It looks at factors like age, language proficiency, work experience, education and more. When a new Express Entry draw takes place, the highest-ranking candidates will receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs). You rank higher if your points are higher—it’s that simple.

What you can do

Now that you know the basics about how Express Entry works, what can you do to increase your CRS score? You can increase your language proficiency levels (IELTS or French test), acquire a post-secondary credential or gain more work experience in Canada or abroad. All of these will make an impact on your CRS score and give you a better chance of receiving an ITA when the next round of Express Entry draws happen.

Tips to Increase CRS Score

When it comes to improving your CRS score, there are plenty of strategies you can use to up your ranking. Here are a few tips for boosting your Express Entry Draw chances:

Post-Secondary Education

One of the most important factors when it comes to getting a higher CRS score is having post-secondary education. The more education you have, the better your chances are of gaining points with the CRS system. Consider taking an online course or continuing your studies in Canada itself—both will help you boost your score.

Language Proficiency

Language proficiency is another way to increase your CRS score. The Canadian government requires immigrants to be proficient in either English or French and will test potential immigrants based on Canadian Language Benchmark scores. Get yourself on a language course to get your scores up, and if you’re already proficient, take a language test and get certified.

Climb the Job Ladder

Climb the job ladder by attempting to gain employment in Canada before applying for Express Entry. Increasing years of experience and boosting salary can make a huge difference to CRS scores and could see you reduce wait times for receiving an invitation for residency.

Professional Certifications

Gaining professional certifications can also improve your CRS score significantly, as it shows that you have the necessary qualifications relevant to existing industry standards in Canada. Professional certifications may take some time and money but they’ll definitely give a great advantage come draw time!

When Can You Receive an Invitation for Permanent Residency?

You may be wondering when you’re likely to receive an invitation for Permanent Residency (PR) through Express Entry. Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score greatly impacts your ability to receive an invitation. The higher your CRS score, the higher your chances will be of getting invited to apply for PR in Canada.

The lowest CRS score required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to receive an invitation changes depending on the draw and amount of applicants, but typically the cut-off is around 440 or higher. You can track these changes over time on the IRCC website. As a best practice, you should aim to achieve a CRS score of 450 or more.

So, how can you do that? Here are 3 key strategies that can help you boost your CRS score:

1. Increase your Education/Work Experience: Increasing your education or work experience are two surefire ways to increase your CRS score because they heavily impact both core factors and skill transferability factors under Express Entry’s selection framework.
2. Take a Language Test: A language proficiency test like IELTS or TEF can significantly increase your core factors and help make sure those skills are transferable from one country to another which will directly boost your CRS score.
3. Find a Canadian Job Offer: Landing a Canadian job offer is one of the most effective ways for boosting your CRS Score because it plays into both core factors and skill transferability points.

Frequently Asked Questions About CRS

Have you heard of CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System)? It’s an important factor for immigrate to Canada, and one of the key factors Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to rank eligible candidates for Express Entry. To get a higher score, here are some frequently asked questions about CRS:

What is CRS?

CRS stands for Comprehensive Ranking System and is used by IRCC to assess each candidate’s eligibility for immigration. The score you receive is based on your age, skill level, work experience, language ability, education level and more.

What are the components of CRS?

The components of the CRS include Core Human Capital Factors which focus on your work experience, age, education level and language skills as well as Additional Human Capital Factors which weigh points based on whether or not you have studied in Canada or have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. There are also Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors such as Language Proficiency scores and Education Levels if applicable.

How can I improve my CRS score?

There are several ways that you can increase your CRS score. One way is to attend language classes to improve your English or French language skills; this could help increase your score by up to 30 points depending on the level you achieve. Another way is by having a job offer from a Canadian employer; this can earn you up to 50 extra points in certain cases. Finally, gaining additional work experience in certain areas can also help boost your score significantly.

Conclusion  

Getting your CRS score up is essential to get into the Express Entry draw and get one step closer to Canada immigration. There are many ways to increase your score, from getting a higher qualification or language certification to earning points through additional work experience.

Many people have succeeded in getting the Express Entry selection through careful planning and execution. You can, too, with a well-executed strategy. It may take some time and effort, but it is worth it in the end. Plus, with online CRS score calculators and resources, you can stay on top of your points and be in the best possible position when the draw comes around.