Does it make sense to apply for Express Entry if you are over 35?

Some Canadian immigrants discouraged from applying. Express EntryAfter the age of 35.

This is due in large part to the points they lost on their  Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

The Express Entry application system uses the CRS in order to rank and order eligible Express Entry applicants based on their human factors before they can receive a visa. Invite to ApplyThe Canadian Permanent Residence (ITA) is a document that allows you to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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In addition to age, the CRS considers a candidate’s language ability, education, work experience and occupation.

What impact can age have on your CRS score?

The reason that many prospective Canadian immigrants are deterred from exploring Express Entry as a pathway to Canadian PR is because IRCC’s CRS deducts points for every year an applicant is beyond the age of 29.

The table below shows the maximum CRS points that candidates can earn based on their age.

Express Entry Success: Best Practices to Maximize Your Chances

Three strategies can help older potential immigrants improve their chances of receiving a Express Entry ITA.

Review eligibility for Category-Based Selection Draws

Candidates who are worried about obtaining a good CRS score may want to consider pursuing a ITA via IRCC. Draws based on categories.

As can be seen by the distribution of scores for CRS this year, category-based draws enable eligible candidates to benefit a lower CRS cutoff requirement.

In 2024, no general or program-specific draw has had a CRS minimum/cutoff score below 524. On the other hand, IRCC’s CRS cut-off for category-based draws has been at least 33 points lower in every 2024 draw.

In other words, older Express Entry applicants may not need to worry about the impact of their age on their CRS scores if they are able to pursue an Express Entry ITA via category-based draws.

Add spouse to Express Entry Application (if eligible).

Express Entry applicants with a spouse eligible for Express Entry should consider adding them to the application. The CRS will reward candidates with extra points if they submit their application along with their spouse.

In fact, IRCC has a category in its CRS that is dedicated to “spouse or common-law partner factors”.

This category rewards candidates up to an additional 40 CRS Points, which are divided into three categories.

• Maximum of 10 additional CRS points for spouse/partner’s education
• Maximum of 20 additional CRS points for spouse/partner’s official language proficiency
• Maximum of 10 additional CRS points for spouse/partner’s Canadian work experience

If two eligible candidates are in a qualifying relation, then they may be eligible for Express entry. The candidate with the highest potential CRS score is the primary candidate on the Express Entry profile that is submitted to IRCC.

Improve your language skills

IRCC rewards candidates for having language abilities above a program’s minimum requirements. Even if the candidate only needs a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the candidate will be rewarded should they obtain a higher level – up to CLB 10.

Specifically, for each of the four tested language skills* under first official language proficiency, a CLB 7 would earn a single (without a spouse or common-law partner) primary applicant 16 CRS points. A CLB 10, on the other hand, would earn that same candidate 32 points.

*IRCC’s four tested language skills are reading, writing, speaking and listening

A candidate can earn 3 CRS (per skill) points for second language proficiency at CLB levels 7 or 8, but a score CLB 9 or above would earn 6 points per skill.

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