Did you know? Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) is planning to welcome 1.5 million newcomers between 2024 and 2026. That’s right! In the newly announced Immigration Levels Plan 2024-26, a total of 485,000 newcomers will be welcomed in 2024 alone, with 500,000 in 2025 and 2026 each. Out of all immigration pathways, Express Entry stands out as the top choice for applying for Canada PR. 110,000 admissions will be made under this program in 2024.
Individuals worldwide dream of living a high-quality life, getting free healthcare, and freedom to live anywhere in Canada. Getting permanent residency in Canada makes all of that possible. However, you will only be able to apply for permanent residency only if you check your eligibility for Canada PR and achieve the minimum score required. It will only take 60 seconds!
Six factors decide your eligibility for Canada PR
The Canada PR eligibility status is calculated based on the point measurement of every candidate. Six factors in total decide whether you qualify for permanent residency: Age, Language proficiency, Education, Work Experience, adaptability, and arranged employment.
You need to score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 on the assessment to be placed in the Express Entry pool.
The factors that determine your eligibility for Canada PR:
- Age
A maximum of 12 points are available for the age factor. If you fall under the age bracket of 18 and 35, you will get full points. But after 35, you lose one point each year until the age of 45 after which 0 points are given.
- Education
Candidates can get a maximum of 25 points if they have enough educational credentials. For a master’s or doctoral degree, you get max points. If you have a Canadian education, bravo! But if you possess a foreign education, getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is mandatory.
- Work Experience
The more, the merrier! You get a maximum of 15 points for more years of experience. The condition is that your occupation should be listed as Skill Type 0 or A or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) list.
- Language Proficiency
Your language skills in English, French, or both can give a significant boost to your score. A maximum of 24 points are awarded for English proficiency, and if you know French, 4 more points are added. You need to score 6 bands in the IELTS exam and the results should not be more than 2 years old.
- Adaptability
A maximum of 10 points are given for the adaptability factor. If you have previous work experience in a skilled occupation for at least one year, 10 points are awarded. If not, you can either get a job offer in Canada. Having close relatives or family members living in Canada, previous study in the country, previous Canadian work experience of your spouse, or CLB 4 or higher of your spouse or partner can also earn you points.
- Arranged Employment
A maximum of 10 points are awarded if you can get a job offer from a Canadian employer. The offer must be valid for at least one year though it is not a mandatory requirement.
Once you have 67 points out of 100, you will be placed in the Express Entry pool. The profiles of all candidates are ranked against each other using a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and assigned a score. If you have a low CRS score, your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw might be slim. But don’t worry as there are ways you can increase your CRS score and boost your chances of success.
How to increase your score to get an ITA?
Here are some ways you can boost your score to get an invitation to apply for Canada PR –
- Get a job offer
The best way to increase your score is to get a Canadian job offer. Now, there are a few ways to do it. Connect with hiring managers or professionals from your field on platforms like LinkedIn. Send them your resume and cover letter – including details about you, your work, and projects you have worked on.
- Take the IELTS exam again
Retake the language exams– for both English and French – if you did not get the required results in the first go. You can give these tests as many times as you like, but remember the cost will add up.
- Apply for a PNP
For a guaranteed ITA, obtain a provincial nomination. Many provinces are tied with the Express Entry pool and seek skilled immigrants who can contribute to their province. If you meet the unique criteria of a province, it will straightaway add 600 CRS points to your profile, which is more than the average CRS cut-off in the Express Entry draws.
- Obtain a provincial nomination
Many provinces and territories invite skilled immigrants from the larger Express Entry pool to fill the labor shortages and boost the local economy. You can apply for Canada PR through a PNP and boost your score.
- Assess the scores of your spouse
If your spouse is accompanying you to Canada, you must choose the principal applicant carefully. Check both of your scores and whoever has more, make them the principal applicant.
Moving to another country permanently can be daunting for sure. That’s why, you need to consult one of the best Canada immigration consultants in Hyderabad – Nationwide Visas. With more than 17 years in the immigration industry and helping thousands of individuals achieve their dream of moving to Canada, they are the best fit for visa, documentation, job finding, and post-settlement assistance.
Good Luck!