Improving your language proficiency could be the key to unlocking Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry, especially when other factors like arranged employment are not in your favor. Maple News reports that candidates can earn up to 310 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points just from language-related components, including core human capital, skill transferability, and additional points for French proficiency.
In today’s competitive immigration landscape, every point counts. While securing a job offer may be difficult, maximizing your language test scores is entirely within your control. English and French language tests—such as CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF—offer unlimited retake opportunities. As candidates improve their test scores, their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) significantly increase.
For example, consider Amy, a 30-year-old applicant with a bachelor’s degree from Canada, five years of Canadian work experience, and three years of foreign experience. Initially, her CRS score was 515 with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8. After a few months of studying, she improved her English to CLB 9, increasing her CRS score to 559—making her eligible in recent draws where cut-offs were 527, 521, and 547.
Amy’s 44-point jump came primarily from improvements in core language proficiency (32 points) and skill transferability linked to education (12 points). This example illustrates how even a single CLB level upgrade can shift a candidate from ineligible to well above the cutoff.
Moreover, proficiency in French opens additional doors. High French scores can qualify you for category-based draws that saw some of the lowest CRS cut-offs in both 2024 and 2025, making bilingual ability a powerful strategic asset.
To boost your score, Maple News recommends focusing on daily study routines and immersive environments—particularly beneficial if you’re targeting French. Real-world practice through conversation groups or book clubs provides the practical use that online flashcards can’t mimic. Practice tests and readily-available online resources also offer crucial preparation both in skill development and test strategy.
Overall, while arranged employment can be an impactful CRS factor, it’s not the only path forward. Candidates who invest in building their language capacity can open multiple doors to permanent residency, sometimes with significantly lower CRS cut-offs.
Language may be your passport to success in Canada—start mastering it today.