Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry system treats single and partnered applicants differently when calculating their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores — and the differences could significantly impact your eligibility and chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Express Entry is the application management system for three of Canada’s primary economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the system uses a points-based framework called the CRS to evaluate and rank applicants based on factors such as education, language proficiency, work experience, and age.
A key distinction in Express Entry scoring appears when applying as a couple. If an applicant is married or in a common-law relationship, their CRS score is calculated using a different scale than it would be for a single applicant. The Principal Applicant (PA) in a couple is eligible for slightly fewer base points in some areas — a total reduction of 40 points — but can regain those points through their partner’s qualifications. This allows the partner’s education, language skills, and Canadian work experience to directly contribute up to 40 points to the overall score.
The choice of which partner becomes the PA should be strategic. While both individuals must qualify for at least one Express Entry program, the partner with the stronger profile — meaning a higher potential CRS score — should typically be selected as the PA. This approach can help optimize the total score and improve chances of receiving an ITA.
To illustrate how this works, consider the example of Rajiv and Sonya, a married couple weighing their options. Rajiv is 29 years old, holds a master’s degree, has a CLB level 8 in English, and brings five years of work experience, four of which are from Canada. Sonya is 30, holds a bachelor’s degree, has a CLB 7, and has eight years of work experience, with six years in Canada. Depending on their selection of the PA, their CRS score could shift significantly — demonstrating the need for careful analysis.
Understanding how the CRS system adjusts for couples is essential for strategically navigating Canada’s Express Entry process. While being partnered slightly reduces the points available to the PA directly, it opens up a new pathway to earn those points through the accompanying spouse or common-law partner — offering couples a collaborative route to stronger applications.
Maple News recommends that couples considering Express Entry carefully evaluate both partners’ credentials and consult immigration professionals when possible to ensure they make the strongest application under Canada’s competitive points-based system.