Maple News reports that while turning 35 may slightly reduce your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, it doesn’t necessarily close the door on your Canadian immigration dreams through the Express Entry system.
Express Entry is Canada’s flagship program for managing applications for permanent residence under economic immigration streams, and it uses the CRS to evaluate and rank candidates based on factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. Although age is an important component, it is just one part of a much larger score.
Applicants between the ages of 20 and 29 receive the maximum CRS points for age. However, beginning at age 30, those points gradually decline, reaching zero by age 45. For instance, a 35-year-old applicant without a spouse receives 77 CRS points for age, while a 39-year-old receives 55 points.
Despite this, Maple News highlights that age-related point reductions can be offset by other strong factors like high English or French language proficiency, Canadian or international work experience, and post-secondary education credentials. Moreover, earning a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination or having a valid job offer in Canada can significantly boost your CRS score.
In fact, the rise of category-based Express Entry draws—targeting specific occupations and sectors such as healthcare, tech, and skilled trades—presents new opportunities. Candidates in these in-demand fields may receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) even with lower CRS scores.
To increase your chances of success, Maple News recommends three key strategies: focus on improving language test scores (IELTS or TEF), pursue additional academic certifications or credentials, and explore opportunities through PNPs or category-based selection draws tailored to your professional background.
Additionally, candidates over 35 often bring rich work histories, mature decision-making, and advanced skill sets that provinces and employers may value, especially in industries facing labor shortages.
Ultimately, age does impact CRS points, but it’s far from the only factor in your applications’ success. With proper planning and a targeted approach, candidates over 35 can still stand out in Canada’s competitive immigration system.