Changing the principal applicant for your Express Entry application can greatly improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR). This is because the Express Entry system prioritizes candidates with higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, which are calculated based on factors like age, education, language skills, work experience, and ties to Canada. When applying as a couple, it's crucial to determine which partner has the stronger profile to increase your overall score and chances of success.
In an Express Entry application, one partner is designated as the principal applicant, while the other becomes the secondary applicant. The principal applicant's qualifications play the most significant role in determining the CRS score. Although both partners’ education, language skills, and Canadian work experience contribute to the overall score, the principal applicant earns points for factors like age, foreign work experience, and French language proficiency. This makes the selection of the principal applicant a critical decision.
In addition, the principal applicant must be the first to land in Canada, while the secondary applicant can either land simultaneously or later. This factor can influence your choice if one partner needs to immigrate first.
To choose the best candidate, you should compare both partners' CRS scores, considering category-based draws that might apply. Even if one partner appears to have a stronger profile initially, the other may have advantages that can boost the CRS score—such as younger age, better language skills, higher education, or relevant work experience.
Let’s take a closer look at some real-life scenarios where switching the principal applicant has made a difference:
Hamid (32) and his wife Nadia (28) are from Lebanon and want to move to Canada. Hamid has a master’s degree, five years of experience in banking, and intermediate English skills (CLB 8). Nadia also holds a master’s degree, has three years of HR experience, and matches Hamid's English proficiency.
Initially, Hamid is the better candidate because he has more work experience. However, when you break down their CRS scores, a different picture emerges:
Nadia scores 15 more points than Hamid, mainly because of her age. The younger you are, the more points you receive for age under the CRS. This makes Nadia the better principal applicant.
Martin (29) and Jeanne (27) from Cameroon are also looking to immigrate to Canada. Martin holds a master’s degree and has four years of management experience, with advanced English skills (CLB 9). Jeanne has a bachelor’s degree, three years of management experience, intermediate English skills, and is also fluent in French (CLB 9).
At first glance, Martin’s profile seems stronger due to his higher education and more work experience. However, Jeanne’s French skills earn her additional points, making her the better candidate. Their CRS scores break down as follows:
Jeanne’s proficiency in both official languages—English and French—gives her an advantage. In this case, choosing Jeanne as the principal applicant improves their chances of receiving an ITA.
Sam (28) and Alex (28) are from New Zealand and plan to immigrate to Canada. Sam has a master’s degree, four years of legal experience, and advanced English skills. Alex has a bachelor’s degree, a postgraduate diploma in nutrition, and one year of work experience as a nutritionist, along with advanced English skills.
When their CRS scores are calculated, Sam emerges as the stronger candidate because of her higher education and work experience:
In this case, Sam’s qualifications make her the better choice for the principal applicant. However, there’s a twist: Alex’s profession as a nutritionist falls under Canada’s healthcare category, which is in high demand. A recent category-based draw for healthcare workers had a CRS cutoff of 445, meaning Alex would have qualified as the principal applicant for this specific draw.
This example highlights the importance of considering which partner’s occupation might align with in-demand categories when deciding who should be the principal applicant.
While an individual cannot have more than one active Express Entry profile, both partners can create their own profiles. This allows each person to compete individually in the Express Entry pool. The first person to receive an ITA can apply for PR, while the other can withdraw their profile.
However, having separate profiles does not mean you can bypass the system by submitting one profile with your partner and another without. The system is designed to prevent multiple submissions from the same individual, but this option provides flexibility for couples.
Your CRS score is your ticket to Canadian Permanent Residency. The higher your score, the better your chances of receiving an ITA. Since most points in the CRS system are awarded based on the principal applicant’s qualifications, choosing the partner with the stronger profile is a strategic decision.
Couples who may not initially think about switching roles should reconsider, especially when one partner has:
Understanding how these factors influence your CRS score and applying that knowledge to your situation can be the key to success in securing an ITA and, ultimately, a Canadian Permanent Residency.
Choosing the right principal applicant is one of the most important decisions couples face when applying for Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry. By carefully calculating each partner’s CRS score and considering additional factors such as occupation and language skills, you can improve your chances of being invited to apply for PR.
If you and your partner both qualify for Express Entry, take the time to compare your profiles and choose the partner with the stronger score. It could make all the difference in achieving your dream of moving to Canada.
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