Switching the principal applicant in your Express Entry application can enhance your likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
The Express Entry system prioritizes candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. These scores are based on factors such as age, education, language skills, work experience, and family connections in Canada.
If both you and your spouse meet the criteria for Express Entry, consider selecting the principal applicant who has the strongest chances of success.
What’s the Difference Between Principal and Secondary Applicants in Canadian PR Applications?
When applying as a couple through Express Entry, both you and your partner earn points for education, language skills, and Canadian work experience. However, the majority of points come from the principal applicant’s qualifications.
The principal applicant scores points based on age and foreign work experience, and can also earn extra points for French language proficiency. Therefore, the selection of the principal applicant can significantly impact your overall score.
Another important factor to consider is who will arrive in Canada first. The principal applicant must be present for the initial landing, while the secondary applicant can land simultaneously or afterward. If one spouse plans to arrive later, they must be the secondary applicant.
To determine which partner should be the principal applicant, calculate the CRS points and consider potential category-based draws. Even if you believe your profile is stronger, your spouse may have advantages—such as better language skills, higher education, or in-demand work experience—that make them a better choice.
Can You and Your Partner Have Separate Profiles?
You cannot have more than one Express Entry profile at the same time. This means you can’t have a profile with a partner and another without. However, both partners can create separate profiles within the Express Entry pool, and the person who receives an ITA first can then apply for PR.
CIC News has provided examples showing how choosing the right principal applicant can enhance your chances of success in the Express Entry process.
Example 1: Hamid and Nadia
Hamid and his wife Nadia are looking to immigrate from Lebanon. Hamid is 32 with a master’s degree, five years of banking experience, and high intermediate English skills (CLB 8). Nadia is 28, also with a master’s degree, three years of HR experience, and similar language skills.
CRS Scores:
Factors | Hamid's Points | Nadia's Points |
Age | 85 | 100 |
Education | 126 | 126 |
1st Official Language | 88 | 88 |
Accompanying Spouse's Education | 10 | 10 |
Language Proficiency | 12 | 12 |
Canadian Work Experience | 0 | 0 |
Skills Transferability: Education | 25 | 25 |
Skills Transferability: Foreign Experience | 25 | 25 |
Total | 371 | 386 |
Nadia is the better principal applicant due to her age, which adds 15 points to her CRS score.
Example 2: Martin and Jeanne
Martin and Jeanne, living in Cameroon, are also interested in moving to Canada. Martin is 29 with a master’s degree, four years of management experience, and advanced English skills (CLB 9). Jeanne is 27, has a bachelor’s degree, three years of management experience, and high intermediate English skills. She is also fluent in French (CLB 9).
CRS Scores:
Factors | Martin's Points | Jeanne's Points |
Age | 100 | 100 |
Education | 126 | 112 |
1st Official Language | 116 | 116 |
2nd Official Language | 0 | 12 |
Accompanying Spouse's Education | 8 | 10 |
Language Proficiency | 20 | 12 |
Canadian Work Experience | 0 | 0 |
Skills Transferability: Education | 50 | 25 |
Skills Transferability: Foreign Experience | 50 | 50 |
Additional Factors: French Proficiency | 0 | 50 |
Total | 470 | 487 |
Despite Martin’s strong profile, Jeanne’s French skills give her an advantage, making her the stronger principal applicant.
Example 3: Sam and Alex
Sam and her partner Alex are looking to immigrate from New Zealand. Sam is 28 with a master’s degree, four years of law experience, and advanced English skills. Alex, also 28, has a bachelor’s degree, a one-year postgraduate degree in nutrition, and a year of work experience as a nutritionist, along with advanced English skills.
CRS Scores:
Factors | Sam's Points | Alex's Points |
Age | 100 | 100 |
Education | 126 | 119 |
1st Official Language | 128 | 128 |
Accompanying Spouse's Education | 9 | 10 |
Language Proficiency | 20 | 20 |
Canadian Work Experience | 0 | 0 |
Skills Transferability: Education | 50 | 50 |
Skills Transferability: Foreign Experience | 50 | 25 |
Total | 483 | 452 |
Sam has a stronger profile overall. However, Alex's job as a nutritionist falls under a high-demand healthcare category, which may be advantageous in category-based draws. In this case, if Alex had applied as the principal applicant before a recent healthcare draw, they might have received an ITA.
Currently, general Express Entry draws have seen high cutoff scores, making category-based selection an important factor in choosing the principal applicant.
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