If you have a brother or sister living in Canada you could be entitled to more points on your CRS score – giving you a welcome advantage when it comes to applying for your Canadian visa.

Around a year ago Canada introduced this new aspect to their Comprehensive Ranking System that might just help give your application the nudge it needs.

It helps too if you can speak French.  Applicants who are fluent in French are also rewarded for that with additional points being added to their application.  While it is useful it is not a requirement to be able to speak French when applying for a Canadian visa.

Siblings can raise your CRS score

Applicants can now get 15 additional points for at least one sibling (brother or sister) living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident if they:

• are 18 years old or older
• are related to you by blood, marriage, common-law partnership or adoption
• have a parent in common with you

Being English and French bilingual could boost application

Applicants now get additional points if you score NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills.

For a score of CLB 4 or lower in English (or if you didn’t take an English test) you may receive 15 additional points but a healthy 30 additional points will be awarded to your application if you scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening).

Comprehensive Ranking System

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is the points-based system the IRCC uses to assess and score a visa applicant’s profile and rank the application in the Express Entry pool.  Applicants will be awarded points for Canadian degrees, diplomas or certificates, a valid job offer, a nomination from a province or territory and any other contributing factors.

Comprehensive Ranking System formula

The points you get from the CRS include a core set of points of up to 600 and a set of additional points of up to 600. Your total score will be out of 1,200. It is based on the four parts of the CRS formula:

Core points are awarded for:

The 600 points of the core score will be made up by adding your rankings in areas such as your skills and experience factors.  Your partner’s language and education might give your application a boost too.

A. Single candidates                                                       B. Candidate’s spouse or partner

1. Skills and experience factors (maximum 500) 1. Skills and experience factors (maximum 460)

2. N/A                                                                                   2. Spouse or partner factors (maximum 40)

3. Skill transferability factors (maximum 100)       3. Skill transferability factors (maximum 100)

Maximum Core 600

You may be eligible for up to 600 additional points if:

• you have Canadian degrees, diplomas or certificates
• a valid job offer
• a nomination from a province or territory
• a brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident
• strong French language skills

To determine your full score ITCC will add your Core points and your Additional points.

Source: Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada