Points-based immigration system favours single PR applicants over married couples, experts say

Canada’s points-based immigration system can give a slight boost to applicants who are single. (Source: iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Canada’s points-based immigration system can give a slight boost to applicants who are single. To get an edge, some married permanent residency candidates are saying their spouse won’t accompany them to score as many as 40 extra points out of a possible 600.

Immigration lawyer Matthew Jeffery says the points system only benefits married applicants if their spouse is well-educated, proficient in English or French, and has the right work experience.

“However, if the spouse does not have these things, it can result in a lower score for the primary applicant,” Jeffery said. “To avoid losing points as a result of a poorly qualified spouse, an applicant can list their spouse as non-accompanying. This means that they will not immigrate to Canada at the same time as the primary applicant, but will remain in the home country.”

Calgary-based immigration consultant Mandeep Lidher describes the practice as fairly common. He says married applicants face a “systemic disadvantage” under the current points system for skilled workers.

“This structural imbalance incentivizes the lawful use of the non-accompanying spouse option,” Lidher told CTVNews.ca. “This is a lawful and system-sanctioned pathway for applicants who may otherwise be disadvantaged by their spouse’s limited language scores, education, or lack of Canadian work experience.”

Instead of applying at the same time, it can therefore be beneficial for only one person to apply for permanent residency, then sponsor their spouse to accompany them later through family reunification channels.

“No, this is not manipulation,” Lidher explained. “An applicant only breaches the law if they engage in misrepresentation … that is, by withholding their marital status or falsely declaring a spouse as non-accompanying, when they actually intend to immigrate together.”

‘To game the system’

Ottawa is aware of the practice and has warned some applicants about misrepresenting their situation.

Lidher provided a copy of an April 2025 “procedural fairness letter” that was sent to a permanent residency applicant. In it, a Canadian immigration processing officer expressed “serious concerns” over the married applicant declaring themselves unaccompanied, despite already living in Canada with their foreign spouse.

“It appears that you have decided to include your spouse as ‘non-accompanying’ to meet the minimum required score because you earn more points if you don’t have a spouse or common-law partner or if they are not coming with you to Canada,” the officer wrote. “It also appears you would not have met the minimum required score if your spouse was included in your application as an accompanying dependent.”

Canada’s points-based immigration system has become increasingly competitive, especially since Ottawa announced in October that it would reduce permanent residency targets by at least 20 per cent from 500,000 to 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

The minimum number of points needed to be able to apply for permanent residency has been edging upwards. While numbers can fluctuate, the lowest-ranked candidate on June 12 under the Canadian experience stream had a total of 529 points – that’s up from the 368-point cutoff recorded four years earlier on June 10, 2021.

When someone applies to be considered for permanent residency through the Express Entry online system for skilled workers, profiles are scored through what’s known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on factors like age, education, work experience and language skills.

“Canada’s Express Entry system is designed to select skilled immigrants who will thrive, but honesty is paramount,” Toronto-based immigration consultant Kubeir Kamal told CTVNews.ca. “Declaring a spouse as non-accompanying, if such circumstances exist, is a valid option if done transparently, but actually misrepresenting marital status to game the system risks severe consequences, including application refusal and bans.”

In a statement to CTVNews.ca, a spokesperson from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the department is committed to protecting against fraud and misrepresentation.

“Misrepresentation includes providing false information or withholding information,” the IRCC spokesperson said. “If a spouse is declared as not accompanying while the intent is for the spouse to come with the principal applicant, an officer may find that the applicant misrepresented themselves to get more CRS points.”