Married? You just lost 40 points; How Canada's immigration system is rewarding singles and punishing families
Canada
's immigration system, which was long praised for its meritocratic and transparent points-based approach, is now drawing criticism for unintentionally putting married applicants at a disadvantage.
The
Comprehensive Ranking System
(CRS) used to evaluate skilled worker candidates under Express Entry awards significantly more points to those who are single, or who declare their spouse as "non-accompanying."
Under the CRS, a candidate without an accompanying spouse can gain up to 40 extra points out of a possible 600. These points can make or break a candidate's success in receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
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With immigration targets tightening and the minimum cutoff scores rising, most recently reaching 529 points on June 12, 2025, this loophole is becoming increasingly consequential.
Immigration lawyer Matthew Jeffery explains that the system only favors married applicants when their spouse is highly educated, fluent in English or French, and has relevant work experience. 'If the spouse does not have these things, it can result in a lower score for the primary applicant,' he says.
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Declaring spouse as non-accompanying
To preserve their chances, applicants may legally declare their spouse as non-accompanying, essentially postponing their spouse's immigration and allowing the principal applicant to retain a higher score.
'This is not manipulation,' says Calgary-based immigration consultant Mandeep Lidher. 'It 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.'
Procedural fairness letters
Ottawa is aware of the practice and has begun issuing procedural fairness letters (PFLs) to applicants suspected of using the rule deceptively. In one letter, an immigration officer expressed 'serious concerns' over a married applicant declaring their spouse as non-accompanying, despite both individuals already living in Canada.
'It appears that you have decided to include your spouse as 'non-accompanying' to meet the minimum required score,' the officer wrote, adding that the applicant would not have qualified if the spouse had been listed as accompanying.
Misrepresentation can lead to refusal and ban
While it is legal to declare a spouse as non-accompanying if done transparently, experts warn that misrepresentation, such as hiding marital status or falsely claiming a spouse will remain abroad, can lead to application refusal and even a five-year ban from reapplying. 'Honesty is paramount,' Toronto-based immigration consultant Kubeir Kamal told
CTV News
.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasized its zero-tolerance stance on misrepresentation: '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.'
Canada prepares to lower its annual immigration targets, dropping from 500,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, and further still in 2026 and 2027, but the margin for error has narrowed.
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