Getting an ITA after the age of 40 through Express Entry without a provincial nomination

Many highly qualified professionals believe that being over 40 significantly reduces one's chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) through Express Entry. Candidates 40 years of age and older can still seek permanent residency in Canada without the help of a Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP), despite the fact that age affects the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The key is to concentrate on category-based draws or Canadian Experience Class (CEC), where certain skill sets or high CRS scores are essential.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) periodically draws from the Express Entry pool to issue ITAs. The CRS cut-off score for each draw is influenced by the number of invited applicants, the draw type (general, CEC, or category-based), and the distribution of CRS scores within the pool. For instance, in a healthcare draw with 1,000 invites, the cut-off score is the 1,000th candidate's score. If there is a tie at the cutoff, the IRCC breaks it according to the candidates' profile submission dates.

CRS Score Trends for 2025

According to recent research, elderly people might still be competitive based on their characteristics. The 2025 CRS cut-offs have so far varied:

• CEC draws: 518–547
• Healthcare and social services draws: 470–510
• French language competency requirements: 379–481
• Education draws:  479

These ranges show how, despite the challenging nature of general CEC draws, category-based drawings usually offer opportunity for individuals with specialist knowledge or strong language skills.

What are the Strategies to Boost Your Prospects for getting an ITA after 40?

Even if you are above 40, you can raise your CRS by the following steps :

• Achieving excellent IELTS or CELPIP scores.
• Using French fluency for category-based drawings.
• Acquiring further certifications in education.
• Accumulating more Canadian job experience.
• Receiving a valid job offer supported by LMIA, which can lead to a 200 CRS point boost.

Success with Express Entry is not impeded by being older than forty. If you pay attention to the right drawings, keep up with CRS trends, and carefully improve your profile, you can still get an ITA and move closer to permanent residency in Canada.