Canada is credited with having one of the most immigrant-friendly policies in the world, ranking fourth internationally in the Immigrant Integration Policy Index. However, the criteria used to prioritize applicants based on age leave many at a disadvantage, even though they may have the qualifications Canada is looking for.

With accumulated immigration and many technical glitches in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online portal during the pandemic, many became ineligible for some programs that consider age a criterion. After the resumption of EE draws in July 2022, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was eventually the highest (above 500 points) compared to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 557 on July 6.

Rick Lamana, director of Fragomen Canada, an immigration service provider, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview that it might be frustrating for some applicants waiting for responses who see themselves losing points every year due to these delays, as they may have fewer points than they did two years ago or even a year ago.

At first glance, age was not identified as a major criterion by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). But for certain programs – such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – the importance of being young becomes very clear, especially for applicants reaching the age of forty. Programs under EE include FSWP, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), CEC, and part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), where the applicant must be eligible for one of the aforementioned elements to enter the EE pool of candidates.

Canadian employers also typically rely on the Express Entry system designed to attract highly skilled foreign workers through programs leading to permanent residence (PR), among which FSWP and CEC are popular – both considering age as a key factor. In this context, Lamana says while age can lower a CEC or FSWP candidate's score, other factors can help raise CRS scores, and he added: "However, it is very difficult, as applicants in their forties lose a lot of points for age compared to people in their twenties or thirties."