Express Entry Immigration program to Canada is based on two steps. The first step is to check whether you are eligible to submit a profile in the Express Entry pool. You can read more about those factors by clicking the link below.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank your profile in the Express Entry pool. Your score here is extremely important as it determines whether you get selected in the periodic draws or not. Only if your CRS score is at or above the cut-off score in the draw will you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA). ITA essentially is the invitation to complete your application to become a Permanent Resident (PR).
The purpose of CRS Score is thus to determine the rank of a potential applicant relative to other applicants and whether they can be issued an ITA.
Factors in calculating CRS
There are a set of four factor groups that decided your overall CRS score. The total score is based out of 1,200 with the following breakup:
Factor
Maximum (without Spouse)
Maximum (with Spouse)
A. Core human capital factors
500
460
B. Spouse or Common Law Partner factors
Not applicable
40
C. Skill transferability factors
100
100
D. Additional factors
600
600
Total
1200
1200
Please refer to the latest draw scores to understand what can be a good enough score while reading this article. But you must understand that this is a variable thing depending upon a host of factors and hence it is difficult to predict whether you will qualify or not. That’s where seeking professional advice may help you get more insights on circumstances specific to your application. Now we will delve deeper into each of these factors to understand how exactly are the points calculated.
A. Core human capital factors
These factors form the crux or basis of your overall score and comprise of the following:
Factor
Maximum (without Spouse)
Maximum (with Spouse)
Age
110
100
Level of education
150
140
Official languages proficiency
160
150
Canadian work experience
80
70
Total
500
460
If you are single, you can score a maximum of 500 points here and if you have a Spouse or Common Law Partner, you can score a maximum of 460 points. There is nothing to worry as those with Spouse/Common Law Partners can also collect an additional 40 points under Spouse/common-law partner factor group to eventually reach 500 points at par with someone who is applying single.
Now let us discuss the scoring mechanism in depth for each of these sub-factors one by one.
A.1 Age
Age
Score (without Spouse)
Score (with Spouse)
17 years of age or less
0
0
18 years of age
99
90
19 years of age
105
95
20 to 29 years of age
110
100
30 years of age
105
95
31 years of age
99
90
32 years of age
94
85
33 years of age
88
80
34 years of age
83
75
35 years of age
77
70
36 years of age
72
65
37 years of age
66
60
38 years of age
61
55
39 years of age
55
50
40 years of age
50
45
41 years of age
39
35
42 years of age
28
25
43 years of age
17
15
44 years of age
6
5
45 years of age or more
0
0
Maximum possible score
110
100
It is clearly evident that Canada favors candidates who are young and employable with maximum points for those who fall within 21 to 29 years of age. After that the points go progressively lower to 0 for those 45 years of age or more.
A.2 Level of education
Level of Education
Score (without Spouse)
Score (with Spouse)
Less than secondary school (high school)
0
0
Secondary diploma (high school graduation)
30
28
One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute
90
84
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute
98
91
Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute
120
112
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years
128
119
Master’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree,” the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.)
135
126
Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.)
150
140
Maximum possible score
150
140
A.3 Official languages proficiency
Canada recognizes two official languages i.e. English and French. Your score in each of the four sections (reading, writing, speaking and listening) is individually ranked on a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scale. Points are simply awarded as per the slot in which your score falls.
First official language points
CLB level per ability
Score (without Spouse)
Score (with Spouse)
Less than CLB 4
0
0
CLB 4 or 5
6
6
CLB 6
9
8
CLB 7
17
16
CLB 8
23
22
CLB 9
31
29
CLB 10 or more
34
32
Maximum possible score
34
32
Second official language points
CLB level per ability
Score (without Spouse)
Score (with Spouse)
CLB 4 or less
0
0
CLB 5 or 6
1
1
CLB 7 or 8
3
3
CLB 9 or more
6
6
Maximum possible score
6
6
A.4 Canadian work experience
Canadian work experience
Score (without Spouse)
Score (with Spouse)
None or less than an year
0
0
1 year
40
35
2 years
53
46
3 years
64
56
4 years
72
63
5 years or more
80
70
Maximum possible score
80
70
B. Spouse or common-law partner factors
B.1 Level of Education
Level of education
Score
Less than secondary school (high school)
0
Secondary school (high school graduation)
2
One-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute
6
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical in school, or other institute
7
Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute
8
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years
9
Master’s degree, or professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree”, the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.)
10
Doctoral level university degree (PhD)
10
Maximum possible score
10
B.2 Official languages proficiency- first official language
CLB level per ability
Score
CLB 4 or less
0
CLB 5 or 6
1
CLB 7 or 8
3
CLB 9 or more
5
Maximum possible score
5
B.3 Canadian work experience of spouse
Canadian work experience of Spouse
Score
None or less than a year
0
1 year
5
2 years
7
3 years
8
4 years
9
5 years or more
10
Maximum possible score
10
c. Skill transferability factors
C.1 Education
CLB 7 or more language proficiency
Points for CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, with one or more under CLB 9
Points for CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities
Secondary school (high school) credential or less
0
0
Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer
13
25
Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer
25
50
A university-level credential at the master’s level or at the level of an entry-to-practice professional degree for an occupation listed in the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required
25
50
A university-level credential at the doctoral level
25
50
Maximum possible score
25
50
Thus your language proficiency score improves if your level of education is higher.
C.2 Canadian work experience
With Canadian work experience
Points for education + 1 year of Canadian work experience
Points for education + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience
Secondary school (high school) credential or less
0
0
Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer
13
25
Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer
25
50
A university-level credential at the master’s level or at the level of an entry-to-practice professional degree for an occupation listed in the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required
25
50
A university-level credential at the doctoral level
25
50
Maximum possible score
25
50
C.3 Foreign work experience
Foreign work experience with CLB 7 or higher
CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 9
CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities
No foreign work experience
0
0
1 or 2 years of foreign work experience
13
25
3 years or more of foreign work experience
25
50
Maximum possible score
25
50
c.4 Foreign experience with canadian experience
Foreign work experience
Points for foreign work experience + 1 year of Canadian work experience
Points for foreign work experience + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience
No foreign work experience
0
0
1 or 2 years of foreign work experience
13
25
3 years or more of foreign work experience
25
50
Maximum possible score
25
50
c.5 certificate of qualification
Certificate of qualification (trade occupations)
Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 5 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 7
Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 7 or more on all four first official language abilities
With a certificate of qualification
25
50
D. additional points
A variety of factors are categorized under it like siblings in Canada or arranged employment. Please note that if you receive a PNP nomination, 600 points are directly added to your score boosting your chances of an ITA.
Factor
Score
Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
15
Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 4 or lower in English (or didn’t take an English test)
25
Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills
50
Post-secondary education in Canada – credential of one or two years
15
Post-secondary education in Canada – credential three years or longer
30
Arranged employment – NOC 00
200
Arranged employment – any other NOC 0, A or B
50
Provincial or territorial nomination
600
Maximum possible score
600
Conclusion
CRS score takes a measured and calibrated approach to rank candidates based on an inter-related set of factors like education, language proficiency and work experience. The easiest approach is to simply use an online CRS calculator to calculate your score or consult a professional if you need specific guidance.
