How to calculate CRS score for Express Entry?

Surya Rathee
[Published 15 May, 2023 | 04:06 PM]
About Author - 13 min read
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The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a point-based system that Canada uses to assess immigration applications in the Express Entry system.

Express Entry is currently the fastest and most popular pathway to apply for Canada PR. It is an online system used by the Canadian government to organize and process applications for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada and acquire Canadian permanent residence status. The system manages three main federal economic programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

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How does the CRS calculator work?

The CRS score calculator award points are based on certain factors including Core Human Capital Factors, Accompanying Partner Factors, Skills Transferability Factors, and Additional Factors such as Arranged Employment, Siblings in Canada, etc.

Here are these CRS components, broken down further.

Core Human-Capital Factors

For your core human capital score, you can get a maximum of 100 points if you are applying solo, and 110 if you are applying with a spouse. These factors include your age, education, language ability, and Canadian work experience.

Age

Age	With an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 100	Without an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 110
Under 18	00	00
18	90	90
19	95	105
20 - 29	100	110
30	95	105
31	90	99
32	85	94
33	80	88
34	75	83
35	70	77
36	65	72
37	60	66
38	55	61
39	50	55
40	45	50
41	35	39
42	25	28
43	15	17
44	05	06
45 or older	00	00

Education

Level of education	With an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 140 for the principal applicant (PA), 10 for the spouse	Without an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 150
Less than secondary school credential	00	00
Secondary school credential	28 for PA; 2 for spouse	30
One-year post-secondary program	84 for PA; 6 for spouse	90
Two-year post-secondary program	91 for PA; 7 for spouse	98
Post-secondary program of 3 or more years	112 for PA; 8 for spouse	120
Two or more post-secondary programs, of which at least one was completed after a post-secondary program of three or more years	119 for PA; 9 for spouse	128
Master’s or entry-to-practice professional degree	126 for PA; 10 for spouse	135
Doctoral Degree (PhD)	140 for PA; 10 for spouse	150

First Language Ability

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)	With an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 128 for the principal applicant; 20 for the spouse	Without an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 136
For each language ability	32 for PA; 5 for spouse	34
CLB 3 or lower	00	00
CLB 4	6 for PA; 0 for spouse	06
CLB 5	6 for PA; 1 for spouse	06
CLB 6	8 for PA; 1 for spouse	09
CLB 7	16 for PA; 3 for spouse	17
CLB 8	22 for PA; 3 for spouse	23
CLB 9	29 for PA; 5 for spouse	31
CLB 10 or higher	32 for PA; 5 for spouse	34

Second Language Ability

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)	With an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 22	Without an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 24
For each language ability	06	06
CLB 4 or lower	00	00
CLB 5 or 6	01	01
CLB 7 or 8	03	03
CLB 9 or higher	06	06

Canadian Work Experience

Number of years	With an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 70 for the principal applicant (PA); 10 for the spouse	Without an accompanying spouse maximum points available: 80
Less than 1	00	00
1 year	35 for PA; 5 for spouse	40
2 years	46 for PA; 7 for spouse	53
3 years	56 for PA; 8 for spouse	64
4 years	63 for PA; 9 for spouse	72
5 years or more	70 for PA; 10 for spouse	80

Watch Now! How to increase or improve your CRS score in Canada Express Entry?

Skills Transferability Factors

A maximum of 100 points are available for a candidate’s skill transferability factors. There are five combinations of such skill transferability, with a maximum of 50 points awarded for each combination. Even if a candidate scores more than 100 points in total, only 100 points will be awarded under the CRS. Candidates with or without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner are awarded points for skill transferability in exactly the same way. There are no points available for the skill transferability of a candidate’s spouse or common-law partner.

Education and Canadian Work Experience

Education	1 year of Canadian work experience	2 or more years of Canadian work experience
No post-secondary education	00	00
Post-secondary education of 1 year or longer	13	25
Two or more post-secondary credentials, the first of which was 3 or more years in duration	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	25	50
the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required
A university-level credential at the doctoral level	25	50

Education and Language Ability

Education	CLB 7 or higher on all language abilities, with at least one CLB 8	CLB 9 or higher for all language abilities
No post-secondary education	00	00
Post-secondary education of 1 year or longer	13	25
Two or more post-secondary credentials, the first of which was 3 or more years in duration	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

Language Ability and Non-Canadian Work Experience

Non-Canadian Work Experience	CLB 7 or higher on all language abilities, with at least one of these CLB 8	CLB 9 or higher for all language abilities
No non-Canadian work experience	00	00
1 or 2 years of non-Canadian work experience	13	25
3 or more years of non-Canadian work experience	25	50

Canadian and Non-Canadian Work Experience

Experience	1 year of Canadian work experience	2 or more years of Canadian work experience
No non-Canadian work experience	00	00
1 or 2 years of non-Canadian work experience	13	25
3 or more years of non-Canadian work experience	25	50

Certificate or Qualification in a Trade and Language Ability

Certificate of qualification	CLB 5 or higher on all language abilities, with at least one CLB 5 or 6	CLB 7 or higher on all language abilities
Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a province	25	50

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Additional Factors

The maximum number of points for these additional factors for any one candidate is 600 points. So for example, if you get a provincial nomination plus have a sibling in Canada, you do not get 615 additional points.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination certificate

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination certificate	Points
For an enhanced nomination certificate from a Canadian province (except Quebec)	600

Qualifying Offer of Arranged Employment

Qualifying offer of arranged employment	Points
For a qualifying job offer of arranged employment from a Canadian employer if the offer is in an occupation contained in Major Group 00 Senior Management Occupations	200
For a qualifying job offer of arranged employment from a Canadian employer if the offer is any other qualifying offer of arranged employment	50

Canadian Study Experience

Canadian study experience	Points
If the candidate has an eligible credential from a one-year or two-year post-secondary program in Canada	15
If the candidate has either: an eligible credential from a post-secondary program of three years or more, or an eligible credential from a university-level	30
program 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, or an eligible credential from a university-level program at the doctoral level.

French Language Ability

French language ability	Points
If the candidate proves adequate intermediate (equivalent to CLB 7) or better French ability, and English ability of CLB 4 or lower (or no English language test result	25
If the candidate proves adequate intermediate (equivalent to CLB 7) or better French ability, and English ability of CLB 5 or better	50

Sibling in Canada

Siblings in Canada	Points
If the candidate, or the accompanying spouse/common-law partner, has a sibling in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of at least 18 years of age, related through blood, adoption, marriage, or common-law partnership.	15

Minimum CRS score for Express Entry

There is no specific minimum score required to process an Express Entry application. The IRCC calculates the CRS score cut-off based on the type of draw, the number of candidates, and the labor market shortages at that time. The IRCC does not release minimum CRS details ahead of each round of invitations.

Understanding how the CRS is calculated can help you to make the most of the Express Entry system and improve your chances of getting an invitation to apply for Canada PR. The higher your CRS score, the more your chances of immigrating to Canada through the Express Entry system.