Thousands of prospective immigrants apply for Canadian permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry System each year. This system assesses applicants in a variety of ways and summarizes their qualifications and eligibility using a special points calculator called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Let’s examine this calculator in more detail and how you can maximize your points in each area.
What is the Comprehensive Ranking System?
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assigns a score for each applicant applying through the Express Entry System. Canadian immigration services use this score to filter out the most desirable applications that fit with the country’s current immigration needs before offering them a chance to receive Canadian permanent residence.
What Does the Comprehensive Ranking System Assess?
The Comprehensive Ranking System gives applicants points in several areas. This includes:
- Age
- Level of Education
- Language Proficiency
- Work Experience
You should note that calculating your CRS points and getting a good score does not automatically make you eligible for permanent residence through the Express Entry System. Prospective applicants can get their eligibility in each Express Entry stream here.
Points by Age
The CRS offers up to 100 points for applicants with a spouse or common-law partner, and up to 110 points for applicants without a spouse or common-law partner. The points assigned for each age in either category are displayed in the following table.
|
Age |
Applicants that have a spouse or a common-law partner |
Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner |
| 17 years of age or younger |
0 |
0 |
| 18 years |
90 |
99 |
| 19 years |
95 |
105 |
| 20 to 29 years |
100 |
110 |
| 30 years |
95 |
105 |
| 31 years |
90 |
99 |
| 32 years |
85 |
94 |
| 33 years |
80 |
88 |
| 34 years |
75 |
83 |
| 35 years |
70 |
77 |
| 36 years |
65 |
72 |
| 37 years |
60 |
66 |
| 38 years |
55 |
61 |
| 39 years |
50 |
55 |
| 40 years |
45 |
50 |
| 41 years |
35 |
39 |
| 42 years |
25 |
28 |
| 43 years |
15 |
17 |
| 44 years |
5 |
6 |
| 45 years or older |
0 |
0 |
Points for Education
Applicants can also receive points depending on their education level. These points are outlined below:
|
Education Level |
Applicants that have a spouse or a common-law partner |
Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner |
| High School or Less than secondary school |
0 |
0 |
| High school graduation |
28 |
30 |
| A one-year degree, or a diploma or certificate obtained from a university, college, technical or trade school, or any other similar institute |
84 |
90 |
| A two-year program studied at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute |
91 |
98 |
| A Bachelor’s degree OR a three or longer program at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute |
112 |
120 |
| Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length. |
119 |
128 |
| A Master’s degree, or a professional degree required to practice in a licensed occupation such as medicine or law. |
126 |
135 |
| A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D. |
140 |
150 |
Points for Language
Applications receive points for their language proficiency in their first and second official language.
First Official Language
You can receive up to 32 points in this category with a spouse or a common-law partner and 34 points without either.
The points breakdown is as follows:
|
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level score for each ability |
Applicants that have a spouse or a common-law partner |
Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner |
| Less than CLB 4 |
0 |
0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 |
6 |
6 |
| CLB 6 |
8 |
9 |
| CLB 7 |
16 |
17 |
| CLB 8 |
22 |
23 |
| CLB 9 |
29 |
31 |
| CLB 10 or more |
32 |
34 |
Second Official Language
Applicants can also receive points for their proficiency in a second official language. The point breakdown is this category is as follows:
|
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level score for each ability |
Applicants with a spouse or a common-law partner |
Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner |
| CLB 4 or less |
0 |
0 |
| CLB 5 or 6 |
1 |
1 |
| CLB 7 or 8 |
3 |
3 |
| CLB 9 or more |
6 |
6 |
Points for Canadian Work Experience
Applicants can also receive points for Canadian work experience in an occupation recognized under the right National Occupation Classification (NOC). You can learn more about NOC here.
The points breakdown for Canadian work experience is as follows:
|
Canadian work experience |
With a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 70 points) |
Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 80 points) |
| None or less than a year |
0 |
0 |
| 1 year |
35 |
40 |
| 2 years |
46 |
53 |
| 3 years |
56 |
64 |
| 4 years |
63 |
72 |
| 5 years or more |
70 |
80 |
Points for Spouse’s Education
Applicants with a spouse can gain additional points in different categories. The points breakdown for a spouse or common-law partner’s education is as follows:
|
Level of education for a spouse or a common-law partner. |
Points |
| High School or Less than secondary school |
0 |
| High school graduation |
2 |
| A one-year degree, or a diploma or certificate obtained from a university, college, technical or trade school, or any other similar institute |
6 |
| A two-year program studied at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute |
7 |
| A Bachelor’s degree OR a three or longer program at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute |
8 |
| Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length. |
9 |
| A Master’s degree, or a professional degree required to practice in a licensed occupation such as medicine or law. |
10 |
| A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D. |
10 |
Points for Spouse’s First Language
Applicants can also receive points for their spouse’s CLB score in their first official language. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:
|
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level score per ability |
Points |
| CLB 4 or less |
0 |
| CLB 5 or 6 |
1 |
| CLB 7 or 8 |
3 |
|
CLB 9 or more |
5 |
Points for Spouse’s Work Experience
Applicants can also receive points for their spouse’s Canadian work experience. The points breakdown in this category is as follows:
|
Canadian work experience for spouse or common-law partner |
Points |
| None or less than a year |
0 |
| 1 year |
5 |
| 2 years |
7 |
| 3 years |
8 |
| 4 years |
9 |
| 5 years or more |
10 |
Points for Language Skills Transferability
Applicants can receive additional points if they possess a language proficiency of CLB 7 or higher and along with additional education. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:
|
Education level |
Points for applicants with CLB 7 or higher but below CLB 9 |
Points for applicants with CLB 9 or higher on the four main abilities |
| High School or less than secondary school |
0 |
0 |
| A post-secondary program credential for a program that is one year or longer |
13 |
25 |
| Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length. |
25 |
50 |
| Possessing a credential at the university master’s level or at a level that allows you to practice an occupation listed NOC Skill Level A that requires a provincial license. |
25 |
50 |
| A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D. |
25 |
50 |
Points for Work Skills Transferability
Applicants can also get additional points if they possess more than 1 year or more than 2 years of Canadian work experience in addition to education. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:
|
Education level |
Points for applicants with 1 to 2 years of Canadian work experience |
Points for applicants with 2 years or greater Canadian work experience |
| High School or less than secondary school |
0 |
0 |
| A post-secondary program credential for a program that is one year or longer |
13 |
25 |
| Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length. |
25 |
50 |
| Possessing a credential at the university master’s level or at a level that allows you to practice an occupation listed NOC Skill Level A that requires a provincial license. |
25 |
50 |
| A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D. |
25 |
50 |
Points For Applicants With Foreign Work Experience Plus Good Language Proficiency
Applicants can receive additional points if they possess foreign work experience along with official language proficiency of CLB 7 or higher. The points breakdown in this category is as follows:
|
Years of Foreign Work Experience |
Points for applicants with CLB 7 or higher but below CLB 9 |
Points for applicants with CLB 9 or higher on the four main abilities |
| 0 years |
0 |
0 |
| 1 to 2 years |
13 |
25 |
| 3 years or more |
25 |
50 |
Points For Foreign Work Experience Plus Canadian Work Experience
Applicants can receive additional points if they possess foreign work experience along with Canadian work experience. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:
|
Years of Foreign Work Experience |
Points if Applicant Possesses Foreign Work Experience and 1 Year Canadian Work Experience |
Points if Applicants Possesses Foreign Work Experience and 2 or more years Canadian Work Experience |
| 0 years |
0 |
0 |
| 1 to 2 years |
13 |
25 |
| 3 years or more |
25 |
50 |
Points for Certificate of Qualification Plus First Official Language Proficiency
Applicants who possess a certificate of qualification in a trade occupation and possess a language proficiency of CLB 5 or higher can receive additional points. The points breakdown in this category is as follows:
|
Applicant Possesses Certificate for Trade Occupation |
Points for Certificate Plus CLB 5 to under CLB 7 for First Official Language |
Points for Certificate Plus CLB 7 or Higher for First Official Language |
| Certificate for Trade Occupation |
25 |
50 |
Points in Additional Areas
Applicants can receive points in a variety of additional areas. This includes:
- 15 points if the applicant has a sibling that is a citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada.
- 25 points if they scored NCLC 7 or greater on each of the four French skills while scoring CLB 4 or less on their English. Also applicable if they did not take an English test.
- 50 points if they scored NCLC 7 or greater on each of the four French skills while scoring CLB 5 or higher in English.
- 15 points for completing a one or two year post-secondary education credential in Canada.
- 30 points for completing a three year or longer post-secondary education credential in Canada.
- 200 points for having employment in NOC 00 arranged.
- 50 points for having employment in NOC 0, A, or B arranged.
- 600 points for getting a nomination from a province or a territory.
Calculate Your CRS Score
After reading the list above, it should be evident that the CRS relies on many different factors. You can calculate your CRS score easily by using our Express Entry Calculator tool.
Why Choose Elaar Immigration?
If you require assistance or guidance with your Express Entry application please get in touch with Elaar Immigration Consulting. We have assisted numerous prospective immigrants with their applications and can help you on your immigration journey.
