If you're considering immigrating to Canada via an Express Entry program, having a solid understanding of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) can give you a significant edge.
In 2023, Canada issued 110,266 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Permanent Residence (PR) through the Express Entry system, spanning from the first to the last draw of the year. As part of its Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-26, Canada aims to admit an additional 110,000 permanent residents through Express Entry in 2024.
To receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry, you need a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The CRS is a points-based system developed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to help identify economic immigration candidates who are most likely to address critical labour market needs in Canada.
Your chances of receiving an ITA depend heavily on your CRS score—the higher your score, the faster and more likely it is you'll be invited to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry.
Who Can Get a CRS Score?
To be eligible for a CRS score, you must qualify for at least one of the following Express Entry programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
How Does Canada Use CRS to Determine PR?
IRCC holds periodic Express Entry draws, inviting candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). All candidates with scores equal to or above the CRS cutoff in a given draw receive an ITA. In cases of a tie in CRS scores, the candidate’s application date is used as a tiebreaker.
The CRS awards points based on a variety of factors, including:
- Skills
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Work experience
- Age
- Family ties to Canada
- Arranged employment
- Other factors
The total score a candidate can receive ranges from 0 to 1,200 points.
How Does the CRS Calculate Your Score?
The CRS divides a candidate’s score into four key sections:
1. Core Human Capital
This section awards points based on four factors:
- Age
- Level of education
- Official language proficiency (English or French)
- Canadian work experience
Candidates can score up to 500 points if assessed individually, or up to 460 points if assessed with a spouse or common-law partner (with an additional 40 points possible for spousal factors).
2. Spouse or Common-Law Partner
If you’re assessed with a spouse or partner, additional points are awarded based on their education, Canadian work experience, and language proficiency. The combined total for this section (including both partners) is capped at 500 points.
3. Skills Transferability
Points are awarded for combinations of factors that reflect how different qualifications and skills overlap. These combinations include:
- Foreign work experience + Canadian work experience (up to 50 points)
- Foreign work experience + strong official language proficiency (up to 50 points)
- Post-secondary education + strong language proficiency (up to 50 points)
- Post-secondary education + Canadian work experience (up to 50 points)
The maximum possible score for skills transferability is 100 points.
4. Additional Points
This section grants points for other factors, such as:
- Having a sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident
- French language skills (to encourage French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec)
- Canadian post-secondary education
- Arranged employment (points depend on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) category)
- Provincial or territorial nominations, which can award up to 600 points and nearly guarantee an ITA in the next draw.
You can earn up to 600 points in this section.
How High Does Your CRS Score Need to Be?
In 2023, Canada began conducting category-based draws to target specific labour market shortages, which often have lower CRS cutoff scores compared to general draws.
For instance:
- The lowest CRS cutoff score in 2023 was 354 for agriculture and agri-food occupations (on September 28, 2023).
- The lowest cutoff for general draws in 2023 was 481 (on March 29, 2023).
In 2024, the lowest cutoff at the time of publication was 338 for candidates with French language proficiency (on March 26, 2024), while the lowest for general draws was 524 (on March 25, 2024).
You can calculate your CRS score using the official CRS points calculator on the Canadian government’s website or manually using their points breakdown.
Is It Possible to Improve Your CRS Score?
While some factors affecting your CRS score (such as age) are out of your control, others can be improved to boost your score:
- Language Skills: Strong English and French language abilities are crucial. Improving your proficiency in one or both languages and retaking your language test can increase your CRS score significantly. A higher score on the language test directly impacts your overall score.
- Education: Higher education levels can add more points. For example, a master’s degree is worth up to 135 points, while a PhD earns 150 points. Canadian education is highly valued, with automatic points awarded for completing a post-secondary program in Canada.
- Work Experience: Additional work experience, particularly Canadian work experience, can increase your CRS score. Candidates with Canadian work experience can earn up to 70 points in the Core Human Capital section alone, plus additional points in Skills Transferability.
- Arranged Employment: A job offer in a senior role (NOC Major Group 00) can earn 200 points, while jobs in NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3 (or other TEER 0 positions) can add up to 50 points.
- Spouse’s Qualifications: If you’re applying with a spouse or common-law partner, their qualifications, work experience, and language proficiency could increase your score. In some cases, it might even make sense for them to be the primary applicant if they score higher.
What If I Don’t Qualify for Express Entry?
If you don’t qualify for Express Entry, there are other immigration options available, including:
- Base Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): Provinces and territories can nominate candidates outside of the Express Entry system. If you receive a provincial nomination, it can add up to 600 points to your CRS score, giving you a strong chance of receiving an ITA.
- Family or Spousal Sponsorship: If you have family members in Canada, they may be able to sponsor you for immigration.
- Refugee or Humanitarian Programs: Canada also offers immigration pathways for refugees and individuals seeking humanitarian protection.
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