Comprehensive Ranking System - CRS Score
The Comprehensive Ranking System is an essential part of the Express Entry process for Canadian immigration. This points-based system assesses your profile and assigns you a CRS Score, which is then used to rank you in the Express Entry pool. In this blog post, we'll explain how the CRS works and what you need to know in order to maximize your score and have the best chance of success in the Express Entry process.
Overview of the Comprehensive Ranking System
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system that evaluates the profiles of Express Entry applicants. The Comprehensive Ranking System assigns them a score out of a maximum of 1200 points. This CRS score, generated by the Comprehensive Ranking System, is used to rank immigration candidates in the Express Entry pool. The Comprehensive Ranking System bases the CRS score on several factors, including age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria.
Depending on their CRS score from the Comprehensive Ranking System, candidates may be eligible for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programs are all managed through the Express Entry system and require applicants to submit a profile to the Express Entry pool to be eligible. The Comprehensive Ranking System then assigns a CRS score, which is used to rank them in the pool. The highest-ranking candidates in each draw, according to the Comprehensive Ranking System, will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
Who is Eligible to apply through express entry using the CRS Score?
To qualify for Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must score 67 or more points out of a possible 100 from the 6 selection factors. If you score over 67 points, you may be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. However, if your score is lower than 67 points, you will not qualify for this program.
Here are the 6 selection factors:
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Language Skills - Maximum 28 points
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Level of Education - Maximum 25 points
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Work Experience Maximum 15 points)
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Age Maximum 10 points
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Employment - Maximum 10 points
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Adaptability - Maximum 10 points
Use the FSW 67 Points Calculator to check your eligibility.
Applicants with university or college degrees who skilled work experience and can demonstrate proficiency in English and/or French languages may qualify for Express Entry to Canada. They can then to submit an application under one of the following Express Entry programs:
How is the CRS Score calculated by the Comprehensive Ranking System?
The points you get from the Comprehensive Ranking System include a core set of points up to 600 and a set of additional points of up to 600. Your total score will be out of 1,200.
Core: Up to 600 points
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Skills and experience factors
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Spouse or common-law partner factors, such as their language skills and education
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Skills transferability, including education and work experience
Additional: Up to 600 points
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Canadian degrees, diplomas or certificates
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a valid job offer
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a nomination from a province or territory
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a brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident
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strong French language skills
Core points + Additional points = your total score
The Comprehensive Ranking System combines these core and additional points to calculate your total CRS score.
1 ) Core / human capital factors | ||
AGE | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
17 or less | 0 | 0 |
18 | 90 | 99 |
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 | 5 | 6 |
45 or more | 0 | 0 |
LEVEL OF EDUCATION | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
Secondary school (high school) | 28 | 30 |
1-year post-secondary program | 84 | 90 |
2-year post-secondary program | 91 | 98 |
3-year post-secondary program credential or a Bachelor’s degree | 112 | 120 |
2 post-secondary program credentials (one must be of least 3 years) | 119 | 128 |
Master’s OR Entry-to-practice professional degree | 126 | 135 |
Doctorate / PhD | 140 | 150 |
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
First Official Language | Per Ability | Per Ability |
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 | Per Ability | Per Ability |
CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | 1 |
CLB 7 OR 8 | 3 | 3 |
CLB 9 or more | 6 | 6 |
Additional points for both French and English | ||
CLB 7 or more in French and CLB 4 or lower (or none) in English | 25 | 25 |
CLB 7 or more in French and CLB 5 or higher in English | 50 | 50 |
CANADIAN WORK EXPERIENCE | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
0-1 year | 0 | 0 |
1 year | 35 | 40 |
2 years | 46 | 53 |
3 years | 56 | 53 |
4 years | 63 | 72 |
5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
2 ) Spouse or Common-law partner Factors | ||
SPOUSE or COMMON-LAW PARTNER's LEVEL OF EDUCATION | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 | NA |
Secondary school (high school) | 2 | NA |
1-year post-secondary program credential | 6 | NA |
2-year post-secondary program credential | 7 | NA |
3-year post-secondary program credential or Bachelor’s degree | 8 | NA |
2 or more post-secondary program (one must be of at least 3 years) | 9 | NA |
Master’s OR Entry-to-practice professional degree | 10 | NA |
Doctorate / PhD | 10 | NA |
SPOUSE's or COMMON-LAW PARTNER's LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY | ||
First Official Language | Per Ability | Per Ability |
CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | NA |
CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | NA |
CLB 9 or more | 5 | NA |
SPOUSE'S CANADIAN WORK EXPERIENCE | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
Less than a year | 0 | NA |
1 year | 5 | NA |
2 years | 4 | NA |
3 years | 8 | NA |
4 years | 9 | NA |
5 years or more | 10 | NA |
3 ) Skills Transferability Factors | ||
Education & Language | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
1 year post-secondary program degree + CLB 7 or 8 | 13 | 13 |
2 post-secondary degrees/Master’s/PhD + CLB 7 or 8 | 25 | 25 |
1 year post-secondary program degree + CLB 9 in each ability | 25 | 25 |
2 post-secondary degrees/Master’s/PhD + CLB 9 in each ability | 50 | 50 |
Education & Canadian Work Experience | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
1 year post-secondary program degree + 1 year Canadian work experience | 13 | 13 |
2 post-secondary degrees/Master’s/PhD + 1 year Canadian work experience | 25 | 25 |
1 year post-secondary program degree + 2-year Canadian work experience | 25 | 25 |
2 post-secondary degrees/Master’s/PhD + 2-year Canadian work experience | 50 | 50 |
Foreign Work Experience & Language | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
1-2 years + CLB 7 or 8 | 13 | 13 |
3 years + CLB 7 or 8 | 25 | 25 |
1-2 years + CLB 9 or more | 25 | 25 |
3 years + CLB 9 or more | 50 | 50 |
Foreign Work Experience & Canadian Work Experience | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | Without Spouse or Common-law Partner |
1-2 years of foreign work experience + 1-year Canadian work experience | 13 | 13 |
3 years of foreign work experience + 1-year Canadian work experience | 25 | 25 |
1-2 years of foreign work experience + 2-year Canadian work experience | 25 | 25 |
3 years of foreign work experience + 2-year Canadian work experience | 50 | 50 |
Certificate of Qualification and Language | With Spouse or Common-law Partner | With Spouse or Common-law Partner |
Certificate of Qualification + Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 5 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 7 | 25 | 25 |
Certificate of qualification + CLB 7 or more on all four first official language abilities | 50 | 50 |
4 ) Additional Points | ||
Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada | 15 | 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 | 25 |
Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills | 50 | 50 |
Post-secondary education in Canada - credential of one or two years | 15 | 15 |
Post-secondary education in Canada - credential three years or longer | 30 | 30 |
Arranged employment – NOC TEER 0 Major group 00 | 200 | 200 |
Arranged employment – NOC TEER 1, 2 or 3, or any TEER 0 other than Major group 00 | 50 | 50 |
Provincial or territorial nomination | 600 | 600 |