CANADA EXPRESS ENTRY – 2023
CRS POINTS SYSTEM – Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
You Need to Make Sure That Your CRS Score Is Above the Minimum Points Score of Your Round of Invitations
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a ranking system that gives rank to profiles in the Express Entry pool. The system gives points to candidates on the basis of information submitted by them while also considering other major factors. Following are the major factors on the basis of which points are given by CRS calculator:
- Core Human Capital Factors
- Spouse/Common-law partner Factors
- Skill Transferability Factors
- Additional Points
CRS has a total of 1200 points, in which a maximum of 600 points are given for the following factors:
- Core Human Capital
- Spouse/Common-law Partner
- Skill Transferability Factors
While the remaining 600 points are given for additional factors, that include:
- Provincial nomination Program (PNP)
- Language proficiency in French
- Arranged employment in Canada (LMIA Approved Jobs)
Maximum points you can get when moving without your spouse/common-law partner
Please see the table below to know the maximum points you can get for different factors when you move to Canada without your spouse or common-law partner:
Factor | Maximum Points |
Core Human Capital | 500 |
Skill Transferability | 100 |
Provincial Nomination | 600 |
Arranged Employment | 200 |
Canadian Study Experience | 30 |
For Sibling living in Canada | 15 |
Language Proficiency | 30 |
Maximum points you can get when moving with your spouse/common-law partner
Look at the table below to get an understanding of the maximum points you can get for various factors when you move to Canada with your spouse or common-law partner:
Factor | Maximum Points |
Core Human Capital | 460 |
Skill Transferability | 40 |
Provincial Nomination | 600 |
Arranged Employment | 200 |
Canadian Study Experience | 30 |
For Sibling living in Canada | 15 |
Language Proficiency | 30 |
How are the points calculated for Canada CRS score in express entry 2023?
You can look at the following tables to understand how points are given to candidates based on certain factors which we have discussed above. Using the information given about the various factors in these tables, candidates who want to immigrate to Canada in 2021 will be able to calculate their CRS score.
As discussed already CRS calculator awards points to candidates out of maximum 1200 for the following factors:
- Core/human capital factors
- Spouse/common-law partners factors
- Skill transferability factors
- Additional points factors
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Criteria – Express Entry
Note If your spouse or partner is not coming with you to Canada, or they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you will earn points as if you don’t have a spouse or partner.
Summary of maximum points per factor for Express Entry candidates
| Factors | Maximum points Awarded |
| Language Proficiency | 28 |
| Educational Qualifications | 25 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Age | 12 |
| Arranged Employment | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
Following Ontario PNP points system will help you to calculate your Ontario PNP points 2023:
Factor 1: Language Proficiency
| CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
| Level 9 or higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Level 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Level 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Below level 7 | Not eligible to apply | |||
Factor 2: Educational Qualifications
| Education | Points Awarded |
| Doctoral (Ph.D.) level or equivalent | 25 |
| Masters level, or equivalent, OR an entry-to-practice professional degree, or equivalent. Occupational related to the degree must be: NOC 2011 Skill Level A and Licensed by a provincial regulatory body | 23 |
| Two or more Canadian post-secondary credentials (at least one program of at minimum three years), or equivalent | 22 |
| Canadian post-secondary credential for a program of three years or longer, or equivalent | 21 |
| Two-year Canadian post-secondary credential, or equivalent | 19 |
| One-year Canadian post-secondary credential, or equivalent | 15 |
| Canadian high school diploma, or equivalent | 5 |
Factor 3: Work Experience
| Duration of Work Experience | Points Awarded |
| Less than 1 year | Ineligible |
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 6 or more years | 15 |
Factor 4: Age
| Age (in Years) | Points Awarded |
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
| 44 | 3 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 or older | 0 |
Factor 5: Arranged Employment in Canada
| If | And | Points |
Applicant currently work in Canada on a temporary work permit | A work permit is valid both when applying and when the visa is issued AND IRCC issued work permit based on positive LMIA AND applicant is working for the employer named on the work permit who has made a permanent job offer | 10 |
| Applicant work in Canada in a job that is exempt from LMIA requirement under: An international agreement or A federal-provincial agreement | Work Permit is valid both when applying and when the visa is issued AND Current employer has made a permanent offer | 10 |
| Applicant currently do not: Have a work permit, or Plan to work in Canada before getting a PR Visa OR Applicant currently working in Canada and a different employer offer a permanent full-time job; OR Applicant currently working in Canada that is exempt from LMIA but not under an international or federal-provincial agreement | The employer has made a permanent offer AND An employer has positive LMIA | 10 |
Factor 6: Adaptability
| Adaptability factors | Points |
| Arranged employment (principal applicant only) Points under Factor 5: Arranged Employment | 5 |
| Candidate’s previous study in Ontario Candidate completed at least two academic years of full-study at a secondary or post-secondary school in the province | 5 |
| Spouse or common-law partners previous study in the province Candidate’s spouse or common-law partner completed at least two academic years of full-study at a secondary or post-secondary school in Ontario | 5 |
| Candidate’s Previous work in Ontario Candidate must complete a minimum of one year of full-time work in the province: In a skilled occupation Skill type 0, A or B; and With a valid work permit or while authorized to work in Canada | 5 |
| Spouse or common-law partner’s previous work in Ontario The candidate’s spouse or common-law partner completed one-year full-time work in the province | 5 |
| Relatives in Ontario Candidate or their spouse or common-law partner, have a relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Ontario and is 18 years or older | 5 |
| Spouse or common-law partner’s language proficiency Minimum CLB level 4 or higher in all four categories (Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing) | 5 |
After you scored 67 points, you can create your profile and get submitted into the federal government’s express entry pool. After you have been submitted into the pool, your profile will be given CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) points. CRS points are given based on your credentials like work experience, language proficiency, age, etc. Following table shows how points are awarded in CRS for the Ontario immigration points system:
Core Human Capital Factors
Points awarded while applying for Canada PR Visa with a spouse or common-law partner:
| Factor | Points Awarded |
| Age | 100 |
| Educational Level | 140 |
| Language Proficiency | 150 |
| Work Experience in Canada | 70 |
Following are the points that are awarded if the candidate is applying without a spouse or common-law partner:
| Factor | Points Awarded |
| Age | 110 |
| Educational Level | 150 |
| Language Proficiency | 160 |
| Work Experience in Canada | 80 |
Spouse or Common-law Partner Factors
| Factor | Points Awarded |
| Educational Level | 10 |
| Language Proficiency | 20 |
| Work Experience In Canada | 10 |
Skill Transferability Factors
| Education | Points Awarded |
| A post-secondary degree and with strong language proficiency in the official language | 50 |
| With Canadian experience and a post-secondary degree | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience | Points Awarded |
| Foreign work experience and strong proficiency in the official language | 50 |
| With Canadian experience and a post-secondary degree | 50 |
| Certification of Qualification | Points Awarded |
| Certificate of qualification and strong proficiency in the official language | 50 |
Additional Factors
| Factors | Points Awarded |
| Post-secondary education in Canada | 30 |
| Arranged Employment | 200 |
| Provincial Nomination | 600 |
| French Language Proficiency | 30 |
| Siblings living in Canada | 15 |
With the total of all the above-mentioned factors, the maximum points for a candidate are 1200 points. Additional factors award the candidates, with a maximum of 600 points. The remaining 600 points are awarded to the candidates based on Core Human Capital Factors + Spouse or common-law partner Factors + Skill Transferability Factors.
How can you Improve your CRS Score?
Many applicants often fail to achieve the CRS cut-off score declared in Express Entry draws. For them, it is important to get a detailed understanding of various factors that directly impact their CRS score and identify the ways to improve it.
Let’s discuss a few factors which can help the candidates to improve their CRS score and receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian PR Visa:
- Sibling in Canada
If a candidate has a sibling living in Canada as a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident, their CRS score will increase by 15 points.
- Higher Education
Education is one of the high-contributing factors to your CRS score. The higher education you have, higher the points you get. For example, doctorate-level education helps you get the maximum CRS points for education, which is 140 points.
- Proficiency in the French language
Candidates who have proficiency in French except for English, they get extra points for that. For this, they have to declare French as their Second Official Language and need to share the results of their French language proficiency test to get CRS points for it. An approved French language test needs to be taken for this purpose.
- Retake language test/Improve Language Scores
CRS points are awarded to the candidates who have proven their language proficiency in either of the official languages of Canada – English or French. Candidates can always retake the relevant language test to improve their score, which can directly help them in improving their CRS score.
- Gain more work experience
Under the Skill Transferability factor, extra points are given to candidates with greater work experience. Those applicants who have less than 3 years of work experience, can continue to work to gain more work experience to improve their CRS score.
- Get a Provincial Nomination Certificate
This is one of the best ways to improve your CRS score. Those Express Entry applicants who are able to get a provincial nomination certificate, get extra 600 CRS points. This helps them to improve their chances of getting a Canada PR visa.
- LMIA approved Job-offer
In case an applicant is able to get a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approved job offer, it will help them to add 50 CRS points to their CRS score.
- Spouse – Primary Applicant
In case, an applicant wants to immigrate with their spouse who has a higher CRS score, they can simply make their spouse the primary applicant which will improve their chances of getting a Canada PR visa.
Previous Track of CRS Score 2020
Following are the express entry draws held in year 2020 with their respective CRS score cut-offs:
Draw Number | Date | Number of ITAs issued | Minimum CRS Points Required |
Draw 140 | Mar 23, 2020 | 3,232 | 467 |
Draw 139 | Mar 18, 2020 | 668 | 470 |
Draw 138 | Mar 4, 2020 | 3,900 | 471 |
Draw 137 | Feb 19, 2020 | 4,500 | 470 |
Draw 136 | Feb 5, 2020 | 3,500 | 472 |
Draw 135 | Jan 22, 2020 | 3,400 | 471 |
Draw 134 | Jan 8, 2020 | 3,400 | 473 |
Frequently asked questions regarding CRS Score:
- How many CRS points are required for Canada PR?
As per the latest Express Entry draw, you need a minimum of 470 CRS points to be eligible for Canada PR Visa. If you have the minimum required CRS score, you will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) that allows you to submit your application for Canada PR Visa to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You will have 60 days to do this from the date of being issued the ITA. In case you don’t have the minimum required CRS score, you can always try to improve it through the various ways shared in the article.
- What is the 67 points calculator and how can I get 67 points?
A 67 points calculator is used to check an applicant’s eligibility for the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), which is one of the 3 programs under the Express Entry system.
Applicants are given points on the basis of various selection factors, which are:
Factor | Maximum Points |
Work experience | 15 points |
Arranged employment | 10 points |
Age | 12 points |
Education | 25 points |
Language proficiency | 28 points |
Adaptability | 10 points |
You can try to score the maximum for each factor which will likely take you past the minimum requirement of 67 points. Once you score 67 points, you can apply for Canada PR under the FSWP.
- I have a low IELTS score, how can I get Canada PR?
To be eligible for Canada PR, the minimum IELTS score for each band is 6. If you have a low IELTS score, either you can retake the IELTS test with better preparation or apply for PR under a Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). There are some PNPs such as Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) etc. that allow candidates with an IELTS score as low as 4.5 to apply for Canada PR Visa.
- Is the IELTS score of 7 across bands good for Canada PR?
An IELTS score of 7 per band is a good score which can tremendously increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR Visa. In fact, having a score of 6 per band in IELTS makes you eligible to apply for Canada PR Visa via the Express Entry program. In this program, CRS points are given to candidates on the basis of their language proficiency. A high score in the IELTS test will get you higher CRS points.
- How can I calculate my CRS score for Canada PR?
To know your CRS score, you can use our latest CRS calculator. This will help you check if you are able to meet the minimum CRS points requirement for Canada PR Visa. Only when you have the minimum required CRS score, you will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR.
- What are the chances of the CRS score coming down in the upcoming express draws?
There are factors that can impact the minimum CRS score requirement, the major ones being – the size of the Express Entry draw and the time interval between two consecutive draws. The minimum required CRS score comes down if the number of candidates in an Express Entry draw is high. On the other hand, it goes up when there is a longer gap between the Express Entry draws. To know more about the prediction of upcoming express draws CRS score cut-off, please click here.
- How can I apply for Canada PR with a low CRS score?
Major immigration alternative to Express Entry program for Canada PR, are the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), with every province in Canada having its own PNP. Of these, there are a few PNPs that do not have the requirement of CRS score. These PNPs rather have their own requirements such as a job offer from an employer in the province, work experience in an in-demand occupation, etc. Candidates who fulfil these requirements can get a provincial nomination for Canada PR Visa with a low CRS score.
- How can I apply for Canada Express Entry?
What are the factors to check whether you are eligible for a Canada PR Visa?
The fastest possible way to apply for a Canada PR Visa is the Express Entry, where an ideal PR Visa application takes around 6 to 8 months to process. Express entry program manages the application of the immigrants who have applied for PR Visa through three major immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
To apply for a PR Visa through the Express entry program as a skilled worker, you have to score 67 out of 100 points in the FSW assessment grid. These scores are awarded based on the following factors
Language Proficiency
First Official Language (Maximum 24 Points)
| CLB Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
| CLB 9 or higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| CLB 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Below CLB 7 | Not eligible to Apply | Not eligible to Apply | Not eligible to Apply | Not eligible to Apply |
Second Official Language (Maximum 4 Points)
| CLB Level | Score |
| At least CLB 5 | 4 |
| CLB 4 or lower | 0 |
| Age (In Years) | Score |
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
| 44 | 3 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 or older | 0 |
Educational Qualifications(Maximum 25 Points)
| Education Level | Score |
| University degree at the Doctoral (Ph.D.) level or equal | 25 |
| University degree at the Master’s level or equal OR University level entry-to-practice professional degree | 23 |
| Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees or diploma or equal (Duration of one must be at least 3 years) | 22 |
| Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for duration of 3 years or more, or equal | 21 |
| Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for duration of 2 years, or equal | 19 |
| Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for duration of 1 year, or equal | 15 |
| Canadian high school diploma, or equal | 5 |
Work Experience (Maximum 15 points)
| Experience (in years) | Score |
| 1 | 9 |
| 2-3 | 11 |
| 4-5 | 13 |
| 6 or more | 15 |
Arranged Employment (Maximum 10 points):If the candidates immigrate to Canada with a full-time permanent job offer from an eligible employer of the province. The job offered for the occupation, that occupation must be categorised under NOC skill level O, A, or B.
Adaptability (Maximum 10 points): If the candidate has a relative living in Canada as a permanent residence or citizen, additional scores are awarded for the same. Maximum 10 points are awarded under this category.
| Adaptability | Score |
| Spouse’s or partners language level | 5 |
| Candidates past studies in Canada ( Min 2 years of full-time study at a secondary-post secondary school) | 5 |
| Spouse’s past studies in Canada (Min 2 years of full-time study at a secondary-post secondary school) | 5 |
| Candidate’s past work (Min 1 year of full-time work experience in Canada) | 10 |
| Spouse’s past work (Min 1 year of full-time work experience in Canada) | 5 |
| Arranged employment | 5 |
| Candidates or Spouse’s relatives in Canada | 5 |
You can check your points with our Express entry points calculator and know your PR Visa points.
If in case you are not able to get 67 out of 100, you can do the following things to increase your score:
- Get a job offer from Canada
- Increase your language skills
- Pursue another higher education degree, diploma, or certificate
How to apply for a Canada PR Visa?
After you scored 67 and met the minimum requirements as a federal skilled worker, you are eligible to create an express entry profile online. After submitting your EOI (Expression of Interest) profile, it is pooled with other candidates’ profiles in the express entry pool. The express entry program uses a ranking system known as CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) that assesses profiles based on various factors and awards points for the same.
The highest-ranked profiles in the pool are issued invitations through frequently held express entry draws. After getting an ITA (Invitation to Apply), you will have 60 days to submit your PR Visa application to the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) along with all the required documents.
How does the CRS calculator work?
As mentioned above, Express entry uses CRS to rank profiles in the pool. CRS score is awarded based on two factors in the express entry score calculator:
Core factors
Maximum 600 CRS points are awarded based on these core factors that include:
- Core/ Human Capital factors
- Skill Transferability factors
- Spouse or Common-law partner factors
Additional factors
Under the additional factors maximum of 600 CRS points are awarded based on the following factors:
- Provincial Nomination
- Canadian education like degrees, diploma or certificate
- Valid job offer
- French language proficiency
- Siblings living in Canada as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
IRCC issues ITAs through frequently held express entry draws. In each express entry draw, IRCC sets the CRS score cut-off, inviting only those profiles who meet the minimum CRS score requirement.
You can check your CRS score with the help of our Canada immigration points calculator and know your chances of getting an ITA in the latest rounds of invitations.
How to increase your CRS score?
- Improve your language skills: If you score well on IELTS, your CRS score will improve. For example, if you get a CLB level 9, you will get up to 136 points added to your CRS score. Taking a French language test can also add up to 72 points.
- Get a provincial nomination: If you receive a nomination from a Canadian province, you will receive an additional 600 CRS points for your Express Entry profile.
- Get an LMIA job offer: If you receive a job offer recognized by the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from a Canadian employer, you can add up to 200 points to your CRS score.
- Canadian education: Up to 30 additional points can be earned for a recognized degree or diploma in Canada.
