Express Entry – Comprehensive CRS Points Breakdown

Understanding Your Express Entry CRS Score

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to assess and rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. Your CRS score is calculated based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other additional criteria. The maximum CRS score is 1,200 points. Candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws from the pool. Use the detailed breakdown below to understand how points are allocated across different categories and calculate your potential CRS score.

A. Core/human capital factors

You will earn points as if you don’t have a spouse or partner if:

  • they are not coming with you to Canada, or
  • they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Factors Points with a spouse or common-law partner Points without a spouse or common-law partner
Age 100 110
Level of education 140 150
Official languages proficiency 150 160
Canadian work experience 70 80
Point Breakdown of Core/human capital factors

  • With a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 460 points total
  • Without a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 500 points total

Age

Age With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 100 points) Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 110 points)
17 years of age or less 0 0
18 years of age 90 99
19 years of age 95 105
20 to 29 years of age 100 110
30 years of age 95 105
31 years of age 90 99
32 years of age 85 94
33 years of age 80 88
34 years of age 75 83
35 years of age 70 77
36 years of age 65 72
37 years of age 60 66
38 years of age 55 61
39 years of age 50 55
40 years of age 45 50
41 years of age 35 39
42 years of age 25 28
43 years of age 15 17
44 years of age 5 6
45 years of age or more 0 0

Level of Education

Level of Education With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 140 points) Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 150 points)
Less than secondary school (high school) 0 0
Secondary diploma (high school graduation) 28 30
One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 84 90
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 91 98
Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 112 120
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years 119 128
Master’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree,” the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.) 126 135
Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) 140 150

Official languages proficiency – first official language

Maximum points for each ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening):

  • 32 with a spouse or common-law partner
  • 34 without a spouse or common-law partner
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 128 points) Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 136 points)
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

Official languages proficiency – second official language

Maximum points for each ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening):

  • 6 with a spouse or common-law partner (up to a combined maximum of 22 points)
  • 6 without a spouse or common-law partner (up to a combined maximum of 24 points)
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 22 points) Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 24 points)
CLB 4 or less 0 0
CLB 5 or 6 1 1
CLB 7 or 8 3 3
CLB 9 or more 6 6

Canadian work experience

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

B. Spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable)

Factors Points (Maximum 40 points)
Level of education 10
Official language proficiency 20
Canadian work experience 10
Point Breakdown of Spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable)

Spouse’s or common-law partner’s level of education

Spouse’s or common-law partner’s level of education With spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 10 points) Without spouse or common-law partner (Does not apply)
Less than secondary school (high school) 0 n/a
Secondary school (high school graduation) 2 n/a
One-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 6 n/a
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical in school, or other institute 7 n/a
Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 8 n/a
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years 9 n/a
Master’s degree, or professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree”, the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.) 10 n/a
Doctoral level university degree (PhD) 10 n/a

Note: (n/a) means that this factor does not apply in this case.

Spouse’s or common-law partner’s official languages proficiency – first official language

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening) Maximum 20 points for section
Maximum 5 points per ability		 Without spouse or common-law partner (Does not apply)
CLB 4 or less 0 n/a
CLB 5 or 6 1 n/a
CLB 7 or 8 3 n/a
CLB 9 or more 5 n/a

Note: (n/a) means that this factor does not apply in this case.

Spouse’s Canadian work experience

Spouse’s Canadian work experience Maximum 10 points Without spouse or common-law partner (Does not apply)
None or less than a year 0 n/a
1 year 5 n/a
2 years 7 n/a
3 years 8 n/a
4 years 9 n/a
5 years or more 10 n/a

Note: (n/a) means that this factor does not apply in this case.

C. Skill Transferability factors

Education Points (Maximum 50 points)
With good/strong official languages proficiency and a post-secondary degree 50
With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree 50
Foreign work experience Points (Maximum 50 points)
With good/strong official languages proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 or higher) and foreign work experience 50
With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience 50
Certificate of qualification (for people in trade occupations) Points (Maximum 50 points)
With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification 50
Point Breakdown of Skill transferability factors

  • For skill transferability factors: Maximum of 100 points

Education

With good official language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark Level [CLB] 7 or higher) and a post-secondary degree

Education level Points for CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, with one or more under CLB 9 (Maximum 25 points) Points for CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities (Maximum 50 points)
Secondary school (high school) credential or less 0 0
Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer 13 25
Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer 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

With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree

Education level Points for education + 1 year of Canadian work experience (Maximum 25 points) Points for education + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience (Maximum 50 points)
Secondary school (high school) credential or less 0 0
Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer 13 25
Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer 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

Foreign work experience – With good official language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark Level [CLB] 7 or higher)

Years of experience Points for foreign work experience + CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 9 (Maximum 25 points) Points for foreign work experience + CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities (Maximum 50 points)
No foreign work experience 0 0
1 or 2 years of foreign work experience 13 25
3 years or more of foreign work experience 25 50

Foreign work experience – With Canadian work experience

Years of experience Points for foreign work experience + 1 year of Canadian work experience (Maximum 25 points) Points for foreign work experience + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience (Maximum 50 points)
No foreign work experience 0 0
1 or 2 years of foreign work experience 13 25
3 years or more of foreign work experience 25 50

Certificate of qualification (trade occupations) – With good official language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark Level [CLB] 5 or higher)

Qualification Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 5 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 7 (Maximum 25 points) Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 7 or more on all four first official language abilities (Maximum 50 points)
With a certificate of qualification 25 50

D. Additional points

Factor Maximum points per factor
Brother or sister living in Canada (18 years or older, citizen or permanent resident) 15
French language skills 50
Post-secondary education in Canada 30
Provincial or territorial nomination 600
Breakdown of additional points
Additional points Maximum 600 points
Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada 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
Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills 50
Post-secondary education in Canada – credential of one or two years 15
Post-secondary education in Canada – credential three years or longer 30
Provincial or territorial nomination 600

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One of our licensed immigration consultants can speak with you in person, online or on the phone about your unique immigration situation and give you a breakdown of your options.
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862 thoughts on “Express Entry – Comprehensive CRS Points Breakdown”

  1. Dear All,

    I have fulfilled application, but I have not ECA report for my academic degrees/diplomas. However I have bachelors and masters degrees.

    I have questions:
    1) Is it much important to have ECA assessment and how much it will reflect my scores
    2) May I finish application now. Get ECA later and modify application
    3) Maybe there is already list of universities that has assessment already and i can find them somewhere officially

    Thank you in advance for your help!!!

    Reply ↓

  2. Dear CICS team,

    My IELTS General results are
    L:7.0
    R:7.0
    S:6.5
    W:7.0
    over all Band 7.0

    What is the minimum required score for PR application

    I have worked as a health care manager for 7years. I am single I have a bachelors and a graduate degree.
    What are my chances that i will get selected for the express entry pool

    Reply ↓

  3. Dear Sir/Madam,

    My education backgrounds are:
    1) BA in Business Management (London Metropolitan University, London)
    2) MA in Human Resource Management (Middlesex University, London).

    My IELTS General Score:
    Reading :7.5, Listening :7 , Writing: 7, Speaking: 7

    I have 1.5 years of work experience as HR Professional (I am actively working now).

    My question is, Can I apply for Canadian PR visa ? Is the Canadian Immigration system will accept my business degrees ? I am little bit confused with their education assessment criteria.

    Would you please give me some suggestion ?

    I hope, I will get an answer from you.

    Regards,
    Safat

    Reply ↓

  4. Hello – please could you let me know the definition of ‘spouse’? My partner and I have been together for 2.5 years, but do not live together. We’ve been advised elsewhere that we could build a case to prove we’re a couple (previous holiday receipts/ declarations from professional friends etc.) but I’ve not been able to find anything about this on the official website. We’d like to apply as a couple for Express Entry if possible.

    Reply ↓

  7. Hi all,

    I’m having total 9 years experience in different sectors like 2yrs in Banking (INDIA), 5yrs in Production management (Australia), 2+ yrs in Imports (Purchase) (INDIA).
    Academic Backgrounds: Commerce major subject in graduation, MBA(India) and Cert-IV in Adv diploma in Hospitality Management (Australia). had Australian experience in this field but no document proof.

    would please suggest me. on which profession i can apply EE, either management field or Hospitality field.

    How much IELTS band required.

    My wife is Dentist, having no experience, with IELTS (academic) R-6.5, S- 6, W- 6.5 and L-6 O.all- 6.5, she just started college in CANADA.

    Does my wife profile gives any add on points.

    Thanks in Advance.

    Reply ↓

  9. I HAVE DONE MSC BSC BED AND HAVE A JOB EXPERIENCE MORE THEN 5 YEARS IN INDIA , NOW WORKING AT ARIZONA USA . MY CREDENTIAL HAS BEEN DONE IN TEXAS. I HAVE IELTS GEN BAND 7.5 (ALL 6ABOVE)
    PLEASE GUIDE ME HOW TO GET JOB OFFER IN CANADA AND PR AS WELL

    Reply ↓

  10. Hi!i would like to know that i should say yes or no to a question in express entry. The question is : do you have a certificate of qualification issued by a province or territory? And I have a certificate of registration as a Registered Practical nurse issued by college of nurses of ontario.

    Reply ↓

  11. Hello,

    I have engaged an immigration agent for Canada immigration. My WES valuation is done but now the agent is saying to get my wife documents attested and to send for WES. To get my wife educational attested and to be sent to WES directly i would need the WES number. My agent is asking for a bunch of money to handle my wife document. I am the primary applicant. I am not thinking of doing my wife WES registration myself but i need to know how to I link her WES number with mine to CIC knows its meant for me.?

    Thanks,
    Aamir

    Reply ↓

  12. Hi sir

    I completed my Advanced diploma in canada. Was awarded ontario college advanced diploma. My study duration was 2 years. I am not sure according to new points system for education my diploma will be a three year credential or a 2 year crdential.

    Reply ↓

  13. Hi.

    I am a registered Physical Therapist who wants to work and migrate to Canada. May I know if you have an idea if the TOEFL Score accepted by the Canada Alliance of Physiotherapists is also recognized in the Canada Immigration under FSWP,or PNP? I took the TOEFL and passed it but I am wondering if it will be honored by the Immigration or IELTS must be taken too.

    Thank you in advance.

    Reply ↓

  14. Am I eligible for express entry if my 4 years experience is in NOC category C ?
    If not, what would be my second best option to apply for ?
    I have a master degree in PR, ielts score 8, single and 31 years old ?
    Thank you

    Reply ↓

  15. Hi Team,

    Myself and my wife are both holding Master’s degree(ECA thru WES completed) and our IELTS Scores are 8 and 8.5 respectively. Both of us have more than 5 years of relevant experience in our respective fields.

    The CRS tool has indicated that my score would be 471 and my wife’s score would be 479.

    I have already created an express entry profile with me being the primary applicant and my wife as a dependent and it is in the pool.
    However, we were wondering if we can create another profile for the express entry with my wife as primary applicant and me as a dependent considering that her CRS is more than mine and chances of the her profile getting picked is higher?

    Regards,
    VG

    Reply ↓

  16. Does an applicant still have to do the French proficiency examination if he/she has already DELF B2. where should I mention this info? in language skills selection there is only TEF (french exam). Thank you

    Reply ↓

  17. Hi,
    I’m wondering about foreign work experience.
    I have a year foreign work experience. To get points, it should be continuous a year full time work? Which means, that work experience should be continued in ‘one company’ or just continuous experience in a year?
    What about 8 months work experience in 2010, and 4 more months experience in 2011? It can be 1 year, but not gonna be counted because it doens’t mean ‘continuous work experience’?

    Reply ↓

  18. Hi

    I just want to know that can i apply for express entry. as i have 3.5 years of experience in Recruitment.

    My points are:
    L:6 , R:6.5, W:5, S:7

    Reply ↓

  19. I have more than 2.5 years of work experience in global accounts and finance. I have scored 6.5 in reading, writing and speaking. , In listening I got 7.5 points in IELTS. Please advise if I am eligible under express entry system for Canada.

    Reply ↓

  21. Dear Sir/Madam
    I am on H1B in US and my wife is on H4.
    I am a software engineer (M.Tech (Comp Sc.)) with 10 yrs of experience and my wife(MBA, M.Com, M.Phil, PhD pursuing) was a Lecturer in a management institution back in India having 8 yrs of experience and 3 yrs in financial institution. I am interested in Express Entry. Should I apply for me or my wife as primary applicant?Thanks.

    Reply ↓

  22. Hello sirmadam,

    i am 28 years old and i have Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and i have 4.5 years of experience, i have got WES assessment of mine and Wife. My score in IELTS exam is Listening-7, Reading-6, Writing-6 and Speaking-6.
    May i please know whether i am eligable to apply for PR visa.

    Reply ↓

  24. Hello,

    I already had my Express Entry profile submitted but had to make some changes with the new questions being added for Canadian education. Meanwhile, I also received my PNP nomination and updated that question but the options are greyed out and I am unable to edit the response any longer. This is marking my profile incomplete and I’m not able to submit it. I already reported this technical issue but the response I got from CIC is of no help to fix it.

    I wanted to ask if you know other people facing such technical issues? And will it be a wise idea to withdraw my profile and start a new one? I read that it is advised not to create a new profile so I just want to be sure that it will not impact my application in any sense.

    Thanks in advance for your help!
    Sara

    Reply ↓

    • Communicating with CIC about these issues takes a long time to resolve. We recommend that you start a new EE application and contact your province to switch over and attach the PNP to the new Express Entry profile.

      Reply ↓

  25. Hello CIC Immigration Team,

    Please kindly guide me. Today I got my scores as below:-

    Listening :- 7.5
    Reading:- 6.5
    Writing:- 7
    Speaking:- 7

    Sir, I am in the middle of Express entry process. My WES also got approved as equal to Masters level. Please let me know Can I create an express entry Profile for the next step entry pool? Please kindly guide me.

    Reply ↓

  26. Hi,
    my wife has done WES evaluation for her studies in the US. can I use her same ECA in the spouse education category while filling my application for express entry.

    Reply ↓

  27. Hi,
    on the NOC code i am not sure which to select. I am into investment banking where we raise funds (debt /equiy) for corporates from banks and private equity funds. in the profile i also specialize in fund raising for real estate companies.
    which NOC code should i select??

    Reply ↓

  28. Respected sir,

    i had scored overall 6.5 bands in IELTS
    L : 7
    R: 7
    W: 6
    S: 6.5

    Sir , am i eligible to apply for PR via express entry?

    Reply ↓

    • You meet the minimum score required for language. However, there are other factors as well. See federal skilled worker requirement for more information.

      Reply ↓

  29. Sir/Ma
    Please sir.ma,I am an IT Certified Professional ,please can you guide me if i can use this my IELTS score for canada immigration.
    Writing 6.5,Speaking 5.5,Listening 4.0,Reading 4.0

    Thank you.

    Reply ↓

  30. Good afternoon. I have one year experience in teaching and I did the ielts test. I also have a bachelor degree in education. I am 31 yrs old. Can I apply for express entry

    Reply ↓

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