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. Hello,

    My IELTS scores just expired, and I’ve already booked to retake the CELPIP. However my express entry ITA is due in few days. Can I send in my application with a confirmation of booking, and send in results within 3 days of application?

    Thanks

    Reply ↓

  2. What If I get band score 6 in Ielts. And do not have a current job. But have 3 years of customer service experience .
    Do I qualify to apply for express entry application?

    Reply ↓

  3. Hi

    My wife is Primary Applicant with valid IELTS and we have got an ITA ,our score is 459 and we got ITA in 415 draw, my IELTS expired on 30th April 2017.

    As secondary applicant do I need to apply for IELTS or will my wife IELTS be sufficient even if we can deduct my 10 CRS points from 459 we will still have 449.

    Please suggest if anyone have experienced or any comments.

    Thanks

    Reply ↓

  4. Dear Team,
    I’ve done MBA in my home country(Pakistan) and working as a Lecturer in a state university. As per W.E.S equivalency my credentials are equivalent to Canadian Bachelor’s degree (three years) and Bachelor’s degree (four years). My NOC for Express Entry is 4011 for which education requirement for Lecturer is Masters in relevant field, am i eligible to apply under express entry for this NOC with this educational equivalency or not??

    Reply ↓

  5. Hello,
    Me and my spouse would like to apply for express entry. We are eligible. Before I start my application, I have my IELTS score and have completed my ECA. My spouse has her IELTS score however, she is still waiting to complete her ECA. Can I start my application and then add her ECA in a month’s time? Or is it recommended to have it before I start the application? I would really appreciate a response
    sincerely,
    Nilan

    Reply ↓

  6. Hello,

    We have applied for PR. My husband is a primary applicant with ielts score 7 and I have band 6.5.

    We both are postgraduate with 5 years experience. Age is 29.
    Total score now varies from 388-415.

    Please let me know the chances of getting the PR by this Aug.
    Also do I give my ielts again to get a better score. I had 6.5,6,6,7 overall 6.5.

    Reply ↓

  7. Dear CICS Immigration Team,

    I recently cleared my IELTS exams with R:6.5, L:6.5, S:7 & W:7.
    With this do I qualify for the ‘Express Entry’?
    My profession is not the same of my study. But i am working in same professions from last more then 10 years and have done masters in physics from India . could you please guide me the exact process to move ahead. My wife and me both are the post graduate degree holder and are in process for ECA through WES . My wife is having experience of one year in teaching and having age 27 at present and in my case age is 32 and experience is 10.5 years . SO kindly guide me to whom should we considered as a primary applicant me or my wife ?

    Looking forward to your prompt response.

    Thank you.
    Varun

    Reply ↓

  8. Hi

    I got the ITA from express entry, I have finished my masters (2 years) in Canada, have 1.5 work experience, but my undergrad is from Iran. should I asses my undergrad with WES?

    Reply ↓

  9. Hello.i m a iranian nurse.40yr i m a woman.10yr experience in my job.i m take caring to a 90yr mom.havnt any ielts degree and paper.but i can speak english well.i live and work in turky now how you can help me to find a job in canada and work there????

    Reply ↓

  10. Hi, I scored in IETLS folllowing
    LRW – 6.0 each
    Speaking: 6.5

    Is it enough to apply for express entry pr in Canada?

    Please, answer I am getting confuse since cic.gc.ca shows kind of positive.

    Thanks
    Lucky

    Reply ↓

    • Dear Sir/Ma’am,

      What IELTS Band score required for Canada PR express entry visa. ?
      I have 6 years work experience & I am working as a interior designer.
      Also i completed graduation from Delhi university.

      Reply ↓

  11. Hello,

    My application for permanent residence in Canada was submitted last July 07, 2017, however my wife’s language test will expire this 1st week of Sept., 2017. Is it required to renew her test?

    Your kind response is highly appreciated.

    Regards,

    Mark

    Reply ↓

  12. Hai sir, I am a general nurse, I have 11 years of work experience and I worked in both Saudi Arabia and India as well. I am interested in Canada migration , am I eligible through express entry?? Please give me your advis.
    My ielts score is , speaking 7
    Writing 6.5
    Listening 7
    Reading 6.

    Reply ↓

  13. Dear Sir or Madam,
    I would like to know if my wife’s language and education documents are required to fill out the (primitive) profile.
    Furthermore, I have used the “Come to Canada Tool” to find out if I am eligible for Express Entry and to my surprise no inquiry about education was made at the website and finally I was found not eligible.
    Look forward to hearing from you soon.
    Regards,
    A. Shariatifard

    Reply ↓

  14. Sir, I am 50 this year. I am a Bsc . Graduate of textile Science and technology. If I have overall score of 6 in IELTS, am I likely to be eligible for express entry?

    Reply ↓

  15. Sir, I am 50 this year. I am a Bsc . Graduate of textile Science and technology. I have about 14 years work experience in my field, but have never worked in Canada before or have any relative in Canada. If I have overall score of 6 in IELTS, am I likely to be eligible for express entry?

    Reply ↓

  16. Dear sir / madam,
    I am Graduate in BSC Computer science. I have more than 10 years work experience in IT , I have got overall score of 5.5 in IELTS, am I likely to be eligible for express entry? Please suggest.

    Reply ↓

  17. If I have an MS degree from the US University, do I still need to take IELTS if I apply for express entry immigration application?

    Reply ↓

  18. I m a French language teacher.My TEF exam results are R6 L6 W6 S5 ..I will be giving IELTS soon. My question is can I select French as my first language to win points if yes how many points I ll be given. What are the benefits for a French language teacher to select French as a first language. Thanks in advance.

    Reply ↓

  21. Hi,

    I have recently appeared for IELTS academic and got an overall band 8 . Can I apply for PR or I need to appear for IELTS General training module? Please let me know.

    Reply ↓

  22. Dear sir i have 3year diploma in electrical engineering with 10+ experience and also 6.5 band in ielts can i eligible for canada

    Reply ↓

  24. I currently have the following scores in my IELTS exam
    L- 7.0, S-7.0, W-7.0 and R-6.5. Overall as 7.0.
    I have my BSc degree. 3 years work experience and less than 30. Does this give me a fair chance if i apply especially with my IELTS score.

    Reply ↓

    • Can i say that you can calculate score by yourself using the calculator, you will probably qualify, but for maximum points need to get CLB 9 and above, and to do so should get atleast R-7, L-8,W-7,S-7, as with this and a good qualification you get and extra 50, and if you have foreign work you get an extra 50, and dependant on age and your Bsc will give you 125. Then it depends on the score they allocate for each draw each month, it really is about that, and am just saying as i am also applying. Hope this helps.

      Reply ↓

  25. Hello Sir,

    Please find my below details
    In IELTS
    LRW-Scored6 each
    Speaking-Scored7

    Experience-9+years of IT experience in Software testing
    Age-30
    BCA-Graduated

    Is it possible under any program of Canadian PR for which i can apply.

    Please guide.

    Thanks and Regards,
    Sunny

    Reply ↓

  26. Hi,
    I have a 3 years Bachelors degree and a six month certificate from university….will these both considered as two or more degree, certificate, or diploma?? Will WES evaluate my 6-month certificate??? In Express Entry online application, to fill education qualification, for my additional six month certificate, there is no dropdown to select 6 months. The dropdown menu starts with 1 year. I very badly need some extra points. Please give me advise.

    Thanks and regards,

    Saleema

    Reply ↓

  27. DearSir/ Madam,

    I have scored 6 bands in IELTS ( Listening 5.5, Reading 5.5, Writing 5.5, Speaking 7)
    I have Job offer for Restaurant Supervisor position but they employer say i require 6.5 in each module and 7 Bands in total as its requirement for PR.
    Do i have to give IELTS again or its possible to get work permit with 6 bands plz suggest.
    Thanking You
    Khurram Qureshi

    Reply ↓

  28. I have ILETS overall band 6.5 academic
    Reading 6
    Writing6
    speaking 7
    Listening 6
    Am i eligible for Express Entry ? Which Canadian province accept LELTS academic.
    I have Bachelor Degree (India)Graduate Diploma in Business (New Zealand)
    Post Gr Diploma in Banking (India)
    4+ years New Zealand experience 1&1/2 Years Indian Experience in Administration Accounts & Customer Service.
    Reply

    Reply ↓

  30. dear sir/madam,
    hello there, hope you are in good mood and good health,i am majed abou hamdan from lebanon, i got three kids a twins boy and girl age five years and six mounth ,and a younger baby girl age four years.
    i want to ask you kindly if you can advice me how can i immigrate to canada as fast as it can be,my age is 43 and my wife is 38 and we would love to move to canada.
    my wife got uni certificat a meret in sosuiologi and i got a 3 years teqnical deploma BT3 in hospitality.
    we save money for this poupose we have 50000 us$ cash,and we got tow land deed worth 350000 us$ apart from trucks and our car and carpintry machines which i work now for my self.
    my wife is working now as accountant and office manager as well.
    i really apriciate your help and advice our kids like to move to canada more than we do so its evry day story.
    we got 5.5 for my wife and 5.5 for my self in ielts .
    thank you and may god bless you.

    best regards
    have anice day
    majed abou hamdan
    artwoodtouch@gmail.com
    009613774176

    Reply ↓

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