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. i have scored 5.5 in listening, 6 reading, 6 writing, 6 speaking, overall 6 bands, i just want to confirm am i eligible for permanent residency for canada in express entry, i have 15 tears of work experience and i have got my education evaluated from Canadian govt.
    please guide me what to do….

    Reply ↓

  2. I got 6 band in speaking, 6.5 in writing, 7 in listening and 7.5 in reading. Plz tell me if I m eligible for express entry by these band scores???

    Reply ↓

  3. Hi
    If the age of an applicant for Express Entry changes during the process, how is it considered?
    for example: I am 32 now, and I register now so after 4 month it will change to 33. how does it consider: 32 or 33? Does it change until I am invited or that will be fixed after registration?
    thanks a lot.

    Reply ↓

  4. I have got PGD and top up MBA from Glyndwr university from United Kingdom , and the call me as I have B2 level English language skill . My question is ; Do I need IELTS and GT scored certificate for express entry ?

    Reply ↓

  6. My NOC is 6523, comes in level C, i have 3+ years experience into airlines.
    will i be elegible for applying Canada express entry ?? please advise.
    i read somewhere that only with skill level 0, a & b are elegible ???

    Reply ↓

  7. Hi,
    I have tried applying for express entry twice and each time it says ineligible. I am from the UK and have a valid job offer in AB, sufficient funds to support my self and family and over 15 years work experience in my trade. My education is not to good but I have done one year at college and got a trades certificate.
    My Ielts scores are as followed
    Listening 8.0
    Reading 7.0
    Writing 7.0
    Speaking 8.5
    If you could please give me some insight on why I’m ineligible I would appreciate it.
    Many thanks

    Reply ↓

  8. I want to apply Canadian immigration through express entry. I am married but I do not want to claim my spouse. Is it possible? If yes, can I add my spouse any time later in the application?

    Reply ↓

  10. I have 3 years and 10 months of work experience as mechanical design engineer. I am pursuing Masters in Engineering at a University in Canada. Do I need to have my Bachelor’s degree assessed for applying to Express Entry? Because as I am doing my Masters in Canadian University it proves that my Bachelor’s degree was assessed by a Canadian institution and was found appropriate.

    Reply ↓

  11. I have done my MBA from England and lived there for about 6 years ,my questions is do i still need to give the ILETS test?

    Could you please reply me on this query.

    Reply ↓

  12. i am still married but separated.i dont have legal separation or annullment papers yet but i have court order for my childrens custody.will i apply as married status?

    Reply ↓

  13. Dear Sir,

    I was done with all the formalities except completing MyCIC profile. I had encountered a small problems
    1) I did my ECA for post graduate, do I need to do for graduation as well?
    2) Do I need to fill my bacholars degree details as well in qualification column?
    3) I was filling my application, i have 3 members (includes me, my wife and daughter), however no where i was asked to fill the details about my daughter

    Reply ↓

  14. Hi
    I wanted to know am I eligible for express entry my over all score is 6
    Reading 5.5
    Writing 5.5
    Listening 6
    Speaking 6.5
    Over all score 6
    My wife has 5.5 score
    I have MSC degree in Geology certified from ECA,13 years of experience I eligible?

    Reply ↓

  15. Hi i would like to know of im eligible for this program. Im a nurse wokjng for 5 yrs now. Two yrs outside the country. My ielts is academic. R7 s 7.5 w 6 l 8.5 thank you!

    Reply ↓

  16. hii cics immigration team, i have researched alot on express entry and knew almost everything about process and requirements, but still I can’t find minimum work experience required outside of canada.
    I am 21 year old and just got my certificate of qualification in CARPENTER. I am doing full time job in india as carpenter and want to apply asap.
    thanks in advance

    Reply ↓

      • thanks for replying, and i have one year of experience . should I start collecting all documents to apply or I need more work experience? tyia

        Reply ↓

  17. Hi,
    I just recently completed my msc in the UK and i’m back in my home country Nigeria. I have four years work experience and my overall ielts band score is 7.5 with 8.5 highest and 6.5 lowest. How can you guys help proceed. Thanks

    Reply ↓

  18. Hi cic team. When filling out the express entry application, if I put 1 year of foreign work experience, it says I don’t qualify, but when I change it to 2-3 years it then says that I do. Is this a known error? I mean, I have 14 applicable months of work experience, and the min requirement is 1 year, but it doesn’t accept it?

    Reply ↓

  19. Hi, my scores at the ielts where 8,7.5, 8 and 8 I Am in the process of certifing throw a canidian legal company my degree and they say they are equivalents to a B A in business administration,how ever when I fill the form I dont have any state nomination and I dont have any invitation from any employer and the score it give me is around 300 points where the minimun is 461 and more, I read about the state nominations but almost all they requiere a better score than the one I have.

    The reason my score it 300 basicly is because I have never work at Canada and of course never study there, and I am trying to get there in a legal way.

    I also was checking to see if I can have go as a tourist and look for a job , get a LMIA and then go to the borders and then come back again, to gain some canadian working expereince and have a better score, but that option is ilegal and it take a few months to get a LMIA aprobal and it cost around US$1000 for the employer , which basicly is going to take me out of any employment process.

    The other option is just to fill the express entry anyways and start looking for a job on line throw the job bank and other services and hope to find an employer that is interested in sending me and invitation letter.

    Could you please let ne know what other option I might have?

    Best regards

    Reply ↓

  20. Hi! I read in your response that ECA is not required for spouse. My spouse is BE-Computers, and it seems the system has not calculated any points at all for his qualification… Is this normal or have i made a mistake in entering some details? Also if i am married but my spouse does not intend to join me in canada, and if our kids would be accompanying me…is it still mandatory for me to enter my spouse’s details in the form?

    Reply ↓

  21. Hello CIC team,

    I have a quick question in regards to the spouse’s credential assessment. My husband has completed high school and 2 year college degree (no certificate or diploma). Would it be recommended to get his secondary credentials assessed?

    Thank you very much in advance.
    Tina

    Reply ↓

  22. Hello sir m navroop kaur from batala city . I have done 3year diploma in computer engg. And also i have 3year experience of data entry operator . Can i apply for pr in canada.

    Reply ↓

  24. I´m 21 years old I have a multiple visa Type-1 , i have been two times canada on the last 2 years for a total of 6 months becouse my girlfriend is from Quebec, i study international trade and i speak English,French and Spanish, do im able to apply for a Express Visa?

    Reply ↓

  25. Hello Cic team

    Just a quick question.. My Ilets results are valid only till next week and I have not yet initiated the wes process.So, can I still make my express profile and can enter Ilets results and may be when the wes report comes will update it.

    Your quick reply would be really appreciated.

    Thanks

    Reply ↓

  29. I have an experience of teaching in school for 3 to 4 years from 2007 to2011 am prepare my self for ielts I want to apply for PR in canada from India so plz tell me l am eligible or not if a l am then what should I do next and if am not then what I do

    Reply ↓

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