The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system used by the Canadian government to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. It assigns a score to each candidate based on various factors, such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability.
The CRS is designed to assess the potential of candidates to succeed in the Canadian labor market and contribute to the country’s economy. It helps the government identify candidates with the highest chances of integrating successfully into Canadian society.
The CRS assigns points to candidates based on the information provided in their Express Entry profile. The maximum CRS score a candidate can achieve is 1,200 points. The factors that contribute to the CRS score include:
- Core Human Capital Factors : These factors contribute a maximum of 500 points for age, level of education, official language proficiency (English or French), and Canadian work experience including those of the spouse of the principal applicant (if Applicable).
- Skill Transferability Factors : These factors assess the combination of a candidate’s education, language proficiency, and work experience to determine their potential for success in the Canadian labor market. One can get a maximum of 100 points for this.
- Additional Factors : Candidates can earn additional 600 points for factors such as having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, obtaining a provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or having a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The CRS scores of candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked against each other, and the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws conducted by the Canadian government.
It’s important to note that the CRS cutoff score for each draw varies depending on the number of candidates in the pool and the specific needs of the Canadian labor market. Having a higher CRS score increases the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence, but meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation.
Candidates can improve their CRS score by enhancing their qualifications, such as improving language proficiency, gaining more work experience, or obtaining a valid job offer or provincial nomination.
Comprehensive Ranking System Score
Comprehensive Ranking System assigns score based on Core Factors and Additional Factors with a weightage of 600 points each and a total of 1200 points.
The Core Factors are further divided into three sections:
- Human Capital Factors
- Spouse or Common Law Partner Factors
- Skill Transferability Factors
The Core factors collectively carry maximum of 500 points. In case of married candidates the Human Capital Factors carry a maximum of 460 points and the Spouse or Common Law Partner Factors carry 40 points. In case of Single Candidates, the Human Capital Factors only carry a maximum of 500 Points. Candidates who are married but their spouse is already a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident, or the spouse is not going to accompany them to Canada are treated and scored as single candidates.
These factors carry the maximum points as per the table below:
1. Human Capital Factors
| FACTORS | POINTS WITH A SPOUSE OR COMMON-LAW PARTNER (MAXIMUM 460) | POINTS WITHOUT A SPOUSE OR COMMON-LAW PARTNER (MAXIMUM 500) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 100 | 110 |
| Level of Education | 140 | 150 |
| Official Languages Proficiency | 150 | 160 |
| Canadian Work Experience | 70 | 80 |
2. Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors
| FACTORS | POINTS PER FACTOR (MAXIMUM 40 POINTS) |
|---|---|
| Level of Education | 10 |
| Official Language Proficiency | 20 |
| Canadian Work Experience | 10 |
It is evident from the above tables that the total of Human Capital Factors and Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors carry Maximum of 500 Points.
3. Skill Transferability Factors
Skills Transferability Factors carry a Maximum 100 Points. These factors are based on the combination of Education, Language Ability and Work Experience of the Principal Applicant.
| EDUCATION | POINTS PER FACTOR (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 PER FACTOR (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 PER FACTOR (MAXIMUM 50 POINTS) |
|---|---|
| With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification | 50 |
4. Additional Factors
Additional factors can add a Maximum 600 Points to your CRS score. Although the below table shows that the points add upto a much higher value but the system will only grant maximum 600 points.
| FACTOR | MAXIMUM POINTS PER FACTOR |
|---|---|
| Brother or Sister living in Canada as a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident | 15 |
| French Language Skills | 50 |
| Post-secondary Education in Canada | 30 |
| Arranged Employment – TEER 0 Major group 00 | 200 |
| Arranged Employment – NOC TEER 1, 2 or 3 or any TEER 0 other than Major group 00 | 50 |
| Provincial Nomination | 600 |
You can see the detailed Comprehensive Ranking System Score for individual factors and to calculate yours download our CRS calculation sheet.