Everything you need to know about the Comprehensive Ranking System

If you're considering immigrating to Canada via an Express Entry program, understanding the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) can significantly improve your chances.

In 2023, Canada issued 110,266 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Permanent Residence (PR) through its Express Entry system, from the first to the last draw of the year. Looking ahead, under its Immigration Levels Plan 2024-26, the government intends to admit 110,000 more permanent residents through Express Entry in 2024.

To receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system, a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is essential. The CRS is an online points-based system developed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It helps IRCC select the most qualified economic immigration candidates based on their potential to meet urgent needs in Canada’s labor market.

Your chances of receiving an ITA depend significantly on your CRS score. The higher your score, the better and faster your chances of immigrating to Canada through Express Entry.

Can anyone get a CRS score?

Not everyone can receive a CRS score. To get one, a candidate must first be eligible for at least one of the following Express Entry programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Once candidates qualify for one of these programs, they are entered into the Express Entry pool, and their CRS score is calculated.

How does Canada use CRS to determine who gets PR?

Canada uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to determine who gets an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR) through the Express Entry system. Here's how it works:

• Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) periodically hold Express Entry draws, in which candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for PR.
• All candidates in the pool with CRS scores equal to or higher than the CRS cutoff score receive ITAs.
• In cases of a tie for CRS scores, the date of application serves as a tiebreaker.

The CRS awards points based on a variety of factors:

• Skills
• Education
• Language ability (English/French)
• Work experience
• Age
• Family ties to Canada
• Arranged employment
• Other factors

A candidate's total score from these categories can reach 1,200 points. The higher the score, the better the chances of receiving an ITA.

How does the CRS calculate someone’s score?

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) calculates a candidate’s score by dividing it into four key sections. The first section is Core Human Capital, which assesses the following factors:

1. Age
2. Level of education
3. Proficiency in official languages (French or English)
4. Canadian work experience

The maximum score a candidate can achieve in this section depends on whether they are applying individually or with a spouse or common-law partner:

• Individual candidates can earn up to 500 points for their human capital factors.
• Candidates applying with a spouse or common-law partner can earn up to 460 points. In comparison, an additional 40 points can be allocated based on the spouse’s human capital factors (such as language skills, education, and work experience).

This section forms the foundation of the CRS score and is crucial for candidates aiming to maximize their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Spouse or common-law partner

When a candidate is being assessed with a spouse or common-law partner, up to 40 additional points can be awarded based on the spouse's qualifications and skills. These points are distributed across three key areas:

1. Spouse’s educational qualifications
2. Spouse’s Canadian work experience
3. Spouse’s language proficiency (English or French)

These additional points supplement the candidate’s Core Human Capital score. Whether a candidate is assessed with or without a spouse, the combined maximum points for these two sections (Core Human Capital and Spousal Factors) remain at 500.

Skills transferability

In the Skills Transferability section, candidates can earn additional points based on how their qualifications and skills combine to enhance their suitability for Canada's labor market. Points are awarded for the following combinations:

1. Foreign work experience + Canadian work experience: up to 50 points.
2. Foreign work experience + good official language proficiency: up to 50 points.
3. Post-secondary credential + good language proficiency: up to 50 points.
4. Post-secondary credential + Canadian work experience: up to 50 points.

The maximum a candidate can earn for skills transferability is 100 points. This section helps IRCC gauge how a candidate’s skills will be useful in the Canadian labor market.

Additional points

In the Additional Points section of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), candidates can earn up to 600 points for various factors beyond their core human capital and skills transferability. Points are awarded for the following:

• Having a sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident.
• French language skills, supporting the government's efforts to welcome more French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec.
• Post-secondary education in Canada can give extra points to those who studied within the country.
• Arranged employment, with the number of points depending on the job's classification under the National Occupation Classification (NOC).
• Provincial or territorial nominations, which provide an additional 600 points, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in upcoming draws.

These points help boost candidates' chances of receiving an ITA by recognizing additional factors that contribute to their likelihood of succeeding in Canada.

How high does my score need to be?

To qualify for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score you need depends on the type of draw. In 2023, category-based selection draws were introduced to target specific labor market shortages. These category-specific draws often have lower CRS cut-off scores compared to general draws.

• The lowest cut-off score in 2023 was 354 for agriculture and agri-food occupations (September 28, 2023).
• The lowest CRS score for a general draw in 2023 was 481 (March 29, 2023).
• In 2024, the lowest score so far is 338 for the French language proficiency category (March 26, 2024), while the lowest score for general draws is 524 (March 25, 2024).

You can calculate your CRS score by using the points assigned for various skills and qualifications on the Government of Canada's official website.

You can determine your CRS score by manually adding points based on the specific criteria or by using a CRS points calculator available online. The calculator can provide a clearer and quicker estimate of your score, helping you understand your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.

Is it possible to improve my CRS score?

While some factors in your CRS score, such as age, are beyond your control, there are several areas where you can enhance your score:

Language Abilities

Your proficiency in English and French significantly impacts your CRS score, potentially earning you up to 310 points when combined with other qualifications.

If you're aiming to boost your CRS score, consider improving your language skills and retaking the language test. Keep in mind that if you achieve a lower score on the second attempt, that will be the score used to calculate your overall CRS score.

Education

Your educational qualifications play a crucial role in determining your CRS score, with higher levels of education translating to more points. Here’s a breakdown:

• Master’s Degree: Up to 135 points
• PhD: Up to 150 points

Additionally, the CRS assigns extra points for Canadian education:

• Three or more years of post-secondary education in Canada: 30 additional points
• One or two years of post-secondary education in Canada: 15 additional points

For candidates with foreign degrees, obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is essential to verify that your qualifications are equivalent to Canadian credentials. This assessment can enhance your CRS score by confirming the value of your education in the Canadian context.

Work Experience

Your work experience is a significant factor in determining your CRS score. Here’s how it works:

1. Skilled Employment: To earn points, your job duties must align with Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) skilled categories.
2. Canadian Work Experience: Candidates can earn up to 70 points in the Core Human Capital section based on their Canadian work experience. Additional points can be awarded in the Skills Transferability section, depending on the combination of your work experience with other factors like education and language proficiency.
3. Foreign Work Experience: You can also gain points for foreign work experience, but the maximum is typically lower than for Canadian experience.

To maximize your CRS score, consider accumulating more skilled work experience, as this can significantly enhance your overall ranking in the Express Entry pool.

Arranged Employment and CRS Points

1. Major Group 00: Arranged employment in senior management roles (NOC Major Group 00) can earn you 200 CRS points.
2. NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3: Offers in NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3, or any TEER 0 roles (excluding Major Group 00) can provide 50 CRS points.

Having arranged employment can significantly boost your CRS score, enhancing your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.

Spouse or Common-Law Partner's Qualifications

When applying through Express Entry, candidates can evaluate whether their spouse or common-law partner would be a stronger primary applicant. Considerations include:

• In-Demand Occupations: If the partner works in an in-demand field, they may score higher.
• Qualifications: Factors like age, education, and French language proficiency can influence the overall score.

By assessing these factors, couples can strategically maximize their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and improve their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.

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