For many years, Canada has operated on a points-based system to select immigrants who can migrate to Canada. An immigration applicant’s eligibility is determined by factors such as age, language, education, and job experience. To qualify for any of the immigration programs that lead to permanent resident status in 2022, candidates must score the required points.
FSW points system to determine eligibility
The Federal Skilled Worker Program, or FSWP, one of Canada Express Entry’s immigration programs follows the FSW points system. In order to enter the Express Entry program, you must meet the eligibility requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker program. If you have the eligibility points, you can enter the Express Entry pool. A candidate’s eligibility is determined using a points grid.
You must have a minimum score of 67 points out of 100 in the FSW points grid. You will be given points under the following criteria:
| Age | Maximum 12 points | Those between 18-35 years get maximum points. Those above 35 get lesser points while the maximum age to qualify is 45 years. |
| Education | Maximum 25 points | Applicant’s educational qualification must be equal to higher secondary education under Canadian standards. |
| Language Proficiency | Maximum 28 points (English and/or French) | Applicants must have at least 6 bands in IELTS. They get extra points if proficient in French. |
| Work Experience | Work Experience
Maximum 15 points |
For minimum points applicants should have at least one-year of full-time work experience. More years of work experience means more points. |
| Adaptability | Maximum of 10 points | If the spouse or common law partner of the applicant is willing to migrate to Canada, he is entitled to 10 extra points for adaptability. |
| Arranged employment | Additional 10 points (not mandatory). | A maximum of 10 points if applicants have a valid offer from a Canadian employer. |
Using the Canada points calculator, you can know whether you are eligible to apply for the FSWP which is part of the Express Entry program.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS, is another essential factor in determining the number of points required to migrate to Canada.
The CRS is a point-based grading and evaluation system for immigrants. The CRS is used to assign a score to immigrants in the Express Entry pool. Immigration applicants who submit their profiles to the Express Entry pool receive a CRS score of 1200 points. The Express Entry draw happens on a regular basis, with a new CRS score for each draw. For each draw, those who meet the CRS score standards will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Canada PR visa. Your chances of being selected improve if you have a high CRS score.
The assessment factors for the CRS score are:
- Skills
- Education
- Language ability
- Work experience
- Other factors
The CRS score for a specific draw is determined by the average score of all candidates in the Express Entry draw pooI. The CRS score is directly proportional to the average CRS score of candidates in the pool. The CRS score increases as the average rises. If you wish to receive an ITA from the Express Entry lottery, you must have the highest score.
If your CRS score isn’t high enough, you’ll need to figure out how to improve it. The criteria that go towards determining your CRS score are listed below.
- Age: You can score the maximum points if you are between 18-35 years. Those above or below this age will gain lesser points.
- Education: Your minimum educational qualification must be equal to the higher secondary education level in Canada. Higher level of educational qualification means more points.
- Work experience: To score the minimum points you should have at least one year of work experience. If you have more years of work experience you will gain more points. Canadian work experience also gives you more points.
- Language ability: You must have at least 6 bands in your IELTS equivalent to CLB 7 to be eligible to apply and score the minimum points.
- Adaptability: You can score ten points on the adaptability factor if your family members or close relatives are living in Canada and will be able to support you when you move in there. You can also gain points if your spouse or legal partner is ready to migrate with you to Canada.
Human capital and spouse common law partner factors: You can score a maximum of 500 points under both these factors. Your human capital score will be calculated based on the criteria mentioned above.
Regarding the points you can score under the spouse/common law partner factor, you can score a maximum of 500 points if your spouse/common-law partner is not coming with you to Canada. You can score a maximum of 460 points if your spouse is coming with you to Canada.
| Human capital factor | Accompanied by spouse/common law partner | Not accompanied by spouse/common law partner |
| Age | 100 | 110 |
| Educational Qualification | 140 | 150 |
| Language proficiency | 150 | 160 |
| Canadian work experience | 70 | 80 |
Skill Transferability: You can gain a maximum of 100 points under this category. The three important factors considered under Skill Transferability include:
Education: You can get 50 points if you have a high level of language competence and a post-secondary degree, or if you have Canadian job experience combined with a post-secondary degree.
Work Experience: You will receive 50 points if you have foreign work experience combined with high-level language competence or if you have Canadian work experience mixed with foreign work experience.
Canadian qualification: A certificate of qualification from Canada with a high degree of linguistic proficiency will earn you 50 points.
| Education | Maximum Points |
| Language Skills (English/French) + Education | 50 |
| Canadian Work Experience + Education | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience | Maximum Points |
| Language Skills (English/French) + Foreign Work Experience | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience + Canadian Work Experience | 50 |
| Certificate of Qualification (Trades) | Maximum Points |
| Language Skills (English/French) + Education Certificate | 50 |
Additional points: It is possible to gain a maximum of 600 points based on various factors. Here is a breakdown of the points for the various factors.
| Factor | Maximum points |
| Sibling in Canada who is a citizen or PR visa holder | 15 |
| French language proficiency | 30 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada | 30 |
| Arranged employment | 200 |
| PNP nomination | 600 |
A good CRS score will help you if you plan to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry program in 2022.
The points required to move to Canada in 2022 are determined by two factors: the 65-point eligibility criteria and the CRS score, which is a variable component that is based on the score your profile will receive.