How to calculate your Express Entry CRS score

What programs come under IRCC Express Entry?

[1] Federal Skilled Worker program [FSWP]: for skilled workers with foreign work experience that intend to take up permanent residence in Canada

[2] Federal Skilled Trades Program [FSTP]: for skilled workers that want to take up Canada PR based on their being qualified in a particular skilled trade.

[3] Canadian Experience Class [CEC]: for skilled workers with previous – as well as recent – Canadian work experience that want to take up permanent residence in Canada.

To be in the Express Entry pool, you will have to qualify for any 1 the above 3 economic immigration programs of Canada.

An individual might qualify for more than 1 programs. In such situations, they will have to specify the specific program that they wish to be considered by IRCC for.

Additionally, the Provincial Nominee Program [PNP] of Canada, also referred to as Canadian PNP, has many immigration pathways or ‘streams’ linked with IRCC Express Entry.

PNP nominations through Express Entry aligned streams are referred to as ‘enhanced’ nominations and have a completely online application process.

Fetching 600 points on its own, a PNP nomination guarantees an invitation to apply by IRCC for that Express Entry candidate.

Applying for Canadian permanent residence through the federal Express Entry system is by invitation only.

The higher the CRS score that you have, the brighter the chances of your being issued an ITA by IRCC in an Express Entry draw held subsequently.

An Overview of CRS score calculation for IRCC Express Entry

Core [Factors A, B, C] points: 600

Additional [Factor D] points: 600

CRS score of a candidate = A + B + C + D

[Note. Here, points allotted per factor will differ between applying with or without spouse/partner.

For example, the factor of ‘age’ can get you CRS 100 if applying with spouse/partner, and CRS 110 if applying without spouse/partner.]

With a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 460 points.

Without a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 500 points.

Factors assessed

–          Age

–          Education

–          Language proficiency [IELTS, CELPIP etc.]

–          Canadian work experience

Maximum 40 points available.

–          Education

–          Language proficiency [IELTS, CELPIP etc.]

–          Canadian work experience

+ B. Spouse or common-law partner

= Maximum 500 points

Maximum 100 points available.

–          Education

–          Foreign work experience

–          Certificate of qualification [only for those in trade occupations]

+ B. Spouse or common-law partner

+ C. Transferability factors

= Maximum 600 points

D. Additional points 

Maximum 600 points available. 

–          PNP nomination [CRS 600 points]

–          Arranged employment, that is, job offer in Canada [CRS 200 points]

–          French language skills [CRS 50 points]

–          Post-secondary education in Canada [CRS 30 points]

–          Brother or sister living in Canada as a PR or citizen [CRS 15 points]

CRS score of the candidate –

   A. Core/human capital

+ B. Spouse or common-law partner factors

+ C. Transferability factors

+ D. Additional points

= Grand total

CRS – A. Core / human capital factors

Total points available:

–          With a spouse or common-law partner – Maximum 460 points

–          Without a spouse or common-law partner – Maximum 500 points

Factor 1 of 4: Age

Applying without a spouse or partner can get you up to 110 points for age.

Those between 20 – 29 years of age are eligible for the maximum points.

Being 17 years or less will get you 0 points.

On the other end of the spectrum, 45 years or above for age will also get you 0 points.

The exact points for the factor vary from age to age.

Factor 2 of 4: Education

·         With spouse/partner: maximum 140 CRS points

·         Without spouse/partner: maximum 150 points

A PhD will fetch you the maximum points.

A Master’s degree, or professional degree that might be required for practicing in a licensed profession is worth 126 points [with a spouse/partner], or 135 [without a spouse/partner].

Note. An Educational Credential Assessment [ECA] report will be required for establishing the equivalent of the foreign education to the Canadian educational standard.

An “ECA for immigration purposes” will have to be secured, from IRCC designated organizations, such as World Education Services [WES]. For a list of the Universities in India Recognized by WES for ECA of Immigrants, see here.

Factor 3 of 4: Languages proficiency

Here, you can get a maximum of 128 points – that is, 32 maximum points each for the 4 abilities (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) assessed – when applying with a spouse/common-law partner.

Applying without a spouse/partner will get you maximum of 136 points. 34 points each are allotted to each of the 4 abilities.

CLB 10 is worth the maximum points attainable under the factor.

By ‘CLB’ is implied the Canadian Language Benchmark. CLB 10 is equal to the following score in IELTS – reading: 8.0, writing: 7.5, listening 8.5, and speaking: 7.5.

Up to a combined maximum of 22 CRS points when applying with a spouse/partner.

Applying without a spouse/partner can get a combined maximum of 24 CRS.

Here, 6 points will be given for each of the abilities.

Factor 4 of 4: Canadian work experience

1 year of Canadian work experience is worth 35 points [with spouse/partner], or 40 points [without spouse/partner].

CRS – B. Spouse or common-law partner factors [if applicable]

Masters’ or PhD degree is worth the maximum 10 points available for this factor.

Maximum 20 points available, 5 points for each of the 4 abilities assessed.

CLB 9 or more is worth the maximum of 20 points available.

For the sake of conversation, CLB 9 is equal to the following in IELTS – reading: 7.0, writing: 7.0, listening: 8.0, and speaking: 7.0.

Maximum attainable points for the factor: 10 points [for an experience of 5 years or above].

Maximum points available: 100 

Good official language proficiency AND a post-secondary degree 

Maximum available – 100 points

Quebec is the only province not a part of Canadian PNP. Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has a greater autonomy over the selection of newcomers.

The territory of Nunavut, on the other hand, has no immigration program as such.

Now, there are around 80 immigration pathways or ‘streams’ available under the PNP of Canada.

Each of the PNP streams targets a specific class of immigrants. A PNP stream might target –

·         Skilled workers,

·         Semi-skilled workers,

·         International students, or

·         Businesspeople.

The eligibility criteria vary from stream to stream. Provincial and territorial [PT] governments under the PNP hold draw from time to time.

Draws held by PT governments might be general and in keeping with the standard criteria of that stream. At times, the PT governments might hold ‘targeted’ draws as well, with additional eligibility criteria for that draw alone.

The most ideally-suited PNP stream for you would be as per your individual background,  circumstances, expectations, and preferences.

Canadian provinces/territories and their PNP programs

Alberta : Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program [AINP]

British Columbia : British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program [BC PNP]

Manitoba : Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program [MPNP]

Ontario : Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program [OINP]

Nova Scotia : Nova Scotia Nominee Program [NSNP]

New Brunswick : New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program [NBPNP]

Newfoundland and Labrador : Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program [NLPNP]

Prince Edward Island : Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program [PEI PNP]

Northwest Territories : Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program

Saskatchewan : Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program [SINP]

Yukon : Yukon Nominee Program [YNP]