What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks people who want to move to Canada. It looks at things like how old you are, your education, work history, and how well you speak English or French. You can get extra points if you have family in Canada or a province wants you to come.

What is the CRS score?

The Canadian government ranks immigration candidates using a points system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Each person who applies gets a CRS score out of 1200 points.

Express Entry handles three programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker

• Federal Skilled Trades

• Canadian Experience Class

After you submit your profile to Express Entry, you'll get a score. About every two weeks, the government picks the highest-scoring candidates and invites them to apply for permanent residence. They don't tell us ahead of time when these draws will happen, how many people will be invited, or what the minimum score will be.

How to boost your CRS score

There are several ways to increase your CRS score once you're in the Express Entry pool. Most points come from your language skills, education, work experience, and age. You can also get extra points if you:

• Have a sibling living in Canada

• Speak French well

• Get a job offer in Canada

• Receive a provincial nomination

Getting points from any of these can really improve your chances of being invited to apply.

Provincial nominations

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are great for candidates with lower CRS scores. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to your score, which pretty much guarantees you'll get an invitation.

Each province has its own rules. Some need you to have ties to the province, while others look for specific skills their province needs. If a province nominates you, they expect you'll live there.

CRS scores needed for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Provinces set their own requirements for their nominee programs, and some use the Express Entry system to find candidates. While many provinces use their own points systems, some also look at your CRS score.

The minimum scores change between draws, but some provinces are clear about what they want. Ontario, for example, won't consider you if your CRS score is below 400. Alberta only looks at candidates with scores of at least 300.

Applying with a spouse

The CRS scoring works differently depending on if you're single or married.

If your spouse isn't coming to Canada with you, or they're already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you'll be scored as a single applicant.

If your spouse is coming with you, have them take a language test and get their education assessed. This helps you get the maximum possible points when including them on your application.

CRS points breakdown

Core Human Capital Factors (Up to 460 points for singles; 500 for couples)

Age: Up to 110 points for singles, 100 if married

• Best score: Ages 20-29

• After 30: Points drop

• After 45: No points

Education: Up to 150 points

• Higher degrees = more points

• Need Canadian assessment (ECA) of your foreign education

Language Skills: Up to 136 points for singles, 128 if married

• Based on CLB levels for English/French

• Know both languages well? Extra points for that

Canadian Work Experience: Up to 80 points for singles, 70 if married

• More years working in Canada = more points

Spouse Factors (Up to 40 points)

If your spouse is coming with you, their education, language skills, and Canadian work history count too.

Skill Transferability (Up to 100 points)

Points for useful combinations like:

• Good language skills + post-secondary education

• Canadian work experience + foreign work experience

Bonus Points (Up to 600 points)

• Provincial nomination: 600 points

• Canadian education: 15-30 points

• Good in both English and French: 50 points

• Brother or sister in Canada: 15 points

How They Pick Who Gets Invited

The government holds regular draws. They set a cut-off score and invite everyone above that score. The cut-off changes based on:

• How many immigrants Canada wants

• How many people are in the pool

• Which program they're focusing on

Understanding Canada's Express Entry System

The Express Entry system is simply a way for Canada to pick skilled immigrants. Your CRS score determines your chances of getting invited to apply for permanent residence.

Your score is based mostly on things you've already got - your age, education, work experience, and language skills. But there are ways to improve it.

Getting a provincial nomination is your biggest opportunity, adding 600 points to your score. That's huge when you consider that most Express Entry draws have cut-off scores between 450-500 points.

If you're serious about moving to Canada, focus on what you can control. Improve your language test results. Get your foreign education properly assessed. Consider studying in Canada to earn those extra points.

Remember that Express Entry draws happen regularly, so if your score isn't high enough today, you might qualify next month or next year. The system changes based on Canada's needs.

The path to Canadian immigration isn't always quick or straightforward, but understanding how the CRS works puts you in a better position to make it happen.