Comprehensive Ranking System explained

Canada’s Express Entry immigration selection system uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank and select individuals who are eligible to immigrate to Canada under the federal economic immigration programs.

When Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) performs a draw from this pool of candidates, the top-ranked candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. These draws occur regularly, around twice or three times per month. The Comprehensive Ranking System is a dynamic, competitive system — the more points you accumulate, the more likely it is that you will be invited to apply.

Before being assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score, individuals must first be eligible under one of the following programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Class
• Canadian Experience Class

Candidates in the pool are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score out of 1,200.

For single applicants without a spouse or common-law partner, there are:

• Up to 500 points available for core human capital factors, including age, level of education, language ability, and Canadian work experience;
• Up to 100 points available for skill transferability factors; and
• Up to 600 points available for additional factors (including a provincial nomination, an offer of arranged employment, Canadian study experience, a sibling in Canada, and/or French language ability).

For candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, there are:

• Up to 460 points available for core human capital factors of the principal applicant;
• Up to 40 points for the core human capital factors of the spouse or common-law partner;
• Up to 100 points available for skill transferability factors; and
• Up to 600 points available for additional factors.

Under the 2019-2021 Canada Immigration Levels Plan, the number of new permanent residents admitted through Express Entry over the coming years is set to increase.

Comprehensive Ranking System points factors

• Age
• Level of education
• First language ability
• Second language ability
• Canadian work experience

Age

Single candidates may be awarded up to 110 points for age. Candidates with a spouse or partner may receive up to 100 points.

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Level of education

Up to 150 points are available for level of education.

First Language Ability (English or French)

Points in this chart are for each language ability: speaking, writing, reading and listening. Therefore, a single candidate may receive up to 136 points (34×4); a candidate with an accompanying spouse or partner may receive up to 148 points (32×4 plus 5×4).

Moving2Canada readers can now avail of a seven-day free trial of online language tutorials. Simply select to Learn English or Learn French and complete the online form.

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Second Language Ability (English or French)

Points in this chart are for each language ability: speaking, writing, reading and listening.

Up to 24 points are available for a single candidate’s second language ability. Candidates with a spouse/partner “max out” their points for second language ability at 22 points, even if they get results of CLB 9 or higher in all abilities. The spouse/partner is only assessed under his or her first language.

Canadian Work Experience

Up to 100 points are available for Canadian work experience.

Also known as combination factors, these points are awarded when a candidate performs well in two areas. Up to 50 points are available for each combination of two factors, with an overall cap of 100 points from among the five combinations. No points are available for the skill transferability of a candidate’s spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

Education and Canadian Work Experience

Education and Language Ability

Language Ability and Non-Canadian Work Experience

Canadian and non-Canadian Work Experience

Certificate of Qualification in a Trade and Language Ability

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The maximum available number of points for these additional factors for any one candidate is 600 points.

*Until November, 2016 it was the case that a positive LMIA had to accompany this job offer in order for Comprehensive Ranking System points to be awarded. However, in addition to LMIA-based offers, it is now possible for certain foreign workers in Canada to obtain Comprehensive Ranking System points without a LMIA.

The following table shows which foreign workers in Canada may be able to obtain points for a job offer without a LMIA.

** Candidates with a sibling in Canada may be awarded 15 points if the sibling is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years of age. Up to 15 points only may be awarded for this factor; candidates with more than one sibling in Canada will be awarded 15 points in total, not 15 points per sibling. These points may also be awarded if the candidate’s spouse or common-law partner has a sibling in Canada. The candidate or his or her spouse/common-law partner must share a mother and/or father with the sibling in Canada. This relationship can be through blood, adoption, marriage, or common-law partnership.

We’ve created a resource that explains this in detail. Visit our How to Improve Your CRS Score page for more.