If you are thinking about immigrating to Canada through an Express Entry program, understanding the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) can be quite helpful. This blog covers all that you need to know about the Comprehensive Ranking System. 

Well, in 2023, Canada issued over 110,266 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence through its Express Entry system between its first and last draw of the year. According to its Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, it planned on admitting 110,000 more permanent residents through Express Entry in 2024. 

In order to obtain an ITA through Express Entry, you need a high CRS score. The CRS is an online scoring system created by IRCC to help the department select the economic immigration applicants who are most likely to fill urgent needs in Canada’s labor force. 

This implies that your chances of obtaining an ITA rely significantly on your CRS score. Thus, the higher the score, the better and faster your chances of immigrating to Canada via Express Entry. 

Can Anyone Get A CRS score? 

In order to obtain a CRS score, an applicant needs to 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)   

How Does Canada Use CRS To Determine Who Gets PR? 

In order to know about the Comprehensive Ranking System, you first need to know how the nation uses it to determine applicants who get PR. 

Well, IRCC periodically holds Express Entry draws and invites applicants with the top-ranking CRS scores to apply for PR. 

All applicants in the Express Entry pool with scores equal to or higher than the CRS cut-off score obtain ITAs. If there is a CRS score tie for applicants, the date of application is used as a tiebreaker.  

The CRS award points for various factors, like: 

  • Skills
  • Education
  • Work Experience 
  • Age
  • Language Ability
  • Family Ties To Canada
  • Arranged Employment 
  • Other Factors 

The sum of all the points an applicant obtains for these factors is their CRS. This score can be as high as four sections. 

1. Core Human Capital 

This section distributes points based on four factors: 

  • Age
  • Level Of Education
  • Canadian Work Experience
  • Official Language Proficiency in French/ English 

The maximum number of points that can be awarded to an applicant depends on whether they are being assessed individually or along with a spouse. 

If an applicant is being assessed individually, they can score up to 500 points for human capital factors. 

However, if a spouse or common-law partner is assessing them, they can score up to 460 points for human capital factors. 

2. Spouse/ Common-Law Partner 

The additional 40 potential points for those being assessed with a spouse depend on the spouse’s qualifications and skills. 

Points are distributed according to the following criteria: 

  • Spouse’s Educational Qualifications 
  • Spouse’s Language Proficiency 
  • Spouse’s Canadian Work Experience 

Whether an applicant is being assessed with or without a spouse, the maximum number of points that can be earned under these two sections is 500. 

3. Skills Transferability 

Applicants also obtain points based on a combination of factors. This demonstrates how their different qualifications and skills intersect and combine. 

They can score points for the combinations mentioned below: 

  • Foreign Work Experience + Canadian Work Experience: up to 50 points 
  • Foreign Work Experience + Good Official Language Proficiency: up to 50 points 
  • Post-Secondary Credential + Good Language Proficiency: up to 50 points 
  • Post-Secondary Credential + Canadian Work Experience: up to 50 points 

Applicants can earn a maximum of 100 points in total for skills transferability.

4. Additional Points 

The last section awards points based on various other factors, like: 

  • Having a sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident
  • French language skills, in line with the government’s target to increase the number of French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec
  • Post-secondary education in Canada
  • Arranged employment 
  • Provincial Nominations: A provincial or territorial nomination can earn an applicant an additional 600 points, almost guaranteeing that an ITA during the forthcoming draws  

Applicants can earn up to an additional 600 points in total for additional factors.  

How High Does My Score Need To Be? 

In order to know about the Comprehensive Ranking System score, you need to know how high it should be. 

In 2023, IRCC began conducting category-based selection draws to address labor market shortages in the nation. CRS cut-off scores for these categories tend to be lower than those of general or program-specific draws. 

For instance, the lowest cut-off score for all the draws in 2023 was 354 for those in agriculture and agri-food professions on September 28, 2023. Meanwhile, the lowest cut-off score for general draws in the same year was 481 on March 9, 2023. 

In 2024, the lowest cut-off score for all draws at the time of publishing was 338 in the French language proficiency category draw on March 26. Also, the lowest cut-off for general draws is 524 on March 5. 

If you are looking to calculate your score, the government of Canada lists the number of points an applicant can obtain based on their skills and qualifications on its website. 

Moreover, you can add points according to the criteria yourself or use a CRS points calculator to get a clearer idea of your CRS score. 

Is It Possible To Improve My CRS Score? 

Another thing to know about the Comprehensive Ranking System score is whether it can be improved or not.   

Well, there are certain factors in your CRS score that are outside your control. However, other factors can be improved to maximize your CRS score: 

1. Language Abilities 

English and French skills are some of the most important factors within the CRS. 

Being highly proficient in both can get you up to 310 points when combined with other factors. 

If you are looking to improve your CRS score, you must try working on your language skills and then retaking the language test. Note that if you score lower when taking the second test, that score will be used to calculate your overall CRS score. 

2. Education 

Higher levels of education result in more or high CRS points. 

For instance, you can get 135 points if you have a master’s degree, but that goes up to 150 points if you have a PhD. 

Moreover, the CRS values Canadian education and you automatically obtain 30 points under ‘additional points’ if you have done a three-year or more post-secondary education in Canada or 15 points for a post-secondary education that’s one or two years long. 

Applicants with foreign degrees must undergo an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to verify that their qualifications are equivalent to Canadian credentials. 

3. Work Experience 

You can increase your CRS score by obtaining additional work experience. 

For this, you must have performed duties that are considered skilled under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC). Furthermore, calculate how much time you spend on the job. 

In addition, applicants with Canadian work experience can earn up to 70 points in the Core Human Capital section alone and gain additional points in the Skills Transferability section, depending on other factors like their education and language proficiency.  

4. Arranged Employment

Those with arranged employment in Major Group 00 of the NOC might obtain 200 CRS points. This is generally for senior management roles. 

Arranged employment in NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3, or any TEER 0 other than Major Group 00 can obtain 500 additional CRS points.  

5. Considering Spouse/ Common-Law Partner’s Qualifications 

Those with a spouse/ common-law partner can determine whether they would get more points if their partner were the primary applicant. 

For instance, a partner might be a better primary applicant if they work in in-demand professions or have a greater score due to factors like age,  educational qualification, or French language proficiency. 

What If An Applicant Doesn’t Qualify For Express Entry? 

Another thing to know about the Comprehensive Ranking System is what if an applicant doesn’t qualify for Express Entry. 

Well, there are other options to immigrate to Canada. This includes: 

Base PNP Programs: These allow provinces as well as territories to nominate applicants outside the Express Entry system. Applicants must satisfy the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream criteria. If they successfully obtain a provincial nomination, they might apply to IRCC for PR. 

Canada also has immigration pathways outside economic immigration. This includes: 

  • Family and Spousal Sponsorship 
  • Refugee or Humanitarian Programs  

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].