Express Entry Points and CRS Calculator
Eoin is an Irish citizen. He has heard the best option to immigrate to Canada is Express Entry. However, Eoin is also aware, to qualify for Express Entry, you need to receive specific points. Apparently, they call those points CRS or Comprehensive Ranking System. Eoin wonders if there is a CRS calculator that helps him predict his Express Entry points before applying.
The government of Canada introduced the Express Entry system for immigration in 2015. Of course, Express Entry is not a method of application on its own. In fact, Express Entry is a system of online application for the following immigration options:
- Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
The basics of Express Entry (EE)
To apply via Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements for one of the acceptable immigration options. Therefore, if you are not familiar with EE or the minimum requirements, make sure to read the following articles first.
- Express Entry Immigration to Canada
- Minimum Requirements for Express Entry Canada
- Minimum Language Requirements for Express Entry
If you meet the minimum requirements, you may enter the pool of Express Entry. However, IRCC will send you an Invitation to Apply (ITA), only if your Express Entry points are more than the minimum points at each round of invitation. For example, the following table shows some historical points in the past few years.
| Year | Lowest Minimum Express Entry Points | Highest Minimum Express Entry Points |
| 2015 | 450 | 886 |
| 2016 | 453 | 538 |
| 2017 | 413 | 468 |
| 2018 | 439 | 456 |
| 2019 | 438 | 470 |
| 2020 (more draws to come) | 415 (FSTC only), 431 (CEC only), 687 (PNP EE only), 471 (all groups draw) | 478 (all groups draw), 808 (PNP EE only) |
Since we have not reached the end of 2019, the posted scores could change. Of course, IRCC runs special rounds of invitation for FSTP/FSTC applicants with much lower Express Entry points. They also run PNP rounds of invitation from time to time, which reflects much higher scores.
An introduction to Express Entry points
CRS stands for the Comprehensive Ranking System. It consists of a 1200 point system. Consequently, when you enter the pool of Express Entry, you receive a CRS score. Then you remain in the pool of Express Entry for up to 12 months. Of course, IRCC runs rounds of invitation to people in the EE pool every other week or so. If your score is more than the minimum Express Entry points, you will receive an ITA. However, if your score is less than the minimum score, you remain in the pool for the next round. Unfortunately, if your score is equal to the minimum points, you could not receive the ITA depending on the date and time you entered the pool.
Express Entry Points for married applicants
The following lists show potential Express Entry points for married people. In other words, for those applicants who have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner. Of course, the spouse or common-law may not be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
A. Core or human capital factors (Maximum 460 points)
- Age – Maximum 100 for ages between 20 and 29
- Level of education – Maximum 140 for Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.)
- Official languages proficiency – Maximum 150 for CLB 10 or more in both official languages of Canada
- Canadian work experience – Maximum 70 for five years or more work experience in Canada
B. Spouse or common-law partner factors (Maximum 40 points)
- Level of education – Maximum 10 for Ph.D. or Master’s degree or professional degree
- Official language proficiency – Maximum 20 for CLB 9 or more in one of the official languages
- Canadian Work Experience – Maximum 10 for five years or more work experience in Canada
C. Skill Transferability factors (Maximum 100 points)
- Education (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a post-secondary degree 50
- With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree 50
- Foreign work experience (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 or higher) and foreign work experience 50
- With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience 50
- Certificate of qualification for people in trade occupations (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification 50
D. Additional points (Maximum 600 points)
- Brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident) 15
- The French language skills 30 (as of October 27, 2020, up to 50 points)
- Post-secondary education in Canada 30
- Arranged employment 200
- Provincial nomination 600
The government may revise the Express Entry points system from time to time. Of course, if you need the official breakdown, visit the IRCC website.
Express Entry Points for single applicants
The following lists show potential Express Entry points for the following people:
- single, divorced or annulled marriages
- the spouse or common-law partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- the common-law partner or spouse is not accompanying them to Canada
A. Core or human capital factors (Maximum 500 points)
- Age – Maximum 110 for ages between 20 and 29
- Level of education – Maximum 150 for Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.)
- Official languages proficiency – Maximum 160 for CLB 10 or more in both official languages of Canada
- Canadian work experience – Maximum 80 for five years or more work experience in Canada
B. Spouse or common-law partner factors (Maximum 0 points)
- No points
C. Skill Transferability factors (Maximum 100 points)
- Education (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a post-secondary degree 50
- With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree 50
- Foreign work experience (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 or higher) and foreign work experience 50
- With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience 50
- Certificate of qualification for people in trade occupations (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification 50
D. Additional points (Maximum 600 points)
- Brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident) 15
- French language skills 30
- Post-secondary education in Canada 30
- Arranged employment 200
- Provincial nomination 600
The government may revise the Express Entry points system from time to time. Of course, if you need the official breakdown, visit the IRCC website.
CRS Calculator for Express Entry points
Considering the complexity of calculating Express Entry points, IRCC offers a CRS calculator. They call it the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) tool. Please remember this tool does not consider the minimum requirements for Express Entry. In other words, if you do not meet the minimum requirements, the CRS calculator is useless. To access the CRS calculator, click the following link:
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Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
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