Canada Express Entry CRS Points Breakdown
Under Canada’s Express Entry system, candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), a structured points-based model designed to assess economic potential and long-term integration into the Canadian labour market. The CRS score plays a central role within the broader Canada Express Entry immigration framework, determining which candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence during selection rounds.
As part of the overall Express Entry process, candidates are evaluated across multiple scoring categories. The Canada Express Entry CRS Points Breakdown explains how each factor — including age, education, language proficiency, work experience, skill transferability, and additional points — contributes to the final ranking. Understanding these components is essential for assessing competitiveness within the Express Entry pool.
Age Points
| Age | Principal Applicant Married Maximum Points: 110 | Principal Applicant Single Maximum Points: 110 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 or less | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 90 | 99 |
| 19 | 95 | 105 |
| 20-29 | 100 | 110 |
| 30 | 95 | 105 |
| 31 | 90 | 99 |
| 32 | 85 | 94 |
| 33 | 80 | 88 |
| 34 | 75 | 83 |
| 35 | 70 | 77 |
| 36 | 65 | 72 |
| 37 | 60 | 66 |
| 38 | 55 | 61 |
| 39 | 50 | 55 |
| 40 | 45 | 50 |
| 41 | 35 | 39 |
| 42 | 25 | 28 |
| 43 | 15 | 17 |
| 44 | 5 | 6 |
| 45 or more | 0 | 0 |
Education Points
| Education Level | Married Applicant Maximum 140 points for the primary applicant and 10 points for the spouse | Single Applicant Maximum points: 150 |
|---|---|---|
| High School Diploma | Primary applicant: 28 points and Spouse: 2 points | 30 |
| One-Year Program After High School | Primary applicant: 84 points and Spouse: 6 points | 90 |
| Two-Year Program After High School | Primary applicant: 91 points and Spouse: 7 points | 98 |
| Bachelor's Degree or a Three-Year Program or More After High School | Primary applicant: 112 points and Spouse: 8 points | 120 |
| Two or More Educational Qualifications After High School at least one of which must be from a program that is at least three years long | Primary applicant: 119 points and Spouse: 9 points | 128 |
| Master’s Degree or Specialized Internship Program | Primary applicant: 126 points and Spouse: 10 points | 135 |
| Doctorate | Primary applicant: 140 points and Spouse: 10 points | 150 |
- For education completed outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required in order to claim CRS points.
- Only completed credentials are eligible for CRS points.
Language Proficiency
First Foreign Language Skill (English or French)
| CLB Level | Married Applicant:Maximum 128 points for the primary applicant and 20 points for the spouse | Single Applicant:Maximum points: 136 |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 | For each skill: Primary applicant: 6 points and Spouse: 0 points | 6 |
| CLB 5 | For each skill:Primary applicant: 6 points and Spouse: 1 point | 6 |
| CLB 6 | For each skill:Primary applicant: 8 points and Spouse: 1 point | 9 |
| CLB 7 | For each skill:Primary applicant: 16 points and Spouse: 3 points | 17 |
| CLB 8 | For each skill:Primary applicant: 22 points and Spouse: 3 points | 23 |
| CLB 9 | For each skill:Primary applicant: 29 points and Spouse: 5 points | 31 |
| CLB 10 and above | For each skill:Primary applicant: 32 points and Spouse: 5 points | 34 |
Second Foreign Language Skill (English or French)
| CLB Level | Married Applicant Maximum Points: 22 | Single Applicant Maximum Points: 24 |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 point for each skill | 1 point for each skill |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 points for each skill | 3 points for each skill |
| CLB 9 or higher | 6 points for each skill | 6 points for each skill |
Second official language points apply only to the principal applicant.
Additional French-Language Bonus Points
Candidates with strong French ability may receive extra CRS points under the Additional Factors category:
Up to 25 additional points for high French proficiency
Up to 50 additional points for high French proficiency combined with strong English ability
These bonus points are separate from the core language score.
Accepted Language Tests for Express Entry
Only the following tests are accepted:
English:
IELTS General Training
CELPIP General
PTE Core
(Note: IELTS Academic, CELPIP General-LS, TOEFL, and Duolingo are not accepted.)
French:
TEF Canada
TCF Canada
Each test has its own scoring system. Results must be converted to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels to calculate CRS points accurately.
Example Calculation
If a married principal applicant scores CLB 7 in all four abilities, they receive:
16 × 4 = 64 points
If their spouse scores CLB 9 in all four abilities, they receive:
5 × 4 = 20 points
Total language points for the application = 84 points
Canadian Work Experience
| Canadian work experience | Married applicant:A maximum of 70 points for the main applicant and 10 points for the spouse | Single applicant:Maximum points: 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than a year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | Main applicant: 35 points and Spouse: 5 points | 40 |
| 2 years | Main applicant: 46 points and Spouse: 7 points | 53 |
| 3 years | Main applicant: 56 points and Spouse: 8 points | 64 |
| 4 years | Main applicant: 63 points and Spouse: 9 points | 72 |
| 5 years or more | Main applicant: 70 points and Spouse: 10 points | 80 |
What Counts as Canadian Work Experience?
To be eligible for CRS points, Canadian work experience must meet the following conditions:
The work must be in a skilled occupation classified under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
The experience must have been gained while legally authorized to work in Canada.
It can be full-time (at least 30 hours per week) or an equivalent amount of part-time work.
The work must be paid employment (volunteer work does not qualify).
Work Experience While Studying
It is important to distinguish between eligibility requirements and CRS scoring:
Work experience obtained while studying full-time in Canada does not count toward eligibility under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
However, such experience may still count toward CRS points, provided it was legally authorized and meets all other requirements.
Canadian work experience can significantly improve your overall CRS score, especially when combined with strong language results and education credentials.
Skill Transferability Factors (Maximum 100 Points)
The Skill Transferability section of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) rewards candidates who combine strong human capital factors, such as education, language ability, and work experience.
Under this category:
A maximum of 100 points can be awarded.
Each combination can grant up to 50 points.
Even if a candidate qualifies for more than 100 points across combinations, the total awarded will not exceed 100.
No points are awarded to the spouse under Skill Transferability.
Points are only granted if the minimum required thresholds (such as CLB levels or skilled work experience) are met in all four language abilities.
Education + Language Proficiency
Candidates can receive additional points if they combine post-secondary education with strong official language results.
Language requirement:
CLB 7 or higher in all four abilities (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)
Higher points are awarded at CLB 9 or above in all four abilities
| Qualification | CLB 7 or CLB 8 in all language skills | CLB 9 or higher in all language skills |
|---|---|---|
| One-year or more post-diploma course | 13 | 25 |
| Two post-diploma qualifications one of which is for a program of at least three years | 25 | 50 |
| Master's degree or professional internship | 25 | 50 |
| Doctorate | 25 | 50 |
Note: If education was completed outside Canada, a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required to claim points.
Education + Canadian Work Experience
Candidates who combine post-secondary education with Canadian skilled work experience may receive additional points.
Requirements:
Canadian work experience must be in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
Work must have been legally authorized
| Qualification | 1 year of Canadian work experience | 2 years of Canadian work experience or more |
|---|---|---|
| One-year or more post-diploma course | 13 | 25 |
| Two post-diploma qualifications one of which is for a program of at least three years | 25 | 50 |
| Master's degree or professional internship | 25 | 50 |
| Doctorate | 25 | 50 |
Foreign Work Experience + Language Proficiency
Foreign skilled work experience combined with strong language ability can increase CRS points.
Requirements:
Foreign work experience must be in a skilled occupation (TEER 0–3)
Language threshold must be met in all four abilities
| Work experience | CLB 7 and above in all language skills | CLB 9 and above in all language skills |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
Example: Mahsa has 3 years of experience as an administrative expert in a trading company in Iran. She has achieved a general IELTS score of 6.5 in all skills and 7.5 in Listening. This adds 25 points to her application.
Foreign Work Experience + Canadian Work Experience
Candidates with both foreign and Canadian skilled work experience may receive additional points.
Requirements:
Both foreign and Canadian experience must be in TEER 0–3 occupations
Canadian work must have been legally authorized
| 1 year of Canadian work experience | 2 years of Canadian work experience or more | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
Certificate of Qualification (Skilled Trades) + Language
Candidates with a valid Canadian certificate of qualification in a skilled trade may receive additional points when combined with language proficiency.
Requirements:
Certificate must be issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority
Language scores must meet the minimum threshold in all four abilities
| Vocational certificate | CLB 5 and above in all language skills | CLB 7 and above in all language skills |
|---|---|---|
| Vocational certificate | 25 | 50 |
Important Notes
Points are only awarded if the required minimum language levels are met in all four abilities.
Work experience (Canadian or foreign) must be paid and skilled (TEER 0–3).
The maximum total for all Skill Transferability combinations is 100 points, regardless of how many combinations a candidate qualifies for.
Spouses do not receive points under this section.
Additional CRS Points (Maximum 600 Points)
| Additional Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nomination | 600 |
| Sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada | 15 |
| French language proficiency (CLB 7+ in all abilities) + English CLB 4 or none | 25 |
| French (CLB 7+) + English (CLB 5+ in all abilities) | 50 |
| One or two years of post-secondary education in Canada | 15 |
| Three or more years of post-secondary education in Canada | 30 |
Important Conditions for Additional CRS Points
Provincial Nomination (600 points)
Must be issued under an Express Entry–aligned (enhanced) provincial stream.
The nomination must be accepted in your Express Entry profile.
A provincial nomination alone grants the full 600 additional CRS points.
Sibling in Canada (15 points)
The sibling must be 18 years or older.
Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Must be physically residing in Canada.
Eligible relationships include biological, half, step, or adopted siblings of the applicant or spouse.
French-Language Bonus (25 or 50 points)
French results must show CLB 7 or higher in all four abilities.
To receive 50 points, English must be CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities.
To receive 25 points, English must be CLB 4 or lower (or no English test provided).
Canadian Education Bonus (15 or 30 points)
To qualify:
The program must have been completed at an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
The program must have been at least 8 months in duration.
The applicant must have physically studied in Canada.
The credential must be fully completed.
Maximum Limit Rule
The total number of Additional CRS points cannot exceed 600 points, even if multiple factors apply.
Important Update (March 25, 2025)
Valid job offers no longer provide CRS points under Express Entry
A strong CRS score is the key to receiving an Invitation to Apply under Express Entry. Even small improvements in language results, education, or work experience can significantly impact ranking outcomes.
For a personalized estimate, use the online calculator, or explore the complete Express Entry guide for detailed program requirements and eligibility criteria.