Use our updated CRS calculator to see if you are eligible to make an Express Entry to Canada.

What is CRS?

CRS stands for Comprehensive Ranking System,  a score  which is given to an express entry profile candidate based on their profile and  is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to evaluate the eligibility of all candidates for Canada permanent residence (PR) visa. It is a points-based system that awards points to Canada PR visa candidates considering a number of factors which are broadly categorised as follows:

• Core/human capital factors
• Spouse or common-law partner factor
• Skill transferability factor
• Additional factors

The system has the maximum of 1200 points, known as CRS points. The total of CRS points a candidate is awarded for various factors is called their CRS score.

Under ‘core/human capital factors’ which is the most important category of factors, the following things are considered:

• Age
• Level of education
• Official language proficiency (English and French)
• Work experience

You can earn the maximum of 500 CRS for ‘core/human capital’ and ‘spouse or common-law partner’ factors.

While you can earn the maximum of 100 CRS points for ‘Skill transferability factor’ and maximum of 600 CRS points for ‘Additional factors’.

For complete details on other factors, use our fast and efficient CRS calculator.

Important: You must have your language test results (e.g. IELTS) and your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report to get a true picture of your eligibility for Canada PR through the use of CRS calculator.

How does CRS calculator help you?

CRS calculator helps you by checking your eligibility points  for one of the three economic immigration programs managed by the Federal Government of Canada through the Express Entry System. The three programs are:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

For Express Entry, you must be eligible for one of the programs listed above.

What’s the next step after you are found eligible for one of the three programs?

Once you establish that you are eligible for one of these programs, the next step is to get your ECA and IELTS done and create your Express Entry profile. This is done online and you are required to provide detailed personal information e.g. age, education, language proficiency, etc.

Once you create your Express Entry profile, you get access to the Express Entry pool of eligible candidates. In the Express Entry pool, you will be ranked on the basis of your CRS score. The higher your CRS score, the higher you rank.

What happens after you enter the Express Entry pool?

IRCC holds regular Express Entry draws in which it issues Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR visa to the candidates who have the minimum required CRS cut-off score as decided by IRCC.

You must rank among the top candidates to be issued an ITA for Canada PR visa.

Once you receive an ITA, you will have 60 days to submit your complete application to IRCC for Canada PR visa.

If IRCC is satisfied with the information provided by you, they will issue Canada PR visa to you and your dependents moving to Canada with you.

The whole process takes around 8-10 months.

What if your CRS score isn’t high enough for receiving an ITA for Canada PR?

In such a case, you can try to increase your CRS score by trying one of the following things:

• Secure a nomination for Canada PR visa under a provincial nominee program (PNP)
• Secure a job offer from a Canadian employer
• Retake your language test with better preparation
• Complete a certificate, diploma or degree course
• Add to your work experience

Notably, a PNP nomination will help you earn 600 CRS points which will effectively guarantee you an ITA for Canada PR visa.

You can try to increase your CRS score while you are still in the Express Entry pool and stand a chance of being invited to apply for Canada PR visa in a subsequent draw.

Your Express Entry profile is valid for a period of 12 months. If you do not receive an ITA for 12 months, your Express Entry profile will expire and you will need to create a new one.

What is the minimum required CRS score?

There isn’t a fixed minimum required CRS score. It keeps changing as per IRCC’s requirements. IRCC invites candidates as per the CRS cut-off score which is decided at the time of every Express Entry draw. On occasions, CRS cut-off score can go higher than the previous draw and sometimes lower. The trend is usually upward.