Points Breakdown of the Comprehensive Ranking System

by Visa Experts Immigration Consultants | PR Visa Agent

Under Canada’s Express Entry System, aspirants are required to lodge an online Expression of Interest in the pool of applications, which contains details of their skills, qualifications and credentials. This information is used to assess eligibility for immigration and allocate points out of 1200 to the applicant, based on several selection criteria. Profiles are ranked according to these point scores. The tool that evaluates and ranks candidates is known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The highest-ranking registrants are subsequently invited to apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate to be invited is known as the CRS cut-off.

For instance, 2,600 candidates who scored 460 or more CRS points under the Federal Skilled Trades Program of the Express Entry System were invited to apply for PR in the Canada Express Entry latest draw, which was conducted on 10^th July 2019. Correspondingly, the CRS cut-off in this round of invitations was 460 points. CRS points are allocated based on pre-determined factors:

HUMAN CAPITAL FACTORS (Maximum 460 points with accompanying spouse or common-law-partner/ Maximum 500 points without accompanying spouse or common-law partner)

Age – Maximum 100 points/110 points
Level of Education – Maximum 140 points/150 points
Official Languages Proficiency

First Official Language – Maximum 128 points/136 points

Second Official Language – Maximum 22 points/24 points

Canadian Work Experience – Maximum 70 points/ 80 points

SPOUSE OR COMMON-LAW-PARTNER FACTORS (Maximum 40 points)

Level of Education – Maximum 10 points
Official Languages Proficiency (first official language) – Maximum 20 points
Canadian Work Experience – Maximum 10 points

SKILL TRANSFERABILITY FACTORS (Maximum 100 points)

Education

Post-secondary degree with good/strong first official language proficiency – Maximum 50 points

Post-secondary degree with one or more years of Canadian work experience – Maximum 50 points

Foreign Work Experience

One or more years of foreign work experience with good/strong first official language proficiency – Maximum 50 points

One or more years of foreign work experience with one or more years of Canadian work experience – Maximum 50 points

Certificate of Qualification

For people in trade occupations; a certificate of qualification with good/strong first official language proficiency – Maximum 50 points

ADDITIONAL FACTORS (Maximum 600 points)

Brother or sister who is a Canadian citizen or Canada PR visa holder – 15 points

NCLC 7 or higher in each component of an approved French language proficiency examination and CLB 4 or lower in each component of an approved English language proficiency examination (or did not appear for an English language examination) – 15 points

NCLC 7 or higher in each component of an approved French language proficiency examination and CLB 5 or higher in each component of an approved English language proficiency examination – 30 points

Post-secondary academic credential of one or two years from a Canadian educational institution – 15 points

Post-secondary academic credential of three or more years from a Canadian educational institution – 30 points

Arranged Employment in an occupation under NOC Skill Type 00 – 200 points

Arranged Employment in an occupation under any other NOC Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B – 50 points

Nomination from a Canadian province or territory – 600 points

The Comprehensive Ranking System is an intricate tool designed to ensure that only the most highly qualified candidates are given the opportunity to become permanent residents of Canada. It ensures transparency, fairness and legitimacy in the immigration process. Most importantly, it allows Express Entry aspirants to determine the probability of receiving a positive visa outcome, and accordingly decide if they are eligible to commence the process.