When people refer to Canada’s “Express Entry points”, they are usually referring to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Canada uses the CRS score to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool using a series of factors, including:

• Age;
• Level of education;
• Proficiency in French or English;
• Foreign and Canadian work experience;
• Spouse or common law partner factors
• Connections to Canada

It is impossible to predict how the CRS score will fluctuate in the future. No lawyer or consultant can predict this, nor can they guarantee that a person will successfully receive permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Further, with more and more provinces selecting profiles from the Express Entry pool, a candidate’s CRS score is losing its importance. Instead, Provincial Nominee Programs look for candidates that can fill local labour market or demographic gaps. This means that candidates with in-demand skills or work experience can still succeed in the pool of candidates, even with a low CRS score.

The Canadian government has also hinted at moving to occupation-based Express Entry draws, which could make the CRS score obsolete.

There are several options for increasing a person’s CRS score or improve their profiles to increase chances to be selected for Canada’s Express Entry. To learn more about your eligibility for Express Entry or PNP, complete our free online assessment form.

here is no one-size-fits-all type of profile that is eligible for Express Entry. Candidates who enter the pool receive a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score. Those who rank higher, are more likely to receive an invitation to apply. Selection factors that can influence your CRS score are language proficiency, your age, your level of work experience, education, and Canadian connections. 

Ideal Express Entry candidates would meet the following requirements:

• Be under 30 years old 
• Hold at least two Bachelor’s degrees or a Master’s degree 
• Be able to demonstrate moderate to high English and/or French language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level nine or higher)
• Have at least three years of skilled work experience

Other factors that can really boost your CRS score can include:

• Higher language proficiency in English and/or French
• Bilingualism in French and English
• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. education
• Canadian work or educational experience
• A Canadian brother or sister currently residing in Canada
• An arranged employment offer from a Canadian company 
• A nomination from a provincial nominee program

To apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), candidates must first score at least 67 on the FSW eligibility points grid. Once an FSW candidate, or any other Express Entry candidate, enters the Express Entry pool, they will receive a CRS score. Canada uses the CRS score rank all candidates against each other in the pool. Approximately every two weeks, the Government of Canada holds an Express Entry draw, setting a minimum CRS score cut-off. Those in the pool with a CRS score above the cut-off will receive an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The minimum CRS score required to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence changes from draw to draw. For this reason, it is important to take steps to improve your ranking in the pool of candidates to increase your chances of receiving an invitation.

Express Entry language points are based on what a candidate scores on one of Canada’s official English or French exams. If a candidate has a strong proficiency in both French or English, they can maximize the number of points received under the language factor of their CRS score.

Language proficiency is a crucial criterion, so you need to take the IELTS or another approved language test as part of the eligibility requirements. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is only one of the three accepted tests to demonstrate your ability in English. These types of tests measure your abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Your IELTS or CELPIP score can have a significant impact on your CRS score. Scoring at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 9 in each area of the exam can double your skill transferability factor points, which can considerably increase your CRS score.

Express Entry candidates may demonstrate their proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages – French or English. If you have a stronger proficiency in French, you may choose to take the French exam instead. In this case, you do not need to take the IELTS or CELPIP exam. Instead, you should aim to score a minimum of CLB 9 on each area of the French exam to maximize your language points.

If you are submitting an Express Entry profile through the FSW program with an accompanying spouse or common law, they may need to take a language exam, such as the IELTS, depending on your FSW score. If your spouse or common law partner scores a minimum of CLB 4 in each area of one of IRCC’s designated language exams, you can claim an additional 5 points toward your FSW score. If your score is below 67, these points could help render you eligible to submit a profile.

Your spouse or common law partner’s language results may also help to increase your CRS score, and improve your chances to be selected.

If your Express Entry score is zero, it means your profile does not meet the eligibility requirements. This can occur right away after submitting your Express Entry profile, or after your profile has been in the pool for months. Some common reasons a profile becomes no longer eligible include:

• Expired language results or ECA report;
• No longer meeting minimum settlement fund requirements;
• Losing eligibility points toward the age factor (for Federal Skilled Workers)
• No longer meeting work experience requirements (less than one year of work experience in the past 10 years);
• Having less than one year of work experience in your primary NOC code

The CRS cut-off for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) specific Express Entry draws due to the additional points given to candidates with a nomination on their profile.

Express Entry candidates may receive 600 points toward their CRS score upon receiving a provincial nomination.

The lowest CRS score selected in 2019 was 438 – however, there is no guarantee that having this score will result in an invitation. Whether you receive an invitation from the federal or provincial government will depend on various external factors, in addition to your own individual profile.

A CRS score in the mid to high 400s is typically considered a good score, which may help your chances of being selected by a province.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, provinces have continued to invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool, sometimes targeting a minimum CRS cut-off, sometimes only targeting other factors such as work experience, or the candidates score on their own points grid.

Since the CRS cut-off cannot be predicted ahead of each draw score, it is important to take measures to maximize your CRS score wherever possible.

To calculate your CRS score, you first need to understand how Canada awards points to Express Entry candidates through the Comprehensive Ranking System. You can then calculate your points against each factor to determine how you rank in the pool.