Express Entry itself is not an immigration program. Instead, it is a system that creates a pool of candidates who could be invited to apply for one of Canada’s immigration programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Express Entry is a web-based tool that allows candidates to make profiles for the purposes of determining whether the candidate meets the basic requirements for each applicable immigration program and assigning each candidate a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that is used to measure the candidates against each other. Candidates may then receive an invitation to apply (ITA) allowing them to apply for one of Canada’s economic immigration programs.
The factors that determine a candidate’s CRS score are divided into the following categories:
- Core/Human capital factors
- Spouse factors
- Skill transferability factors
- Additional points
Core/Human capital factors
The following factors are included in this category:
- Age
- Level of education
- Knowledge of official languages
- Canadian work experience
Spouse factors
The following factors are included in this category:
- Level of education
- Knowledge of official languages
- Canadian work experience
Skill transferability factors
The following factors are included in this category:
- Education
- Knowledge of official languages and education
- Canadian work experience and education
- Foreign work experience
- Knowledge of official languages and foreign work experience
- Canadian foreign work experience
- Certificate of qualification
- Knowledge of official languages and a certificate of qualification
Additional points
The following factors are included in this category:
- Provincial nomination
- Job offer
- Post-secondary education in Canada
- Sibling in Canada
- French-language skills
How are the CRS points calculated for each factor?
Age
The amount of points a candidate receives for their age starts at 0 for those 17 and younger, and increases to a maximum of 110 if the candidate is between 20 and 29 years of age. Then the amount decreases gradually until it reaches 0 for candidates who are 45 years old and older. If the candidate has an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, the maximum amount of points they can get for age (i.e., the amount of points they would receive if they were between 20 and 29 years old) is 100.
Education
Points are allocated for education based on the level of credential the candidate attained. This means that candidates do not get points for partially-completed education programs. The number of points starts at 30, which is how many points candidates receive for having a secondary school credential. This gradually increases for candidates who have credentials from one-year post-secondary programs, two-year programs, programs of three years or more, two or more credentials from programs of at least three years, and master’s level programs. The maximum points a candidate can receive from this category is 150, for those who have a doctoral-level credential.
Knowledge of official languages
Canada’s official languages are English and French. Knowledge of one or both of these languages must be corroborated by the results of one of the approved language tests. These include Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada), and Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada). The organization conducting the test will provide an equivalency between the test results and the Canadian Language Benchmarks or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens. The test results will only count if they are less than two years old.
Candidates must designate one of the languages as their first official language, and the other (if applicable) as their second official language. The maximum points a candidate can receive for skills in their first official language is 34, if their skills are at level 10 and higher. The maximum points candidates receive for skills in their second official language is 6, for level 9 and higher. Therefore candidates should designate their stronger language as their first official language.
Latest Express Entry Draw
The Government of Canada held their latest Express Entry draw on August 3, 2022. From the pool of 238’924 candidates, 2’000 invitations were issued to apply for permanent residence. The lowest CRS score from the candidates invited to apply was 533. Unsuccessful candidates can still be considered for future draws or can reapply if they are not invited to apply within 12 months of submitting their Express Entry profile.
Successful candidates have 60 days to submit their application for permanent residence. You can view the results of past draws online and the minimum CRS scores required for each past round of invitations.
How We Can Help
Please use our free Express Entry Calculator to help determine your CRS score. The Law Office of Matthew Jeffery has over 20 years of experience assisting applicants with their permanent residence applications through the Express Entry system and can assist you with your case.
Free Express Entry CRS Calculator
We have years of experience assisting applicants with their permanent residence applications through the Express Entry system. See if you qualify by calculating your CRS score.
