Canada Express Entry: Overview
The Canada Express Entry system is designed to give the government control over selecting skilled workers for Permanent Residency (PR) through immigration programs.
Key Components of the Express Entry System
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used in Express Entry considers the following factors:
Core Human Capital (Age, Education, Work Experience, Language Skills)
Spousal Factors (If applicable)
Skill Transferability (Education, Work Experience, and Language Proficiency)
Provincial Nomination or Job Offer
The maximum CRS score a candidate can achieve is 1,200 points.
Core Human Capital Factors
1. Age
Points vary based on age, with a maximum of 110 points (without spouse) or 100 points (with spouse).
The highest points are given to candidates aged 20 to 29.
Points decrease gradually after age 30.
No points are awarded after age 45.
2. Education
Points are awarded based on the highest level of education:
Doctorate (PhD): Up to 150 points
Master’s Degree or Professional Degree: Up to 135 points
Bachelor’s Degree (3 years or more): Up to 120 points
Two post-secondary credentials (one at least 3 years long): Up to 128 points
One or two-year post-secondary credentials: Up to 98 points
High school diploma or lower: 0 to 30 points
3. Language Proficiency
Candidates earn points based on proficiency in English or French.
The maximum for first official language: 136 points (without spouse), 128 points (with spouse)
The maximum for second official language: 6 points per skill
Points are given based on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level:
CLB 10 or above: Highest points
CLB 7 or lower: Fewer points
4. Canadian Work Experience
Candidates with Canadian work experience receive points:
5 years or more: Up to 80 points
3 years or more: Up to 64 points
1 year: 40 points
Spouse Factors (If Applicable)
A spouse’s education, language skills, and work experience also contribute points:
Education: Up to 10 points
Language proficiency: Up to 20 points
Canadian work experience: Up to 10 points
Skill Transferability Factors
1. Education + Language Proficiency or Work Experience
Candidates with strong language skills (CLB 9+) and a post-secondary degree receive up to 50 points.
Those with Canadian work experience and post-secondary education can also get up to 50 points.
2. Foreign Work Experience + Canadian Work Experience or Language Skills
Candidates with foreign work experience and strong language proficiency (CLB 9+) can get up to 50 points.
Those with Canadian and foreign work experience can earn up to 50 points.
Additional Points (Up to 600 Extra Points)
Candidates can receive extra points for the following:
Arranged Employment (NOC 00 category): 200 points
Arranged Employment (NOC 0, A, or B): 50 points
Provincial Nomination: 600 points
Sibling in Canada: 50 points