At a glance
The CRS ranks Express Entry candidates out of 1,200 points. Most points come from age, education, language and Canadian work experience. A provincial nomination adds 600 points. Since March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer adds points.
The four groups of points
IRCC scores every Express Entry profile with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The maximum is 1,200 points, split into four groups.
- Core human capital — age, education, official languages and Canadian work experience (up to 460 with a spouse, 500 without).
- Spouse or partner factors — your partner's education, language and Canadian work experience (up to 40).
- Skill transferability — combinations such as strong language plus education or foreign work experience (up to 100).
- Additional points — such as a provincial nomination, French ability, Canadian study or a sibling in Canada (up to 600).
Job offers no longer add points
On March 25, 2025, IRCC removed CRS points for arranged employment. A valid job offer can still matter for program eligibility in some cases, but it no longer raises your score.
Ways candidates raise their score
Language results are usually the fastest lever: moving from CLB 8 to CLB 9 in all four abilities increases both core and transferability points.
- Retake your English or French test.
- Add a second official language.
- Gain another year of skilled work experience.
- Complete further education and get it assessed.
- Apply for a provincial nomination (600 points).
What score do you need?
There is no fixed passing score. IRCC sets a cut-off for each draw, and category-based draws can have very different cut-offs. Compare your estimate with recent rounds published on Canada.ca. Try our free CRS calculator for an estimate.
Official sources
Rules and instructions can change. This article provides general information, not legal advice or an individual eligibility decision. We are a licensed immigration firm based in Ontario, Canada, and are not affiliated with the Government of Canada.
