In January 2015, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new electronic PR visa application management system called Express Entry.
Key Goals of Setting the Express Entry (EE) System
Applicants who wish to immigrate to Canada via the Express Entry (EE) system can apply under one of the following federal immigration programs such as:
Each program has its own eligibility criteria. So, the applicant must first check if they meet all requirements to apply.
Do you know which Express Entry program can help you get a quick and easy Canada PR visa? Now check if you with our Canada PR Eligibility Calculator!
If you wish to settle in Canada via Express Entry, then you must follow these two-steps:
The basic step to apply is to submit a complete Express Entry profile online. Applicants who are eligible for FSW/FST/CEC programs will then enter the Express Entry (EE) pool.
This pool refers to the collection of all EE profiles irrespective of the EE category/program they apply from.
In the EE pool, your profile will be ranked as per the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Each profile gets a CRS rank out of 1200 post-assessment for factors such as age, education, work experience, language skills, adaptability factors, connection with Canada via study or work, spouse/common-law partner skills etc.
IRCC holds periodic Express Entry (EE) draws of different types. High ranking candidates who match the CRS cut-off mentioned in the draw held will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR visa.
Once an applicant gets an ITA for permanent residency, they will have 60 days to submit a complete and error-free visa application. Post-submission, IRCC will process the application in 6 to 12 months (subject to each PR visa application case and ongoing immigration updates/changes).
If IRCC approves your permanent residency application, it will issue a Confirmation of Permanent Residency (COPR). This document will allow you and your family members to enter and start living your new and surely successful life in Canada.
Note – Issuance of COPR is proof of approved PR status. You can enter Canada to start your final process of getting a PR card, which is the main proof of getting a Canada PR visa.
Wish to know if you will qualify to get a PR visa? Check your CRS score via our CRS Calculator!
You can also check Express Entry draw types to better understand how Canada PR applicants get an ITA for a Canada PR visa.
Please note the following changes have been made to the Express Entry (EE) system, which may impact your overall CRS rank.
Express Entry (EE) System is no longer the same. As per the newly applicable update, IRCC is strongly focusing on applicants with a Canadian job offer or work experience in high-wage occupations. So, now, overall, the CRS calculation is changed, with no need for an LMIA-approved job offer. As a result, now all applications in the Express Entry pool are now getting a recalculation of their CRS score.
The following are the latest updates applicable from Nov 3, 2026.
Note: Before claiming the new CRS points, check IRCC’s list of Eligible High-Wage Occupations for Express Entry.
| Factor | Points with spouse/common-law partner (Max 460 points) | Points without spouse/common-law partner (Max 500 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 100 | 110 |
| Education Level | 140 | 150 |
| Official Languages Proficiency | 150 | 160 |
| Labour Market Integration Factor [New Nov 3, 2026] | 140 | 150 |
| Factor | Points with spouse/common-law partner (Max 40 points) |
|---|---|
| Education Level | 10 |
| Official Languages Proficiency | 20 |
| Canadian Work Experience | 10 |
C. Skill Transferability factors
| Factor | Maximum 100 Points |
|---|---|
| Education | Maximum 50 Points |
| With good/strong English/French language skills + post-secondary degree | 50 |
| With Canadian work experience + post-secondary degree | 50 |
| Foreign work experience | Maximum 50 Points |
| With good/strong English/French language skills (CLB/NCLC 7 or more) + post-secondary degree | 50 |
| With Canadian work experience + foreign work experience | 50 |
| Certificate of qualification (skilled trades workers) | Maximum 50 Points |
| With good/strong English/French language skills + trade certificate | 50 |
| Factor | Maximum 600 Points |
|---|---|
| Brother or sister living in Canada (18 years or older, citizen or PR holder) | 15 |
| French language skills | 50 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada | 30 |
| Provincial Nomination | 600 |
The CRS score of a particular candidate is determined as per the following formula:
“A. Core/human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner factors + C. Transferability factors + D. Additional factors = Grand total – 1,200”
So, all candidates who submit their Express Entry profile are ranked as per the formula for calculation above. A candidate can score up to 1200 points.
With a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 460 points total. Without a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 500 points total.
| Age | With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 100 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 110 points) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 years of age or less | 0 | 0 |
| 18 years of age | 90 | 99 |
| 19 years of age | 95 | 105 |
| 20 to 29 years of age | 100 | 110 |
| 30 years of age | 95 | 105 |
| 31 years of age | 90 | 99 |
| 32 years of age | 85 | 94 |
| 33 years of age | 80 | 88 |
| 34 years of age | 75 | 83 |
| 35 years of age | 70 | 77 |
| 36 years of age | 65 | 72 |
| 37 years of age | 60 | 66 |
| 38 years of age | 55 | 61 |
| 39 years of age | 50 | 55 |
| 40 years of age | 45 | 50 |
| 41 years of age | 35 | 39 |
| 42 years of age | 25 | 28 |
| 43 years of age | 15 | 17 |
| 44 years of age | 5 | 6 |
| 45 years of age or more | 0 | 0 |
| Level of Education | With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 140 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 150 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary school (high school) credential | 28 | 30 |
| One-year degree, diploma, or certificate | 84 | 90 |
| Two-year post-secondary program | 91 | 98 |
| Bachelor’s degree or a three or more year program | 112 | 120 |
| Two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. But at least one must be for three years or longer | 119 | 128 |
| Master’s degree, or professional degree (for licensed professions) | 126 | 135 |
| Doctorate or Ph.D. | 140 | 150 |
Points are awarded separately for each of the four abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening) based on CLB level, then added together for a total.
| CLB Level (per ability) | With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 128 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 136 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
Points are awarded separately for each of the four abilities based on CLB level, then added together. This maximum is the same whether or not you have a spouse or common-law partner.
| CLB Level (per ability) | Points per ability (Maximum 24 points total) |
|---|---|
| CLB 4 or less | 0 |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 |
| CLB 9 or more | 6 |
Under this factor, one can claim CRS points via:
| Canadian Work Experience (Length) | With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 70 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 80 points) |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than a year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
| Qualifying Canadian High-Wage Work Experience | With a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 70 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner (Maximum 70 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum 12 months of Canadian work experience in one or more high-wage occupations paying 2x the median wage. | 70 | 70 |
| If not eligible for 70 points – Minimum 12 months of combined Canadian work experience in one or more high-wage occupations paying 1.5x the median wage. | 40 | 40 |
| If not eligible for 40 points – Minimum 12 months of combined Canadian work experience in one or more high-wage occupations paying 1.3x the median wage. | 20 | 20 |
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| High-wage occupation job offer paying 2x the median wage | 100 |
| High-wage occupation job offer paying 1.5x the median wage | 70 |
| High-wage occupation job offer paying 1.3x the median wage | 50 |
| Job offer not in a high-wage occupation | 0 |
Maximum 40 points total, across education, language proficiency, and Canadian work experience.
| Spouse’s Level of Education | Points (Maximum 10 points) |
|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 |
| Secondary school (high school) credential | 2 |
| One-year post-secondary program credential | 6 |
| Two-year post-secondary program credential | 7 |
| Post-secondary program credential of three years or longer | 8 |
| Two or more post-secondary program credentials, with at least one being three years or longer | 9 |
| Master’s degree, or professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession | 10 |
| Doctoral level university credential | 10 |
| Spouse’s Canadian Work Experience | Points (Maximum 10 points) |
|---|---|
| None or less than a year | 0 |
| 1 year | 5 |
| 2 years | 7 |
| 3 years | 8 |
| 4 years | 9 |
| 5 years or more | 10 |
Maximum 100 points overall. Points are the same whether or not you have a spouse or common-law partner.
| Level of Education | CLB 7 to 8 (all four abilities) | CLB 9 or more (all four abilities) |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school credential or less | 0 | 0 |
| Post-secondary program credential of three years or longer, or two or more credentials with at least one being three years or longer | 13 | 25 |
| University degree at the Master’s level or higher | 25 | 50 |
| Level of Education | 1 year Canadian work experience | 2 years or more Canadian work experience |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school credential or less | 0 | 0 |
| Post-secondary program credential of three years or longer, or two or more credentials with at least one being three years or longer | 13 | 25 |
| University degree at the Master’s level or higher | 25 | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience | CLB 7 to 8 (all four abilities) | CLB 9 or more (all four abilities) |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than a year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 or 2 years | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more | 25 | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience | 1 year Canadian work experience | 2 years or more Canadian work experience |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than a year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 or 2 years | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more | 25 | 50 |
Applies to skilled trades workers with a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority.
| Official Language Proficiency | Points (Maximum 50 points) |
|---|---|
| CLB 5 or 6 (all four abilities) | 25 |
| CLB 7 or more (all four abilities) | 50 |
| Additional Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Provincial nomination | 600 |
| Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident (18 years of age or older) | 15 |
| French language skills: NCLC 7 or higher in French and CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test results) | 25 |
| French language skills: NCLC 7 or higher in French and CLB 5 or higher in English | 50 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada: one or two-year diploma or credential | 15 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada: degree of three years or longer, at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral level | 30 |
| CRS Factor Category | With a spouse or common-law partner | Without a spouse or common-law partner |
|---|---|---|
| A. Core / human capital factors | 460 | 500 |
| B. Spouse or common-law partner factors | 40 | 0 |
| C. Skill transferability factors | 100 | 100 |
| A + B + C Subtotal | 600 | 600 |
| D. Additional points | 600 | 600 |
| Grand Total (A + B + C + D) | 1,200 | 1,200 |
1. Can I qualify for Express Entry with my current profile?
You may qualify if your age, education, work experience, and language score meet the program’s basic requirements.
2. What CRS score do I need to get an invitation?
There is no fixed score because the CRS cutoff changes with each draw.
3. Can I apply without Canadian work experience?
Yes, Canadian work experience is not mandatory for all Express Entry applications.
4. What if my CRS score is too low right now?
You may improve your profile or explore other options such as a Provincial Nominee Program.
5. How can I improve my chances before creating a profile?
You can improve your language score, get an ECA, add spouse points, or gain more work experience.
6. Can my spouse increase my CRS score?
Yes, your spouse’s education, language skills, and work experience may help increase your score.
7. What mistakes should I avoid in my Express Entry profile?
Avoid incorrect information, weak document proof, and choosing the wrong NOC or category.
In short, want the best immigration consultant in Canada and India to help you achieve Canada PR success? So, start by checking your eligibility with our Express Entry CRS calculator.
Besides, you can also Contact Us for a 1-on-1 consultation. Apply With GVI!
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