Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

Every year the Canadian government supports the immigration of hundreds of people to increase its population of skilled workers who help in the development of economic growth. To make this intake process smooth for the applicants, the government has created an electronic system, known as the Express Entry Program, that creates a pool of applicants, among whom the most skilled candidates are selected for further processing.

Now you might ask – how does the Express Entry Program select from such a huge number of applicants?

Is this a random selection, or are there other processes that are applied here?

Well, this is where a system of ranking comes into play. It is called the Comprehensive Ranking System.

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What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?

Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS, is a points-based system that is used to assess and score the profile of the applicant and rank them in the Express Entry pool.

After the applicants apply for Canadian citizenship under Express Entry, the CRS evaluates their profile on the basis of various ranking criteria like age, education, work experience, language proficiency (in English and/or French), province’s regulations, Federal regulation for the particular job and Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). After the evaluation under this ranking system, each candidate in the pool is accredited with a comprehensive ranking score out of 1200 points which is the total score.

You will receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply) if your CRS score is above or equal to the minimum CRS score set in a draw which is another process used by IRCC to choose Express Entry applicants whose CRS scores are above a minimum score that is set at each draw. These draws usually take place on Wednesdays every two weeks, but they can change. Those who achieve the maximum score are selected for the interview.

If you want to know your CRS score, you need to have your Language Scorecard that presents your proficiency in the four skills of the English language (and French). One more score is necessary, known as the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your degree is not Canadian.

The Comprehensive Ranking System is a competitive system in which the more points you collect, the more likely it is for you to receive the ITA.

How is CRS score different from IELTS score?

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a popular English language proficiency test for those who wish to migrate to any English- speaking country. The candidate will get the band score of 0 to 9 on being evaluated for proficiency in the four language skills – Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Among few other language tests approved by the Canadian government, IELTS occupies an important place for proving the language proficiency of a candidate under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) while applying for permanent residence in Canada. This process includes a wide range of other factors like education qualification, age, work experience and other.

The CRS score is completely different from the IELTS score as the latter is one of the important determinants for the evaluation of the former. In the table below, some areas are mentioned just to show how different they are from each other.

Factors that determine the CRS

The total score of 1200 is divided into four major factors that determine your final score under CRS. They are as follows:

Core / human capital Elements:

Under this comes the points for Age, Education, Canadian Work Experience, and Language proficiency. These factors are very crucial to economic success for the immigrants.

Spouse or Common-law partner Elements:

These elements include the spouse or common-law partner’s Language proficiency, Education, and Canadian Work Experience.

Skills transferability Elements:

The factors under this section contribute extra points to your application based on a combination of factors like a combination of your Education, Language proficiency, and/or Non-Canadian Work Experience.

Additional points:

There are certain additional factors like Sibling/s in Canada who is a citizen or PR visa holder, French language proficiency, Post-secondary education in Canada, Arranged employment, and PNP nomination, which adds 600 additional points to your profile.

How to calculate the CRS?

Under the CRS, your score will be calculated based on six basic aspects that come under each of the four factors mentioned in the previous section. These six components are:

1. Age
2. Education
3. Experience
4. Language Skills
5. Job Offer
6. Adaptability

Age 

The CRS points for age is a maximum of 12. The calculation of this point is done from the day you have submitted your application. You will earn the maximum points if you are between the age of 18 to 35 years. Alternatively, those above this age bracket will get lesser marks.

Education

The applicant receives a maximum of 25 points for their education. The minimum educational qualification is equal to the higher secondary education level in Canada. The more qualified you are, the higher your score.

Experience 

Your work experience will also help you to earn points under CRS. You will get the points based on the number of years they worked as a full-time worker, the basic limit being one year . The maximum points you can get for their work experience is 15. Like education, the more work experience you have, the higher your score will be. Even your experience in Canadian jobs results in more points.

Language Proficiency

If you are an immigrant with knowledge either in English or French, it will improve your profile. The maximum point for language skills is 28. For this, you have to take an approved language test like IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF and earn a minimum band score equivalent to CLB 7 (IELTS equivalent is band score 6). As usual, the higher the score, the higher the points you receive under this component.

Job Offer

If the immigrant gets a job offer from a Canadian employer, at least for a minimum of 1 year, it will help him add points to the CRS score. The maximum point under this specific component is 10 points.

Adaptability 

Adaptability will offer you points if you have past experience in the country or have relatives in Canada who can support you when you move here. Moreover, if you are immigrating to Canada with either your spouse or common-law partner, then you earn extra points.

Breakdown of CRS score

As already discussed, there are four major factors that determine the CRS score. So, let us break down the CRS score for further clarification.

The CRS score is different for single applicants and applicants whose spouse/common-law partner is accompanying them.

Under the Human capital and spouse common-law partner factors, including age, level of education, language ability, and Canadian work experience, a total of 500 points is available for single applicants, while the maximum score for applicants with partners is 460.

Apart from these main scores, a single applicant earns upto 100 points for Canadian work experience. If we break down the language proficiency score further, we will come to know that the CRS’s evaluation of language proficiency examines the four language abilities – listening, speaking, reading and writing. As a result, a single candidate can earn upto 136 points (34*4) depending on CLBs (Canadian Language Benchmark) that correspond to the band score of an approved language test like the IELTS. A single candidate can earn upto 24 points for his/her second language ability.

For candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, he/she may receive up to 148 points (32×4 plus 5×4) for first language ability. These candidates can get only a maximum score of 22 for their second language ability, even if they get CLB 9 or higher in all four abilities. The spouse/partner is only assessed under his or her first language.

Under Skill transferability factors, a candidate earns upto 50 points for each combination of two factors which are ‘Education and Canadian Work Experience’, ‘Education and Language Ability’, ‘Language Ability and Non-Canadian Work Experience’, ‘Canadian and non-Canadian Work Experience’ and ‘Certificate of Qualification in a Trade and Language Ability’. Ultimately, the candidate will earn an overall point of 100 from any two of the five combinations. No points are available for the skill transferability of a candidate’s spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

Irrespective of a single or engaged candidate, the maximum points a candidate can achieve for Additional factors is 600. This is the breakdown of the points:

Therefore,

It is being estimated that under the 2021-2023 Canada Immigration Levels Plan, the number of new permanent residents admitted through Express Entry is set to increase over the coming years.

So, these are the basic information on the Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS, explained in detail.