Posted by The path to Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) is governed by a points-based system that can be both intricate and pivotal for prospective immigrants. Canada PR points are a system used to rank skilled immigrant candidates under the Express Entry program. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assigns points to candidates based on their age, education, work experience, language skills and other factors.
To be eligible to apply for Express Entry candidates must have a minimum of 67 points. However, the cut-off score for receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence varies from draw to draw. In recent months the cut-off score has been around 700 points.
Minimum Points Required for the Canada Express Entry Program:
You need to score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 under the express entry system for Canada PR.
There are mainly 6 factors on which these points are calculated:
- Age
- Education skills / Qualification
- Work experience
- Language Proficiency
- Arranged employment
- Adaptability
Canada PR Points Table
The Canada PR Points Table, also known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) table. The table outlines how points are allocated for each factor, with a maximum score attainable for each category. Prospective immigrants use this table to calculate their CRS score, which determines their eligibility for permanent residency and their ranking within the Express Entry pool.
| S.N. | Factors | Maximum Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Age | 12 |
| 2 | Education skills / Qualification | 25 |
| 3 | Work Experience | 15 |
| 4 | Language Proficiency | 28 |
| 5 | Arranged Employment | 10 |
| 6 | Adaptability | 10 |
| 7 | Total | 100 |
Point system for each program under Express Entry
The Express Entry program manages applications for three main federal economic programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): This program is for skilled workers who have work experience that is in demand in Canada and who meet the minimum language proficiency requirements.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): This program is for skilled trades workers who have work experience in a skilled trade that is in demand in Canada and who meet the minimum language proficiency requirements.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This program is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience.
Here is a breakdown of the different factors that contribute to Canada PR points:
A score of 67 points in the Canadian immigration system is often associated with the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under the Express Entry system. The federal skilled worker program works on these 6 main factors on this basis only one gets eligible for permanent residency.
Let’s know those points in detail:
1.Age
Age is a significant factor in the Canada PR Points system. To earn the maximum 12 points in this category an applicant must be between 18 and 35 years old. If you are younger than 18 or older than 35, your points will decrease incrementally, with 11 or 10 points being awarded depending on your age.
Age (Max points: 100 with spouse, 110 without)
| Age (years) | CRS points without spouse/partner | CRS points with spouse/partner |
| 17 or younger | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 99 | 90 |
| 19 | 105 | 95 |
| 20 to 29 | 110 | 100 |
| 30 | 105 | 95 |
| 31 | 99 | 90 |
| 32 | 94 | 85 |
| 33 | 88 | 80 |
| 34 | 83 | 75 |
| 35 | 77 | 70 |
| 36 | 72 | 65 |
| 37 | 66 | 60 |
| 38 | 61 | 55 |
| 39 | 55 | 50 |
| 40 | 50 | 45 |
| 41 | 39 | 35 |
| 42 | 28 | 25 |
| 43 | 17 | 15 |
| 44 | 6 | 5 |
| 45 or older | 0 | 0 |
2. Language skills
Language skills are crucial when studying or working abroad. In Canada, you need to be proficient in both English and French. A language test is conducted and your performance in this test can earn you up to 28 points. It is an essential category for your immigration points.
| First Official Language | CRS points without spouse/partner | CRS points with spouse/partner | |
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) | Principal Applicant | Spouse/Partner | |
| CLB3 or less | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB4 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| CLB5 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| CLB6 | 9 | 8 | 1 |
| CLB7 | 17 | 16 | 3 |
| CLB8 | 23 | 22 | 3 |
| CLB9 | 31 | 29 | 5 |
| CLB10 or more | 34 | 32 | 5 |
3. Work experience
How much work experience you have also plays a major role, if you have 1 year of experience you get 9 points out of 15 and if you have an experience of 2 to 3 years you get 11 points, and if you have an experience of 6 and above its 15 points.
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) | CRS points without spouse/partner | CRS points with spouse/partner | |
| Principal Applicant | Spouse/Partner | ||
| Less than one year | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| One year | 40 | 35 | 5 |
| Two years | 53 | 46 | 7 |
| Three years | 64 | 56 | 8 |
| Four years | 72 | 63 | 9 |
| Five years or more | 80 | 70 | 10 |
4. Education skills
If you are a doctor or engineer you get 25 points in total 25 but if you have another stream the points may decrease to 23 and if you have just passed your higher secondary then you just get 5 out of 25 which is really a bad score might be possible you lose your Canada immigration for permanent residency so it’s better to fulfill the criteria’s. But if you are a student and applying for a master’s abroad then the criteria are quite different.
| Education Level | CRS points without spouse/partner | CRS points with spouse/partner | |
| Principal Applicant | Spouse/Partner | ||
| Doctoral (PhD) degree | 150 | 140 | 10 |
| Master’s degree, OR professional degree | 135 | 126 | 10 |
| Two or more credentials, with at least one for a program of three years or more | 128 | 119 | 9 |
| Three-year or more post-secondary credential | 120 | 112 | 8 |
| Two-year post-secondary credential | 98 | 91 | 7 |
| One-year post-secondary credential | 90 | 84 | 6 |
| Secondary (high) school diploma | 30 | 28 | 2 |
| Less than secondary (high) school | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5. Arranged employment
Your employment status in Canada matters for your immigration points. If you work there with a work permit or LMIA under an agreement, it can earn you up to 10 points. Having an open work permit also affects your score.
6. Adaptability
For establishing in Canada it’s important to have some relations. It has also been checked that if you have any partner who has worked or lived in Canada for years it could be your spouse or in-laws or husband/wife. Your prior work experience in Canada, if applicable, or if you have relatives residing in Canada, can earn you points ranging from 10 to 5. This scoring is based on a scale of 10.
It is important to note that Canada PR points are just one factor that is considered when selecting candidates for Express Entry. IRCC also considers other factors, such as the labor market needs of Canada and the diversity of the Express Entry pool.
Candidates can use the CRS tool / Calculator on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to calculate their CRS score.
Conclusion
The Canada PR Points system is crucial for those aiming for permanent residency. Your Canada PR score, influenced by age, language skills, work experience, and family ties, determines your eligibility and chance to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). To fulfill the dream of becoming a Canadian permanent resident, candidates should continually work on improving their CRS score.