The CRS gives a score to a candidate based on the information in the candidate’s profile. These scores allow candidates in the pool to be ranked against each other. Applicants are given points based on the following factors:
The highest-ranked applicants are issued invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian Permanent Residence when the government of Canada performs regular draws from the CRS pool. It is therefore in an applicant’s best interest to strive to improve their scores in order to increase their chances of receiving an invitation to apply.
The most beneficial single thing that a candidate may do to improve his or her Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is obtain an enhanced nomination certificate from a Canadian province through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category aligned with Express Entry.
The only pathway to 600 points since the rules changed on November 19, 2016, a provincial nomination is a great way for a candidate to jump to the top of the pool. The 600 points available under the Comprehensive Ranking System for this factor greatly improve a nominee’s chance of receiving an ITA in a later draw from the Express Entry pool, but an invitation is not guaranteed.
Since November 3, 2026, the CRS has one Labour Market Integration factor, worth up to 150 points without a spouse or common-law partner (140 with one). You get points for either your Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer, whichever is higher. The two are not added together.
Language ability is one of the most integral parts of the human capital factor. The slightest increase can boost your CRS score. The great thing is that an individual can work on their English language skills in a short amount of time. So, using this area for your advantage is a no-brainer.
Improving your language test results is the number one way to increase your points. Good results can earn up to 160 points for official languages in total (150 with a spouse or partner): up to 136 points (128 with a spouse or partner) for your first official language and up to 24 points (22 with a spouse or partner) for your second. Strong results (CLB 7, and again CLB 9) also unlock up to 50 skill transferability points when combined with a post-secondary degree, and up to 50 more when combined with foreign work experience.
Extra points are accumulated for each improvement in test results across the four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing). The key thresholds are CLB 7 and CLB 9 in each ability, so check how close you are before you book a retest.
French helps too. You can claim 25 additional points if you reach NCLC 7 in all four French abilities and CLB 4 or lower in English (or have no English test), or 50 additional points if you also reach CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities. Accepted tests are IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French.
It may not apply to some candidates, but if you have a spouse or common-law partner, you may be missing out on some points you can claim. There are three possibilities here, and it’s worth looking into them all.
First, your spouse or partner may get you more points. By retaking a language test, or getting an educational credential assessment (ECA) for any post-secondary education they have, your spouse or partner could increase your Express Entry points.
Second, you may have a higher score as a single applicant. Since your profile is scored differently depending on whether or not you have an accompanying spouse or partner, depending on your spouse or partner’s profile, you may actually increase your score if you list them as non-accompanying. If you are granted permanent residence, you can still sponsor them to join you in Canada, but it does mean a period of separation.
Third, your spouse may actually be the stronger applicant. You should definitely run through the exercise of trying to calculate how many points your spouse would get if they were the principal applicant, with or without you accompanying them.
You are scored as a candidate without a spouse if your spouse or partner is not coming to Canada with you, or is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Education can count for up to 230 CRS points and may be improved by obtaining additional credentials, for example completing another degree, or by obtaining additional Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) for existing degrees.
For the Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates educated outside of Canada, only one ECA is required of the principal applicant in order to enter the pool.
For candidates in the Federal Skilled Trades Class or the Canadian Experience Class, no ECA is required to enter the Express Entry pool.
Although Canadian work experience is more valued than non-Canadian work experience, if you have less than three years of full-time experience, keep working until you get to your 3-year work anniversary. You will receive additional points under the skill transferability point section.
The goal of remaining in employment is even more acute for candidates currently working in Canada on a work permit because more points are available for this work and it is rewarded for each annual threshold up to five years. Just make sure that if you are working in Canada, you maintain legal work status the entire time.
Since November 3, 2026, Canadian work experience also earns Labour Market Integration points: up to 80 points for length of work (5 years or more) and up to 70 extra points for 12 months or more in a high-wage occupation. Skill transferability points still use the length of your Canadian work only.
A brother or sister who lives in Canada (18 or older, and a citizen or permanent resident) earns you 15 extra points, and you can prove the relationship with birth certificates or adoption papers. Your spouse or partner’s own education, language and Canadian work experience are scored separately (see section 4).
