Canada Point System
Six selection factors influence the eligibility assessment of candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Program(FSWP), a federal economic immigration program of Canada managed under the Express Entry. Based on the assessment, each candidate is awarded a score out of 100 and they need to score at least 67 points to qualify. If qualified, their profiles enter the Express Entry pool, where they are again assessed and ranked on the basis of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). If a candidate fails to earn the minimum score of 67, they may try again after improving their language skills or earning a higher education qualification or obtaining a job offer from Canada.
CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System)
Based on the eligibility points system, CRS points will be calculated.
There are a total of 1,200 points available under the Comprehensive Ranking System.
For Single Applicants:
- a maximum of 500 points for Age, Education, Experience & Language proficiency.
- a maximum of 100 points available for Canadian work experience and foreign work experience.
- 600 points available for either a provincial nomination, OR
- up to 200 points available for a qualifying offer of arranged employment.
- up to 30 points for Canadian study experience.
- up to 50 additional points for French language, combined with English language ability.
- a maximum of 15 points for a sibling in Canada.
For candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner:
- a maximum of 460 points available for Age, Education, Experience & Language proficiency of the principal applicant.
- a maximum of 40 points for the education & language proficiency of the spouse or common-law partner.
- 600 points available for either a provincial nomination, OR
- up to 200 points available for a qualifying offer of arranged employment; and
- up to 30 points for Canadian study experience.
- up to 50 additional points for French language, combined with English language ability.
Language Skills (Maximum 28 Points)
Being able to communicate effectively in one or both of Canada’s official languages is very important while assessing a candidate’s eligibility to migrate to the country. Knowing English or French or both helps you to integrate better and faster to the Canadian society.
You can get up to 28 points for your skills in English and French. You will be given points based on your ability to:
- Listen
- Speak
- Read
- Write
In order to prove your language proficiency, you need to take a language test from an agency approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The language ability of a candidate is assessed on the basis of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English and Niveaux de compétencelinguistiquecanadiens (NCLC) for French. The candidate must have a minimum level of proficiency equal to CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in the first official language and CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in the second official language to score points.
| First Official Language | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB level 9 or higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB level 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| CLB level 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Below CLB level 7 | Not eligible to apply | |||
| Second Official Language | Points |
|---|---|
| At least CLB5 in all of the four abilities | 4 |
| CLB 4 or less in any of the four abilities | 0 |
Education (Maximum 25 Points)
You can earn a maximum of 25 points if you have a certificate, diploma or degree obtained from a Canadian secondary institution or post-secondary institution. If you have earned your education qualifications from outside Canada, you have to get your an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) done from a designated organization in order to prove that your qualifications are valid and equal to Canadian ones.
Age (maximum 12 points)
The score points are awarded on the basis of the age of candidate at the time of submitting the application.
| Age | Points | Age | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 | 41 | 6 |
| 18-35 | 12 | 42 | 5 |
| 36 | 11 | 43 | 4 |
| 37 | 10 | 44 | 3 |
| 38 | 9 | 45 | 2 |
| 39 | 8 | 46 | 1 |
| 40 | 7 | 47 and older | 0 |
Work experience (maximum 15 points)
You earn points based on the years of your work experience. It must be a full-time paid work experience (at least 30 hours per week) or equivalent part-time experience (15 hours per week for 24 months). Besides, the work experience must be in an occupation classified under Skill level A or B or Skill Type 0 of the 2016 National Occupational Classification. You can earn points for work experience earned while being in Canada or abroad, while studying or while being self-employed.
The NOC is a system used to classify jobs in the Canadian economy. It describes duties, skills, talents and work settings for different jobs.
Points awarded for work experience are as below:
| Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 6 years or more | 15 |
Arranged Employment in Canada (Maximum 10 Points)
You can get points if you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. The job must be arranged before you apply to come to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker. A valid job offer is for a job that is continuous, paid and full-time and the duration of the job offer must be at least one year. The offer must be for an occupation listed under Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Points will be awarded based on the chart below
| If | And | Points |
|---|---|---|
| You currently work in Canada on a temporary work permit. | Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you are authorized to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued). You have received your work permit based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Your work permit is for a job classified under skill type 0 or skill level A or B of the NOC. You are currently working for the same employer named on your work permit• The employer has made a valid job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker. | 10 |
| You currently work in Canada in a job that is exempt from the LMIA requirement under: an international agreement (such as, the North American Free Trade Agreement) or a federal-provincial agreement. | Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you are authorized to work in Canada without a permit when your visa is issued). Your current employer has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker. You are currently working for the same employer named on your work permit You have been working for that employer continuously for one year, on a full time or equivalent part-time basis | 10 |
| You don’t have a work permit, neither plan to work in Canada before obtaining PR visa. | Your employer has obtained a LMIA Your employer has made you a valid job offer based on the LMIA and on you being accepted as a skilled worker. | 10 |
| You have a valid work permit or authorized to work in Canada without a work permit. | You are currently working in an LMIA-exempt job, which is not under an international, federal-provincial agreement or because of significant benefit to Canadian interests. An employer(not the one you are currently working for) has a LMIA and made you a valid job offer based on the same LMIA and you being accepted as a skilled worker |
Note:
- It is the employer and not the employee, who must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment
- Employment and Social Development Canada(ESDC) will only confirm permanent job offers for occupations listed in skill type O or skill level A or B of the NOC.
Adaptability (Maximum 10 Points)
If you have a spouse or common law partner who will immigrate with you to Canada, they can earn points for adaptability too. You and your spouse or common-law partner can earn a total of 10 points together for adaptability.
| Adaptability | Points |
|---|---|
| Your spouse or partner’s language level: Your spouse or common-law partner has language proficiency in either English or French equal to CLB 4 level or higher in all four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing). To get these points, you must submit their language test results from an approved agency. The spouse/partner must have appeared for the test within two years before submitting the application and the results must remain valid when applying for Canada PR too. | 5 |
| Education experience in Canada: You have completed a full-time study program with a duration of at least two years at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week. You must also have stayed in good academic standing. | 5 |
| Canada education of your spouse/partner: Your spouse or common-law partner has completed a study program of a duration of at least two years at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week. Your spouse/ partner must have stayed in good academic standing. | 5 |
| Work experience in Canada: You have full-time work experience of at least one year in Canada in an occupation classified under Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). You had a valid work permit or were authorized to work in Canada. | 10 |
| Your spouse/partner’s work experience in Canada: Your spouse/partner having at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada on a valid work permit or while being authorized to work in the country. | 5 |
| Arranged employment: Arranged employment means a job offer obtained from a Canadian employer in an occupation classified under NOC 0, A, or B for a continuous period of one year or more. In some cases, the job offer has to be approved by Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada. | 5 |
Relatives in Canada: You or your spouse/common-law partner has a relative living in Canada. The relative must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and 18 years or older. The relative must be a:
|