Express Entry Canada (Part 3): The Scoring System

This article is the third in a five-part series which deep dives into the Express Entry Program for skilled workers. The third part of this series covers an overview of the EE Point system, and looks at the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Workers Program.

The Points System

There are 2 different types of point systems to take into consideration when looking at the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The first is the point system used for eligibility, and the second is a point system used in the Express Entry Pool.

Eligibility Score

For eligibility, Immigration Canada created a 100-point score to assess eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. A passing score for the Federal Skilled Worker Program is currently 67 points. Candidates who score 67 points or higher qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker program and will be able to submit a profile into the Express Entry pool. 

Comprehensive Ranking System score

Candidates who meet the minimum requirements and score 67 and above are placed in a pool with other candidates who may be eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently. Candidates in this pool are ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Your CRS score is based on the following:

• Age
• Level of Education
• Official Languages Proficiency 
• Work Experience
• Connection to Canada

The score for a candidate in the Express Entry is program is out of a total of 1,200, and most draws require a CRS score in the mid to high 400s.

It’s important to assess all of these factors when figuring out if you meet all of the requirements under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. If you want to figure out your own CRS score, sign up for the free Visto portal here and make sure to read Part IV of this series which will provide an in-depth look at the requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.