Every official CRS points table in one place — age, education, language, work experience, spouse factors, skill transferability, and bonus points.
How the CRS Is Structured
The Comprehensive Ranking System awards up to 1,200 points across four sections. Understanding the sections — and their caps — is the key to reading every table below.
- Core / human capital factors — up to 460 points with an accompanying spouse, or 500 without. Covers your age, education, language ability, and Canadian work experience.
- Spouse / common-law partner factors — up to 40 points, only when your spouse accompanies you. Covers their education, language, and Canadian work experience.
- Skill transferability — up to 100 points for powerful combinations, such as strong language scores paired with foreign work experience.
- Additional points — up to 600 points, dominated by the 600-point provincial nomination, plus French-language bonus, sibling, and Canadian-education bonuses.
A useful rule of thumb: most competitive candidates without a PNP score between roughly 470 and 520, built mainly from the core and transferability sections. Jump to any table:
1. Age Points
Age is the only factor you cannot improve — points peak between 20 and 29, decline from 30, and reach zero at 45. If a birthday is approaching, prioritize quick wins like a language retest first.
| Age | With spouse | Single |
|---|---|---|
| 17 or younger | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 90 | 99 |
| 19 | 95 | 105 |
| 20 – 29 | 100 | 110 |
| 20 to 29 | 110 | 100 |
| 30 | 95 | 105 |
| 31 | 90 | 99 |
| 32 | 86 | 94 |
| 33 | 83 | 88 |
| 34 | 79 | 83 |
| 35 | 74 | 77 |
| 36 | 70 | 72 |
| 37 | 65 | 67 |
| 38 | 60 | 62 |
| 39 | 55 | 57 |
| 40 | 50 | 52 |
| 41 | 45 | 47 |
| 42 | 40 | 42 |
| 43 | 35 | 37 |
| 44 | 30 | 32 |
| 45 or older | 0 | 0 |
IRCC uses your age on the day your profile is submitted and on the day of each draw — birthdays in the pool can lower your score automatically.
2. Education Points
Foreign credentials must be assessed by a designated organization (an ECA — e.g. WES) to count. Without an ECA, foreign education scores zero.
| Credential | With spouse | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral degree (PhD) | 140 | 150 |
| Master’s degree | 126 | 135 |
| Two or more credentials (one 3+ years) | 119 | 128 |
| Bachelor’s degree (3+ years) | 112 | 120 |
| 2-year post-secondary diploma | 91 | 98 |
| 1-year post-secondary certificate | 84 | 90 |
| Secondary school | 28 | 30 |
| Below secondary | 0 | 0 |
3. First Official Language (per Ability)
Points are awarded separately for listening, reading, writing, and speaking. CLB 9 in all four abilities is the single most valuable language milestone for most candidates.
| CLB level | With spouse | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Below CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 – 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or higher | 32 | 34 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or higher | 32 | 34 |
IELTS General equivalents: CLB 9 = Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0. CLB 10 = L 8.5, R 8.0, W 7.5, S 7.5. Try our IELTS to CRS converter.
4. Second Official Language (per Ability)
Your second language (usually French for English speakers) adds a smaller but useful top-up, capped per scenario.
| CLB level | Points per ability |
|---|---|
| CLB 4 or lower | 0 |
| CLB 5 – 6 | 1 |
| CLB 7 – 8 | 3 |
| CLB 9 or higher | 6 |
Maximum 22 points with an accompanying spouse, 24 as a single applicant.
5. Canadian Work Experience
Only skilled work in Canada (TEER 0–3) with proper authorization counts. Experience is counted in full years.
| Experience | With spouse | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
6. Spouse / Partner Factors (max 40)
Awarded only when your spouse or common-law partner accompanies you to Canada.
Education (max 10)
| Credential | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral (PhD) | 10 |
| Master’s | 9 |
| Two+ credentials (one 3+ yrs) | 8 |
| Bachelor’s (3+ yrs) | 7 |
| 2-year diploma | 6 |
| 1-year certificate | 5 |
| Secondary school | 2 |
Language — per Ability (max 20)
| CLB level | Points per ability |
|---|---|
| CLB 9 or higher | 5 |
| CLB 7 – 8 | 3 |
| Below CLB 7 | 0 |
Canadian Work Experience (max 10)
10 points if your spouse has at least 1 year of Canadian skilled work experience; otherwise 0.
7. Skill Transferability (max 100)
These combinations reward candidates whose strengths reinforce each other. Each sub-section caps at 50; the section caps at 100.
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| CLB 9+ in all four + 1-year credential | 25 |
| CLB 9+ in all four + 2-year+ / bachelor’s+ credential | 50 |
| 1+ yr Canadian work + 1-year credential | 25 |
| 1+ yr Canadian work + 2-year+ / bachelor’s+ credential | 50 |
| CLB 9+ in all four + 1–2 yrs foreign work | 25 |
| CLB 9+ in all four + 3+ yrs foreign work | 50 |
| 1+ yr foreign work + 1+ yr Canadian work | 25 |
| 3+ yrs foreign work + 2+ yrs Canadian work | 50 |
A certificate of qualification in a trade plus strong language can also earn up to 50 points in this section.
8. Additional Points (max 600)
| Bonus | Points |
|---|---|
| Provincial nomination (PNP) | 600 |
| French NCLC 7+ all four + English CLB 5+ | 50 |
| French NCLC 7+ all four + English CLB 4 or lower | 25 |
| Canadian credential: 3+ year program | 30 |
| Canadian credential: 1–2 year program | 15 |
| Sibling in Canada (citizen/PR, 18+) | 15 |
Worked Example
Profile: 29 years old, single, master’s degree (ECA done), CLB 9 in all four abilities, 3 years of foreign work experience, no Canadian work, no PNP.
- Age (20–29, single): 100
- Education (master’s, single): 126
- First language (CLB 9 × 4, single): 31 × 4 = 124
- Canadian work: 0 → core subtotal: 350
- Transferability: CLB 9 + master’s = 50; CLB 9 + 3 yrs foreign work = 50 → 100
- Additional: 0
- Total: 450
This candidate’s clearest lever is a PNP (→ 1,050) or improving language/adding Canadian experience. Model your own numbers with our CRS calculator.