Have you wondered how many points are required for Express Entry Canada? If yes, then this article is for you.
Canada’s Express Entry program is a points-based system for classifying applicants seeking to settle in Canada. To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program using Express Entry, applicants must first qualify for Express Entry. The process of qualification is done by assigning points to your profile. These points are known as “Selection Factor Points.”
If you have any questions, please post them in the Canada Immigration Visa Forum.
Applicants are usually confused between “Selection Factor Points” and “Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score.”
Express Entry Eligibility depends on Selection Factor Points.
Selection Factor Points allow you to be eligible for Express Entry. However, all applicants are ranked based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score in the Express Entry pool. I hope that clarifies the critical difference between “Selection Factor Points” and “Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score.”
How many points are required for Express Entry Canada?
Canada’s Express Entry process requires that you have 67 or more points out of 100 from the following factors: education, work experience, language skills (English or French), and age. These are known as the “Selection Factor Points.” If you have less than 67 points, you will not be allowed to create an Express Entry profile as the system will deem your profile “ineligible” for Express Entry.
What are Selection Factor Points used for?
Selection Factor Points assesses an applicant’s eligibility for Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker Program.
What is meant by “Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score”?
The Comprehensive Ranking System is a points-based assessment used to rank candidates in Express Entry Pool. The Express Entry program uses the system for selecting immigrants from among those who have applied under the Federal Skilled Worker Program [FSWP], Federal Skilled Trades Program [FSTP], Canadian Experience Class [CEC] and Provincial Nominee Program [PNP].
Use our CRS Calculator to easily calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System Score.
How to calculate Selection Factor Points?
You can use the Selection Factor Points Calculator to calculate your points for Express Entry Canada. The Canada Express Entry Points Calculator will automatically provide you with your score and rank.
What are the Selection Factor Points Ranking Factors?
Six factors can help you become eligible for Express Entry: language skills, education, work experience, age of the candidate and whether or not they have arranged employment in Canada. Finally, one’s adaptability will factor into their selection. These constitute the points required for Express Entry Canada.
| Selection Factor | Points |
| Language Skills | 28 |
| Education | 25 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Age of Candidate | 12 |
| Arranged Employment | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Total Points | 100 |
Language points for Express Entry Canada
Canada’s official languages are English and French. These two skills can get you up to 28 points in the Canadian job market. In addition, they will assess you based on your writing, reading, listening and speaking abilities which can help increase your chances of getting a job when immigrating here.
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) are the benchmarks that allow you to prove your English and French language skills. You need a minimum CLB of 7 in all four areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing for the first official language and a minimum of 5 in each area for the second official language.
For example, if you speak both English and French but English is your first language. Hence, you must score a minimum CLB 7 in the English test and a minimum CLB of 5 to get points for the second language (French).
You are required to take only 1 test (English or French) as your first official language. Adding a second language (English or French) will give you bonus points.
How to calculate CLB?
We have created an easy-to-use CLB Calculator tool to convert your IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF scores to the Canadian Benchmarks.
Use the CLB Calculator as below:
Convert IELTS and CELPIP-G to Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
Convert TEF/TCF scores to Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)
How to manually calculate Canadian Language Points:
Check the table below and add up your 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 | Not eligible to apply | Not eligible to apply | Not eligible to apply |
| Second official language | Points |
| At least CLB 5 in all of the 4 abilities | 4 |
| CLB 4 or less in any of the 4 abilities | 0 |
You can earn a maximum of 28 points for Language skills.
Education points for Express Entry Canada
If you are applying to immigrate to Canada, your education must be seen as equal by the Canadian government.
If you went to school in Canada, a high school diploma or degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution is required for immigration purposes. You must also include an Educational Credential Assessment report from a designated organization if your education was received outside the country, stating your credentials are equivalent.
| Education | Points |
| HSC 12th Boards | 5 |
| College Certificate One-year degree, diploma | 15 |
| College Diploma | 19 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 21 |
| Two Degrees | 22 |
| Master’s Degree | 23 |
| Doctorate (Ph.D.) | 25 |
Search your Education points for Canada Immigration
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Work Experience Points for Express Entry Canada
If you’ve had more than 30 hours of work each week for the past 12 months, your experience will count towards points. You can also get points if that job was in Canada or abroad while you were studying. Also, including self-employment on this list means that all relevant jobs are valid to qualify for selection factors.
To get work experience points, your job must be:
Full Time – 30 hours per week for at least one year at skill level 0, A or B
Part-time Time – 15 hours per week for at least two years at skill level 0, A or B
How to find your National Occupational Classification (NOC) type?
You can use the NOC Finder tool to search for your National Occupational Classification (NOC) classification type
Check the table below and add up your points:
| Work Experience | Maximum 15 points |
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 6 or more years | 15 |
Age points for Express Entry Canada
You’ll get points based on your age on the day you submit your application
| Age | Points |
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
| 44 | 3 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 and older | 0 |
Arranged Employment in Canada
You can get up to 10 points if you have a job offer of at least one year from a Canadian employer. The valid job offer must be for 30 hours/week, continuous work in an occupation listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B on the NOC list, and it cannot be seasonal.
Adaptability
Get up to a maximum of ten bonus points under adaptability for the following criteria:
Your spouse or partner’s language level 5
If your spouse or common-law partner has a CLB 4 level in all four language abilities, you can get 5 points for them. To obtain these points, submit their test results from an approved agency when applying. The tests must be valid on the day of application and are valid for two years after being administered.
Your past studies in Canada 5
If you completed two academic years of full-time study in a program at least two years long, stayed in good standing with your school and fulfilled all the requirements (15 hours per week), then you can get five bonus points for your studies in Canada.
Your spouse or partner’s past studies in Canada 5
Similar to above, if your spouse or partner has completed at least two academic years of full-time study in Canada in a program that is two or more years long and stayed in good academic standing, then you can get five bonus points for the same.
Your past work in Canada 10
You might be eligible for ten bonus points if you did at least one year of full-time work (Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A/B) with a valid work permit.
Your spouse or common-law partner’s past work in Canada 5
Like the above, if your spouse or partner worked full-time for at least one year in Canada with a valid work permit, you can get five bonus points.
Arranged employment in Canada 5
If you have earned for “Arranged Employment,” then you will automatically get five bonus points.
Relatives in Canada 5
Earn five points if you or your spouse/common-law partner have a relative in Canada who is 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen/permanent resident. Relative must be your parent, grandparent, child (including adopted), sibling (child of a parent), aunt or uncle by blood or marriage, niece/nephew by parental side.
Conclusion
Now you must have a fair idea on how many points are required for Express Entry Canada. Selection Factor Points are a scoring system for Express Entry applicants. The higher your score, the better your chances of being selected to immigrate to Canada. No set number guarantees you will be granted entry, but this ranking system should give you an idea about your eligibility to immigrate.
Summary:
- Express entry Canada requires applicants to meet specific criteria to be eligible.
- Applicants must have at least 67 points for the eligibility requirements.
- Points are awarded based on education level, language skills, work experience, job offer from Canada, age and adaptability.
- If you do not meet the minimum requirement but still want to immigrate, there are other options such as Provincial Nominee Program (only those that do not require Express Entry profile), Quebec immigration etc.
How many points do you have? Let’s find out together! To make it easy, we’ve created this interactive Selection Factor Points Calculator that will help calculate your score. All you need is five minutes! So what number did you end up at?
If you have a question or query about calculating your points for Canada immigration, or anything related to Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, ECA report etc., please feel free to post it in the Canada Immigration Visa Forum.
