How the CRS score works
The Comprehensive Ranking System scores every Express Entry candidate out of 1,200 points across four sections:
- A. Core human capital (up to 500) — age, education, languages, Canadian work experience. Max 500 if single, 460 if accompanied by a spouse.
- B. Spouse factors (up to 40) — your spouse's education, language, and Canadian work experience.
- C. Skill transferability (up to 100) — bonus combinations: education × language, education × Canadian work, foreign work × language.
- D. Additional (up to 600) — provincial nomination (600), French (up to 50), Canadian education (up to 30), sibling (15).
Converting test scores to CLB
CRS uses Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB/NCLC) levels, not raw test scores. Quick reference for IELTS General Training: CLB 9 = Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0. CLB 10 = Listening 8.5+, Reading 8.0+, Writing/Speaking 7.5+.
CELPIP maps 1-to-1 with CLB. For French, TEF/TCF Canada convert to NCLC. Always verify with the official IRCC conversion tables.
What changed in 2025–2026
- Job offer points removed (March 25, 2025). Arranged employment no longer adds 50 or 200 points.
- Category-based draws expanded. IRCC's current categories are French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, transport, and physicians, senior managers and researchers with Canadian work experience, plus skilled military recruits. Cut-offs in category rounds have run below Canadian Experience Class rounds (table below).
- French is the strongest bonus left. NCLC 7 in all four abilities adds 25–50 points and qualifies you for French-category draws.
- PR fees rose April 30, 2026. The economic-class processing fee is now $990 and the RPRF $600.
How to apply through Express Entry: steps, fees & timeline (2026)
Express Entry is a two-stage system: first you enter the pool with a profile, then — if your CRS score is high enough — you're invited to apply for permanent residence. Here's the full path in 2026.
Fees (from April 30, 2026)
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Processing fee (principal applicant) | $990 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600 |
| Single applicant total | $1,590 |
| Biometrics | $85 |
| Accompanying spouse (processing + RPRF) | $990 + $600 |
| Dependent child (each) | $270 |
The processing fee is non-refundable once review begins; the RPRF is refundable if you're refused or withdraw. The Express Entry profile itself is free — you only pay after an ITA.
How long does it take?
The pool wait depends entirely on your score — top scorers get an ITA within weeks, lower scores can wait many months. Once you submit, IRCC's processing-times tool posted about 6 months for the Canadian Experience Class, about 7 months for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and about 7 months for Express Entry provincial nominees (projection updated 3 September 2026); it changes from month to month.
Documents to prepare
- Valid language test results (less than 2 years old at application).
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign education.
- Passport, and proof of funds (unless exempt, e.g. CEC or a valid job offer).
- Police clearance certificates and a panel medical exam.
- Reference letters proving your skilled work experience (NOC/TEER).
Frequently asked questions
What score do I need to get invited?
There's no fixed minimum — each draw sets its own cut-off. From July 6 to October 1, 2026, Canadian Experience Class rounds closed at 516–523 and category rounds between 198 (physicians) and 476 (trades). See the table of recent rounds below.
How much does the whole application cost in 2026?
From April 30, 2026 a single economic applicant pays $990 processing + $600 RPRF = $1,590, plus $85 biometrics. The profile is free; you only pay after receiving an ITA.
My spouse lowers my score. Should I apply alone?
Sometimes a single application scores higher, but your spouse then can't be an accompanying family member. Compare both with this calculator and get professional advice.
Does my foreign degree count automatically?
No. You need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization (e.g., WES).
Is this the same as the official IRCC tool?
It uses the same published points grid. The official tool at canada.ca governs in case of any discrepancy.
Recent rounds: what score actually got invited (July–October 2026)
IRCC invites the top-ranked candidates in each round, on no fixed schedule. The cut-off is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited. These are the last 25 rounds in IRCC's table, read on 10 October 2026.
| Date | Round type | Invitations | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Trades occupations | 3,500 | 476 |
| September 29, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| September 28, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| September 16, 2026 | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 250 | 389 |
| September 15, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
| September 14, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 576 | 734 |
| September 4, 2026 | Healthcare and social services occupations | 3,500 | 475 |
| September 3, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 229 | 198 |
| September 1, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 521 |
| August 31, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 562 | 697 |
| August 19, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 382 |
| August 18, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 523 |
| August 17, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 442 | 760 |
| August 7, 2026 | Transport occupations | 300 | 470 |
| August 6, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 391 |
| August 5, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 516 |
| August 4, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 507 | 768 |
| July 23, 2026 | Skilled military recruits | 4 | 368 |
| July 22, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 399 |
| July 21, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 516 |
| July 20, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 744 |
| July 10, 2026 | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 500 | 392 |
| July 9, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 420 |
| July 7, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 517 |
| July 6, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 534 | 708 |
What the table shows: Canadian Experience Class rounds closed in a narrow band of 516–523. Provincial Nominee rounds closed at 697–768, which is a 600-point nomination on top of a core score of roughly 100–170. Category rounds closed lower, from 198 for physicians with Canadian work experience to 476 for trades, so category eligibility can matter more than a few extra points. French-language rounds invited 5,000 candidates each time at 382–420.
A cut-off is not a target for the next round: it depends on who is in the pool and how many invitations IRCC issues. Sources: IRCC — Express Entry rounds of invitations; IRCC — Category-based selection.
Express Entry document checklist (save your progress)
Tick each item as you gather it. Progress is saved in this browser — nothing is uploaded.
Source: IRCC — IRCC — Express Entry rounds of invitations; IRCC — processing times; Comprehensive Ranking System criteria, canada.ca; application fees from the IRCC fee list. Estimate only, not immigration advice.