Sources
All point values come from pages published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). DrawRelay is independent and is not affiliated with IRCC.
- Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteriaPoints grid for the current rules: core, spouse, skill transferability and additional points.
- Express Entry: language test resultsAccepted tests (IELTS General, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada).
- Language test equivalency chartsConversion of each test score to a CLB (English) or NCLC (French) level, ability by ability.
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP): processing informationAAIP worker draws (date, stream, minimum score, invitations), nominations issued and remaining, the date of applications being assessed, and the expression of interest pool.
- Express Entry rounds data (ee_rounds_123_en.json)Every invitation round: date, round type, invitations issued, lowest CRS score, tie-breaking rule and pool distribution.
- News release: Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent (October 2026)Announcement of the changes taking effect on November 3, 2026.
- Backgrounder: changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupationsPoint values, tiers and caps of the Labour Market Integration factor.
- 2026 changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offersWork-length table, non-stacking rule, LMIA removal, recalculation period.
- High-wage occupations and how they are assessedWhich NOC occupations count as high-wage, and at which tier (1.3x, 1.5x or 2x).
- Express Entry: job offerRequirements for a job offer to count toward eligibility and CRS points.
How each section is computed
A profile is scored in four sections under the current rules, out of 1,200 in total. From November 3, 2026, a fifth section, the Labour Market Integration factor, takes over the Canadian work experience points (seerules versions). Many values depend on whether an accompanying spouse or common-law partner who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is included; both values are given below as "without / with".
Language results
Each ability (listening, reading, writing, speaking) is converted separately from the test score to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level for English tests (IELTS General, CELPIP-General, PTE Core) or a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level for French tests (TEF Canada, TCF Canada), usingIRCC's equivalency charts. Points are then awarded per ability, so a weaker result in one ability lowers only that ability's points. Results below CLB 4 earn no first-language points.
Core / human capital
- Age: up to 110 / 100 points, highest from age 20 to 29.
- Level of education: up to 150 / 140 points.
- First official language: up to 34 / 32 points per ability at CLB 10 or higher, 136 / 128 in total.
- Second official language: up to 6 points per ability at CLB 9 or higher, capped at 24 / 22.
- Canadian work experience (current rules only): up to 80 / 70 points for five or more years of skilled work.
Spouse or partner
With an accompanying spouse or partner, up to 40 points are available for the spouse's level of education (up to 10), first official language (up to 20, 5 per ability) and Canadian work experience (up to 10).
Skill transferability
Up to 100 points from combinations of factors: education with strong official language results (CLB 7 or 9 in all abilities) or with Canadian work experience; foreign work experience with strong language results or with Canadian work experience; and a certificate of qualification in a trade with language results of CLB 5 or 7. The education combinations are capped at 50 together, the foreign work combinations at 50 together, the certificate at 50, and the section at 100. From November 3, 2026, Canadian work experience in these combinations is still measured by length only; the high-wage requirements do not apply to transferability.
Additional points
- Provincial or territorial nomination: 600 points.
- French: NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities earns 25 points with English at CLB 4 or lower (or no English results), or 50 points with CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities.
- Post-secondary credential from Canada: 15 points for one or two years, 30 for three years or more.
- Brother or sister in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident: 15 points.
- Job offer: no points under the current rules since March 25, 2025.
The additional points section is capped at 600.
Rules versions
The calculator keeps two versions of the grid and shows both results side by side.
current
In force until November 2, 2026
The grid on IRCC's CRS criteria page, including the removal of job offer points on March 25, 2025.
nov2026
From November 3, 2026
The same grid, except that a Labour Market Integration factor replaces the core Canadian work experience factor. Labelled as an estimate (see below).
The Labour Market Integration factor
The factor has two options. DrawRelay computes both and keeps the higher one; the two are never added together.
Option 1: Canadian work experience. Work-length points use the same values as the current core factor, for skilled (TEER 0 to 3) work in Canada:
| Canadian work experience | Without spouse | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 40 | 35 |
| 2 years | 53 | 46 |
| 3 years | 64 | 56 |
| 4 years | 72 | 63 |
| 5 years or more | 80 | 70 |
On top of work-length points, at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of skilled Canadian work in the last 10 years in high-wage occupations adds supplementary points by tier. Months can be combined across eligible jobs, and time in a higher tier counts toward a lower one: 12 months combined at 1.5x or above qualifies for the 1.5x tier.
Option 2: qualifying job offer. A job offer that is valid under Express Entry and is in a high-wage occupation earns points by tier. From November 3, 2026, an LMIA is no longer required for the offer to count.
| Wage tier of the occupation | 12+ months experience | Job offer |
|---|---|---|
| Occupations at 2x or more | +70 | 100 |
| Occupations at 1.5x or more | +40 | 70 |
| Occupations at 1.3x or more | +20 | 50 |
| Not a high-wage occupation | 0 | 0 |
An occupation is high-wage when the national median wage for its NOC code is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the Canadian workforce; the 1.5x and 2x tiers use the same benchmark. The classification follows the occupation (NOC), not the candidate's own pay. IRCC publishes the list on itshigh-wage occupations page.
Maximum. The factor is capped at 150 points without an accompanying spouse or partner (80 work-length + 70 high-wage) and 140 with one (70 + 70). The job offer option tops out at 100.
Why November 3 values are an estimate
At the time of writing, IRCC's own CRS tool does not yet reflect the new grid. DrawRelay's nov2026results apply the tables IRCC published in October 2026, as summarized above, and are labelled as estimates until IRCC's tool is updated. At that point DrawRelay compares its results with IRCC's tool and records any correction in the changelog. IRCC has also stated that profiles already in the pool will be recalculated over up to two weeks after November 3, 2026, and that invitation rounds pause during that time.
Score levers
Each lever changes one input and re-scores the profile under the same rules version. The points shown in the calculator are the difference from the profile's current result. They depend on the whole profile, because language, education and work experience also feed the skill transferability combinations.
One CLB level higher in the first official language
Raises each of the four first-language abilities by one CLB (or NCLC) level, up to CLB 10. Points come from the core language factor and, when a threshold is crossed (CLB 7 or CLB 9 in all four abilities), from the education and foreign work experience combinations in skill transferability.
CLB 9 in every first-language ability
Sets every first-language ability to at least CLB 9. CLB 9 is the level at which the language-based skill transferability combinations reach their higher tier, so this lever can move more points than its core language value alone. Abilities already above CLB 9 are left as entered.
CLB 10 in every first-language ability
Sets every first-language ability to CLB 10, the top of the core language scale: 34 points per ability without an accompanying spouse or partner, 32 with one. Skill transferability does not increase above CLB 9, so the gain over CLB 9 comes from core points only.
NCLC 7 in French
Adds French results at NCLC 7 in all four abilities (TEF Canada or TCF Canada). The additional points for French are 50 when English is at CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities, and 25 otherwise. French results can also earn second official language points in the core section.
CLB 9 in the second official language
Sets the second official language to CLB or NCLC 9 in each ability, worth 6 points per ability in the core section, capped at 24 points (22 with an accompanying spouse or partner). Second-language results do not feed skill transferability.
One more year of Canadian work experience
Adds one full year of skilled (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) Canadian work experience, up to five years. Under the current rules the points come from the core Canadian work experience factor; under the November 3, 2026 rules they come from the work-length part of the Labour Market Integration factor, with the same values. In both versions the extra year can also raise the education and foreign work experience combinations in skill transferability.
Next level of education
Moves the education entry one step up IRCC's ladder, for example from a two-year program to a bachelor's degree, or from a bachelor's degree to two or more credentials. Points change in the core education factor and in the education-based skill transferability combinations. Foreign credentials count once they have an educational credential assessment (ECA).
Post-secondary credential from Canada
Adds a Canadian post-secondary credential: 15 additional points for a one- or two-year credential, 30 for a credential of three years or more. IRCC sets conditions on the study, including full-time enrolment and physical presence in Canada for at least eight months.
Spouse or partner at CLB 9
Sets the accompanying spouse's or partner's first official language to CLB 9 in each ability, worth 5 points per ability in the spouse factors (maximum 20). The lever only applies when the profile includes an accompanying spouse or common-law partner who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Job offer in a 1.3x high-wage occupation
From November 3, 2026: a qualifying job offer in an occupation at the 1.3x tier earns 50 points within the Labour Market Integration factor. The factor uses the higher of job offer points and work experience points, so the lever shows only the increase over the profile's current factor score. Under the current rules job offers earn no CRS points.
Job offer in a 1.5x high-wage occupation
From November 3, 2026: a qualifying job offer in an occupation at the 1.5x tier earns 70 points within the Labour Market Integration factor. As with every job offer lever, the points replace the work experience option when they are higher; the two are never added.
Job offer in a 2x high-wage occupation
From November 3, 2026: a qualifying job offer in an occupation at the 2x tier earns 100 points, the maximum for the job offer option. A profile whose work experience option already scores 100 or more gains nothing from this lever.
12 months of high-wage Canadian experience
From November 3, 2026: at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of skilled Canadian work in the last 10 years in high-wage occupations adds 20, 40 or 70 points to the work-length points, by tier, up to the factor maximum of 150 (140 with an accompanying spouse or partner). The lever shows the gain over the profile's current Labour Market Integration score and has no effect under the current rules.
Provincial or territorial nomination
A nomination through a provincial or territorial nominee program adds 600 points, the largest single item in the grid. Provinces and territories issue nominations under their own criteria; DrawRelay does not assess eligibility for them.
Draw data and updates
Draw data comes from IRCC's rounds file. DrawRelay checks the file on a schedule and rebuilds the draw pages when a new round appears, so draw pages are updated within minutes of IRCC publishing a round. Round names, dates, invitation counts and lowest CRS scores are shown as published; DrawRelay only adds a category label to group rounds, such as Canadian Experience Class or French language proficiency. If IRCC corrects a published round, the corrected figure replaces the earlier one on the next update.
AAIP data comes from the Government of Alberta's AAIP processing information page: worker draws with their minimum expression of interest scores, nominations issued and remaining, the date of the applications currently being assessed, and the size of the selection pool. AAIP scores are expression of interest scores, not CRS scores. Draws that later leave that page stay in DrawRelay's history.
The CRS grid is reviewed whenever IRCC changes its criteria page or announces a change. Every change to the calculation is listed in the changelog. Errors can be reported tohello@drawrelay.com.
Changelog
- Methodology published. The calculator scores two rules versions: current (in force until November 2, 2026) and nov2026 (from November 3, 2026, labelled as an estimate).
- The draw tracker reads IRCC's Express Entry rounds data.