Top ways to boost your CRS score for getting permanent residence through Express Entry
When seeking permanent residence (PR) through Express Entry, boosting even a single factor by one step can gain you 50 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which could put you over the threshold to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for PR.
Throughout 2025, the Express Entry pool has been extremely competitive, with cut-off scores ranging from 518 to 547 for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws.
Use CanadaVisa+ to Plan How to Boost your CRS Score
The following table summarizes the maximum points you can score as a sole applicant for each factor of the CRS that is within your control:
| Factor | Maximum Points | Highest Points increase achievable by a single step up |
|---|---|---|
| Language proficiency | 160 + 100* | 82 (32 + 50*) |
| Education | 150 + 50* | 90 (60 + 30**) |
| Canadian work experience | 80 + 100* | 90 (40 + 50*) |
| Skill transferability – Education | 50 | 50 |
| Skill transferability – Foreign work experience | 50 | 50 |
| Skill transferability – Certificate of qualification | 50 | 50 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada | 30 | 30 |
| French proficiency | 50 | 50 |
*Points gained in combination with other factor(s) under skill transferability.
**Points gained under the "additional points" portion of the CRS.
For ideas on how to increase your score, refer to our guide below, and check your CRS score on CanadaVisa+ to plan the best path to boost your chances.
Language proficiency
Increasing your score on official language tests by even a single level can spell the difference between receiving an ITA or not receiving one.
For example, going from CLB 8 to CLB 9 across all four abilities for your first official language increases your CRS by 32 points under core human capital, and could add up to an additional 50 points under skill transferability factors (25 under education and 25 under foreign work experience).
If you’re not already close to maximizing your language score, language skills may be your best bet to focus on for becoming a more competitive candidate.
Education
After language proficiency, education has the most weight under the core human capital section of the CRS, with up to 150 points.
There are two big increases for going up a step in the education factor:
- 60 points for gaining a post-secondary credential (up from secondary school); and
- 30 points for going up to a three-year post-secondary credential or bachelor's degree (up from a one-year post-secondary credential).
Moving from having only a single postsecondary credential to having two, one of which is at least three years long, could add up to an additional 50 points under skill transferability factors.
If you have anything less than a bachelor’s or three-year credential, you may wish to consider working toward getting one, as a 22 point or 30 points increase could put you over the threshold to receive an ITA.
You'll require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for each foreign credential you wish to count under Express Entry.
Use CanadaVisa+ to Plan How to Boost your CRS Score
Canadian work experience
Canadian work experience can score you up to 80 points under core human capital factors.
The greatest boost for Canadian work experience comes from hitting the one year mark, which nets you 40 points over having anything less than a year.
After the first year, increases become more marginal year after year.
For some candidates, gaining only a single year of Canadian work experience could also increase their score by 50 points under skill transferability factors (25 under education and 25 under foreign work experience).
Having at least one year of Canadian work experience is also necessary to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.
Skill transferability
For many candidates, maximizing skill transferability factors can determine their success in Express Entry.
You can score up to 100 points in the skill transferability section of the CRS.
Most candidates will need to have some foreign work experience in order to maximize their skill transferability points.*
Boosting your language proficiency up to CLB 7 or 8 up to CLB 9 can also lead to scoring more skill transferability points for many candidates.
*Without foreign work experience, you can only score the maximum skill transferability points by having certificate of qualification as a skilled tradesperson.
Post-secondary education in Canada
Having Canadian post-secondary education counts as an “additional points” factor, meaning that it can be added on top of the maximums for core human capital (500 max) and skill transferability (100 max).
You can score 15 points for a postsecondary credential of at least one year, or 30 points for a postsecondary credential of three years or longer.
If you don’t already have Canadian education and are thinking about increasing your competitiveness through additional study, getting a Canadian degree will give you the most bang for your buck.
French proficiency
French language proficiency also counts as an “additional points” factor that can be added on top of core human capital and skill transferability.
You can score up to 50 additional points for an NCLC 7 across all four language abilities, provided that you have at least CLB 5 in all English abilities.
Learning French isn’t for everyone, but for those with an interest in it, it can be one of the most important factors for boosting your chance of success of PR through Express Entry.
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