Express Entry Calculator

This guide clarifies the Express Entry calculator process. We will break down the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) 67-point grid—the first hurdle you must clear to immigrate to Canada.

If you are planning to move to Canada, you have likely encountered two different “calculators.” One tells you if you can enter the pool (Eligibility), and the other tells you if you will get invited (CRS).

Choose the best answer:

  • If you’ve been invited to apply, enter your age on the date you were invited.
    OR
  • If you plan to complete an Express Entry profile, enter your current age.

Enter the highest level of education for which you:

  • earned a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate or
  • had an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you did your study outside Canada. (ECAs must be from an approved agency, in the last five years)

Note: a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate must either have been earned at an accredited Canadian university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute in Canada. Distance learning counts for education points, but not for bonus points in your profile or application.

Note: to answer yes:

  • English or French as a Second Language must not have made up more than half your study
  • you must not have studied under an award that required you to return to your home country after graduation to apply your skills and knowledge
  • you must have studied at a school within Canada (foreign campuses don’t count)
  • you had to be enrolled full time for at least eight months, unless you completed the study or training program (in whole or in part) between March 2020 and August 2022
  • you had to have been physically present in Canada for at least eight months, unless you completed the study or training program (in whole or in part) between March 2020 and August 2022

5) Official languages: Canada’s official languages are English and French.

You need to submit language test results that are less than two years old for all programs under Express Entry, even if English or French is your first language.

Enter your test scores:

If so, which language test did you take for your second official language?

Test results must be less than two years old.

Enter your test scores for:

6) Work Experience

It must have been paid and full-time (or an equal amount in part-time).

You must have been physically in Canada and working for a Canadian employer. This includes remote work.

“Skilled work” in the NOC is TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 category jobs:

If you aren’t sure of the NOC TEER category for this job, you can find your NOC.

It must have been paid, full-time (or an equal amount in part-time), and in only one occupation (NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3).

Note: A certificate of qualification lets people work in some skilled trades in Canada. Only the provinces, territories and a federal body can issue these certificates. To get one, a person must have them assess their training, trade experience and skills to and then pass a certification exam.

People usually have to go to the province or territory to be assessed. They may also need experience and training from an employer in Canada.

This isn’t the same as a nomination from a province or territory.

A valid job offer must be

  • full-time
  • in a skilled job listed as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 in the 2021 National Occupational Classification
  • supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or exempt from needing one
  • for one year from the time you become a permanent resident

A job offer isn’t valid if your employer is:

  • an embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada or
  • on the list of ineligible employers.

Whether an offer is valid or not also depends on different factors, depending on your case. See a full list of criteria for valid job offers.

Find out your job’s TEER if you don’t know.

Additional Points

Note: to answer yes, the brother or sister must be:

  • 18 years old or older
  • related to you or your partner by blood, marriage, common-law partnership or adoption
  • have a parent in common with you or your partner

A brother or sister is related to you by:

  • blood (biological)
  • adoption
  • marriage (step-brother or step-sister)
  • earned a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate; or
  • had an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)? (ECAs must be from an approved agency, in the last five years)

To get the correct number of points, make sure you choose the answer that best reflects your case. For example:

If you have TWO Bachelor’s degrees, or one Bachelor’s AND a two year college diploma, choose – “Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years.”

It must have been paid, full-time (or an equal amount in part-time), and in one or more NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs.

Test results must be less than two years old.

ii) Enter the test scores for:

Your results

All Express Entry candidates get a score out of 1,200, based on the four parts of the Comprehensive Ranking System formula.

We invite the highest-ranking candidates from the pool to apply as a permanent resident through regular “rounds of invitations.” See what minimum scores have been in the past.

Many applicants mistakenly use the CRS calculator first, get a high score, and then realize they aren’t even eligible to apply.

The 2 Calculators: Eligibility vs. Ranking

Before you calculate anything, you must understand the two stages of Express Entry.

Stage 1: The Gatekeeper (The 67-Point Calculator)

  • Purpose: Determines if you are allowed to create a profile.
  • Maximum Score: 100 points.
  • Passing Score: 67 points.
  • Used For: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
  • If you score 66, you cannot apply, regardless of your CRS score.

Stage 2: The Ranking (The CRS Calculator)

  • Purpose: Determines your rank against other candidates.
  • Maximum Score: 1,200 points.
  • Good Score: Typically 510+.
  • Used For: Getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.

This article focuses on Stage 1: The 67-Point Eligibility Calculator.

The 67-Point Selection Factors

To qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker program, you need to score at least 67 out of 100 based on six factors.

Express Entry Calculator

1. Language Skills (Max 28 Points)

You must take an approved language test (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF). You need a minimum of CLB 7 in all four abilities to apply, but higher scores give you more points.

Language ProficiencyPoints (First Official Language)
CLB 9+ (per ability)6 (Max 24 total)
CLB 8 (per ability)5 (Max 20 total)
CLB 7 (per ability)4 (Max 16 total)
Below CLB 7Not Eligible
  • Bonus: You can get up to 4 extra points if you have at least CLB 5 in a second official language (e.g., French).

2. Education (Max 25 Points)

Your foreign education must be assessed by an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment).

Education LevelPoints
Ph.D.25
Master’s Degree23
Two or more degrees (one is 3+ years)22
Bachelor’s Degree (3+ years)21
Two-year diploma19
One-year diploma15
High School5

3. Work Experience (Max 15 Points)

You need at least 1 year of continuous, full-time, skilled work experience (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) to be eligible.

Years of ExperiencePoints
1 year9
2-3 years11
4-5 years13
6 or more years15

4. Age (Max 12 Points)

Unlike the CRS score where you lose points after 30, the 67-point grid is more forgiving. You get maximum points until age 35.

AgePoints
Under 180
18 – 3512
3611
3710
… (loses 1 point per year)…
47 or older0

5. Arranged Employment in Canada (Max 10 Points)

If you have a valid job offer in Canada that is supported by an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) or is LMIA-exempt, you can claim these points.

  • Valid Job Offer: 10 Points

6. Adaptability (Max 10 Points)

These are “bonus” points for connections to Canada. You can combine factors, but the maximum is 10.

Adaptability FactorPoints
Spouse has CLB 4+ in English/French5
Past study in Canada (You or Spouse)5
Past work in Canada (You or Spouse)10
Relatives in Canada (Parent, Sibling, Aunt/Uncle, etc.)5

Calculation Example: Do You Have 67 Points?

Let’s look at a typical profile for “Rahul,” a 29-year-old software engineer.

  • Age: 29 (12 points)
  • Education: Master’s Degree (23 points)
  • Work Experience: 4 years (13 points)
  • Language: CLB 7 in all abilities (16 points)
  • Relatives: None (0 points)

Total: 12 + 23 + 13 + 16 = 64 Points. Verdict: Rahul is NOT eligible. He needs 67.

How Rahul can fix this: If Rahul retakes his IELTS and scores CLB 9, his language points jump to 24. New Total: 12 + 23 + 13 + 24 = 72 Points. Verdict: Eligible. Now he can enter the pool.

The “Category-Based” Shortcut

Canada is less focused on just the total score and more focused on who you are. Even if your score is lower, you might be prioritized if you fit into these categories:

  1. French Speakers: The highest priority .
  2. Healthcare Workers: Including the new “Physicians with Canadian Experience” stream.
  3. STEM Professionals: Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math.
  4. Tradespeople: Carpenters, plumbers, and contractors.
  5. Agriculture & Transport: Essential workers.

Note: You typically still need to pass the 67-point eligibility calculator to enter the pool, even for these categories.

FAQ

I have 67 points. Does that mean I will get a visa?

A: No. It only means you can enter the lottery (the pool). Once you are in, you will be ranked by the CRS calculator. You need a high CRS score to win the “lottery.”

My CRS score is 500, but I only have 65 eligibility points. Can I apply?

A: No. If you do not meet the 67-point FSW requirement, you cannot create a profile, no matter how high your theoretical CRS score is.

How can I increase my 67-point score quickly?

A: The easiest way is improving your English/French score (CLB 9 gives maximum points) or claiming points for a spouse’s language skills (5 points).

Conclusion

The Express Entry calculator is your first step toward Canadian PR. Don’t skip it. Use the tables above to ensure you hit that magic number of 67. Once you are eligible, focus entirely on boosting your CRS score to secure your Invitation to Apply.

Next Step: Now that you know you are eligible, check your ranking score with our CRS Score Calculator.

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