Express Entry: Details of the Comprehensive Ranking System

Express Entry selection system for Canadian immigration comes will be into operation from January 01, 2015. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recently revealed details about its Comprehensive Ranking System. This information will give potential candidates for immigration to Canada a clearer picture of how Express Entry will operate. The System is designed as to rank candidates who have made an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada and are eligible for one of three federal economic immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program | Federal Skilled Trades Program | Canadian Experience Class

Once a candidate’s eligibility has been confirmed, he or she will enter the Express Entry pool and be ranked against other candidates in the pool. There are up to 1,200 points available under the system, and these are segmented as follows:

• Up to 500 points for the candidate’s core human capital factors, including age, level of education, language ability, and work experience. In the case where the candidate has an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, up to 460 points will be awarded for the core human capital of the principal applicant, with up to 40 points available for the core human capital of his or her spouse or common-law partner. Up to 80 points will be awarded to candidates who have at least one year of Canadian work experience.

• Up to 100 points will be awarded for the skills transferability of the candidate. These points are awarded based on a combination of certain human capital factors.

• 600 points will be awarded for either a qualifying offer of arranged employment from a Canadian employer or a nomination certificate from a Canadian province.

The importance of determining eligibility first

Once a candidate is eligible, he or she enters the pool and is ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System with all other eligible candidates for the federal economic programs. Candidates with the highest rankings will then be issued invitations to apply.

Core Human Capital

Points for core human capital of candidates without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner is segmented as follows:
• Age Up to 110 points are awarded for a candidate’s age, with candidates aged 20 to 29 awarded the full quota. Candidates younger than 18 and older than 44 are not awarded any points.
• Level of education Up to 150 points are awarded for education.
• First language ability Up to 136 points are awarded for ability in either English or French, with 34 points awarded for speaking, writing, listening and reading, respectively.
• Second language ability

Up to 24 points are awarded for ability in either English or French, with six points awarded for speaking, writing, listening and reading, respectively.

• Canadian work experience — Up to 80 points are awarded for the number of years a candidate has worked in a skilled occupation in Canada.

Points for core human capital of candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner is segmented as follows:

Age Up to 100 points are awarded for a candidate’s age, with candidates aged 20 to 29 awarded the full quota. Candidates younger than 18 and older than 44 are not awarded any points.
Level of education Up to 140 points are awarded for level of education of the principal candidate, with an additional 10 points available for the level of education of the spouse or common-law partner
First language ability Up to 128 points are awarded for the principal applicant’s ability in either English or French, with 32 points awarded for speaking, writing, listening and reading, respectively. Up to 20 points are awarded for the spouse or common-law partner’s ability in either English or French, with 5 points awarded for speaking, writing, listening and reading, respectively.
Second language ability Up to 22 points are awarded for ability in either English or French, with six points awarded for speaking, writing, listening and reading, respectively, with a maximum of 22 points awarded.
Canadian work experience Up to 70 points are awarded for the number of years the principal applicant has worked in a skilled occupation in Canada, with 10 additional points available for the number of years the spouse or common-law partner has worked in a skilled occupation in Canada.

Skill Transferability

Education and language ability
Education and Canadian work experience
Language ability and non-Canadian work experience
Canadian and non-Canadian work experience
Certificate of qualification in a trade and language ability