What Is a Good CRS Score in 2026?
There's no single "good" CRS score. A score is good if it beats the cut-off of a draw you're eligible for. Here's what that looks like in 2026, based on IRCC's published draws. Get your score first →
2026 cut-offs by draw type
| Draw type | Draws in 2026 | Lowest | Highest | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 18 | 507 | 523 | 519 |
| French-language proficiency | 12 | 382 | 435 | 407 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 | 467 | 475 | 475 |
| Trades occupations | 2 | 476 | 477 | 476 |
| Provincial Nominee Program* | 21 | 697 | 805 | 761 |
*PNP cut-offs include the 600 points from a provincial nomination, so a candidate with about 761 − 600 points plus a nomination qualifies. Full history on the Express Entry draws page.
Data · Average cut-off by draw type, last 12 months
French-language draws averaged 112 points lower than CEC
- Canadian Experience Class (22)517
- Trades (2)477
- Transport (2)474
- Healthcare (5)471
- French-language (15)405
- Senior managers (3)403
- Physicians (3)197
Where does your score stand?
| Your CRS score | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 600+ | Almost certainly a provincial nomination, invited in the next PNP draw. |
| 520 – 599 | Very competitive. At or above most 2026 Canadian Experience Class cut-offs (507–523) if you qualify for CEC. |
| 470 – 519 | Good for most category-based draws (healthcare, trades) if your occupation qualifies; close to CEC cut-offs. |
| 430 – 469 | Competitive mainly in French-language draws. Boost with French, a language retest or a PNP. |
| Below 430 | Focus on raising your score or on provincial programs. 12 ways to increase it. |
Is 450, 470, 500 or 535 a good CRS score?
Here's how often each score would have been high enough for an invitation in the last 12 months (78 draws), using IRCC's real cut-offs. "5 of 20" would mean the score beat the cut-off in 5 of 20 draws of that type.
| Score | CEC | French | Healthcare | Trades | All non-PNP draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is 450 a good CRS score? | 0 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 2 | 42% |
| Is 460 a good CRS score? | 0 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 2 | 42% |
| Is 470 a good CRS score? | 0 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 2 | 47% |
| Is 480 a good CRS score? | 0 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 58% |
| Is 490 a good CRS score? | 0 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 58% |
| Is 500 a good CRS score? | 0 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 58% |
| Is 510 a good CRS score? | 5 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 68% |
| Is 520 a good CRS score? | 18 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 92% |
| Is 530 a good CRS score? | 20 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 96% |
| Is 540 a good CRS score? | 22 of 22 | 15 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 100% |
You also need to be eligible for the draw type: CEC needs Canadian experience, French draws need NCLC 7+, and category draws need a qualifying occupation. Updated automatically after every draw.
How much CRS score is required for Canada PR?
There's no fixed requirement. To get permanent residence through Express Entry you need a score at or above the cut-off of a draw you're eligible for. The latest cut-offs: CEC 519 (Oct 15, 2026), French 407 (Oct 27, 2026), healthcare 475 and trades 476. With a provincial nomination (+600), almost any profile is invited.
What decides whether your score is "good enough"
- Which draws you qualify for. CEC needs Canadian experience; category draws need a qualifying occupation or French.
- How often IRCC holds those draws and how many invitations it issues.
- Rule changes. From November 3, 2026, high-wage occupation points may push many candidates' scores up, which could raise future cut-offs. See the changes and our forecast.
- Time. Profiles stay in the pool for 12 months, and your age points can drop while you wait.
FAQ
Is 450 a good CRS score?
450 is below recent Canadian Experience Class cut-offs, but competitive for category-based draws such as French-language proficiency. With a provincial nomination it would be 1,050, which is always invited.
Is 500 a good CRS score?
500 is a strong score. It clears most recent category-based cut-offs, but has been just below recent Canadian Experience Class draws, which ranged from 507 to 523 in 2026.
What is the minimum CRS score for Express Entry?
There is no fixed minimum. Each draw has its own cut-off, set by the score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in that round.
Can I get PR with a 470 CRS score?
Yes, but usually not through Canadian Experience Class draws, whose 2026 cut-offs were 507 to 523. With 470 you can be invited in French-language draws if you have NCLC 7 French, in some category-based draws if your occupation qualifies, or with a provincial nomination (+600).
Is 507 a good CRS score?
507 is close to recent Canadian Experience Class cut-offs: in 2026 they ranged from 507 to 523, and the latest was 519. It clears almost every recent category-based and French-language draw.
Is 535 a good CRS score?
Yes, 535 is a strong score. In 2026, Canadian Experience Class cut-offs ranged from 507 to 523, and category-based cut-offs were lower still, so 535 has cleared most non-PNP draws.
What is a strong CRS score?
A score above the latest Canadian Experience Class cut-off (519) is strong, because it is high enough for almost every type of draw. Scores of 600 or more almost always include a provincial nomination.