Official IRCC grid
Should your partner come with you?
Including a spouse or common-law partner lowers the core-factor maximum from 500 to 460, but adds up to 40 points of their own. Whether that nets out in your favour depends entirely on their education, language and Canadian experience — so it has to be computed, not guessed.
Applying alone scores higher
22points
Scored as a single applicant you reach 335, against 313 with your partner accompanying you.
Partner accompanies you
313
Core factors capped at 460, plus up to 40 for them
You apply alone
335
Core factors capped at 500
Where the difference comes from
| Section | With partner | Alone | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core / human capital factors | 300 | 322 | -22 |
| Spouse or common-law partner factors | 0 | 0 | — |
| Skill transferability factors | 13 | 13 | — |
| Additional points | 0 | 0 | — |
| Total | 313 | 335 | -22 |
Adjust your partner’s details in the calculator to see how much their language result or education changes this.
Before you act on this: A higher CRS is not the only consideration, and often not the most important one. If your partner does not accompany you, they are not landing as a permanent resident with you and would need to be sponsored separately later — a slower, separate process with its own requirements. This page answers the points question only.
Source: IRCC — Comprehensive Ranking System criteria. Data current as of 2026-08-10.