Is 490 a Good CRS Score?
A 490 CRS score is competitive for several category-based draws, but below the latest Canadian Experience Class cut-off (518).
Is 490 a good CRS score? Key facts
- Estimated share of the pool below this score
- ~84% (somewhere between 79% and 85%, from IRCC's score ranges as of September 27, 2026)
- Draw types whose cut-off was at or below this score (last 12 months)
- Physicians (lowest 169), Military (lowest 368), French (lowest 382), Senior managers (lowest 389), Transport (lowest 470), Healthcare (lowest 462), Trades (lowest 476)
- Latest CEC cut-off
- 518 (Sep 29, 2026) — 28 points above 490
- Remember
- Category rounds require eligibility for that category; past cut-offs do not predict future ones
Updated
Would 490 have met the cut-off? (last 12 months)
| Draw type | Rounds | Rounds with cut-off ≤ 490 | Lowest cut-off | Latest cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 3 | 3 | 169 | 198 |
| Skilled military recruits | 1 | 1 | 368 | 368 |
| French-language proficiency | 14 | 14 | 382 | 382 |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 3 | 3 | 389 | 389 |
| Transport occupations | 1 | 1 | 470 | 470 |
| Healthcare and social services occupations | 6 | 6 | 462 | 475 |
| Trades occupations | 2 | 2 | 476 | 476 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 23 | 0 | 507 | 518 |
PNP rounds are excluded because their candidates already have +600 points. Meeting a past cut-off is not a prediction or a guarantee: future cut-offs change, category draws require eligibility for that category, and when several candidates tie at the cut-off IRCC invites those who submitted their profile earliest. Pool shares are estimates — see how we calculate them.
How to move up from 490
- Language: reaching CLB 9 in all four abilities is usually the fastest big jump — see the CLB calculator.
- French: NCLC 7 in all four abilities adds up to 50 additional points and opens French-language draws.
- Education: a second credential (e.g. a one-year Canadian program) can add points in two sections.
- Canadian experience: each year adds core points and unlocks CEC draws.
See exactly which change helps you most Full guide
FAQ
Can I get PR with a 490 CRS score?
A 490 CRS score is competitive for several category-based draws, but below the latest Canadian Experience Class cut-off (518). Draw types where 490 met the published cut-off at least once in the last 12 months: Physicians (3 of 3 rounds), Military (1 of 1 rounds), French (14 of 14 rounds), Senior managers (3 of 3 rounds), Transport (1 of 1 rounds), Healthcare (6 of 6 rounds), Trades (2 of 2 rounds). You must also be eligible for that category.
How many candidates have a CRS score above 490?
About 35,825 of the 229,904 candidates in the pool have 490 or more, estimated from IRCC's published score ranges (as of September 27, 2026). A score of 490 is higher than roughly 84% of the pool.
How can I increase my CRS score from 490?
The biggest levers are language scores (CLB 9 in all four abilities), French at NCLC 7 (up to 50 extra points plus access to French draws), a second post-secondary credential, more Canadian work experience, or a provincial nomination (+600). You need 28 more points to match the latest CEC cut-off.
Other scores
Updated Oct 3, 2026 (latest round #447, Oct 1, 2026). Source: IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations (canada.ca).