Canada has announced changes to its Express Entry immigration system, allowing skilled workers to earn additional points for Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage occupations.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the changes will take effect on November 3, 2026, and will also remove certain Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements for qualifying job offers.
Under the revised Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), candidates with at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation can receive an additional 20, 40, or 70 points, depending on the wage level.
Meanwhile, applicants with qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations can receive 50, 70, or 100 points based on the offered wage. Candidates eligible under both categories will receive whichever option provides more points, as the two cannot be combined.
The maximum points available under the new labor market integration factor will be 150 for applicants without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner and 140 for those with one.
Another key change is the removal of the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers used to claim the new CRS points. Certain applicants invited from November 3 onward will also be exempt from LMIA-related requirements for job offers used to establish eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program, subject to specific conditions.
Instead, IRCC will assess job offers directly to verify their authenticity, including whether employers are operating legitimate businesses, can meet employment terms, and comply with relevant labor laws.
Applicants must also have the necessary qualifications to perform the offered work, while revoked job offers will no longer qualify.
IRCC has advised candidates who may qualify for job offer points to review and update their Express Entry profiles before November 3.
However, the department clarified that additional points do not guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residence, as selection will continue to depend on eligibility requirements and CRS cutoff scores.
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