- introduce points for eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations, and
- remove labour market impact assessment (LMIA) requirements for qualifying job offers used to establish program eligibility and obtain Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points
What candidates need to know
Candidates who may qualify for job offer points should review and update their Express Entry profiles before November 3 to verify that all required job offer information is included and accurate.
How the new points will work
Candidates may qualify for points based on either
- eligible Canadian work experience based on its duration, with additional points where the experience is in a high-wage occupation, or
- a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation
Candidates who qualify under both will receive whichever option provides more points. The points for Canadian work experience and a job offer will not be combined.
The maximum number of points available under the labour market integration factor is 150 points for candidates without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner and 140 points for candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
Receiving additional CRS points does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Invitations will continue to depend on the requirements and CRS cut-off score for each invitation round.
Points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation
Candidates with at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation may receive additional CRS points based on the wage level of their occupation.
| High-wage occupation level | Additional CRS points |
|---|---|
| At least 12 months in one or more occupations at 2 times the median | 70 |
| If not eligible for 70 points, at least 12 months combined in occupations at 1.5 times the median or above | 40 |
| If not eligible for 40 or 70 points, at least 12 months combined across eligible high-wage occupations (1.3 times the median or above) | 20 |
These points are in addition to a candidate's CRS score based on the duration of their eligible Canadian work experience, up to a maximum of 80 points for 5 years. Combined, candidates with eligible Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation could receive up to 150 points for Canadian work experience.
Candidates with Canadian work experience that does not qualify for high-wage occupation points will continue to receive points for the duration of their eligible Canadian work experience.
Eligible Canadian work experience generally must have been acquired in Canada within the previous 10 years in an occupation in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification. Specific provisions also apply to certain physicians providing publicly funded medical services.
Points for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation
Candidates with a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation may receive:
| High-wage occupation level | CRS points |
|---|---|
| At least 2 times the median wage | 100 |
| At least 1.5 times the median wage | 70 |
| At least 1.3 times the median wage | 50 |
A qualifying job offer must generally be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after the candidate becomes a permanent resident.
Specific requirements apply to certain occupations, including skilled trades and physicians providing publicly funded medical services.
Single assessment process for qualifying job offers
Beginning November 3, 2026, an LMIA will not be required for a qualifying job offer to be eligible for the new Express Entry points.
A temporary public policy will also exempt candidates invited to apply on or after November 3, 2026, from all requirements related to LMIA and LMIA exemptions for qualifying job offers used to establish eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program, provided they meet the conditions of the public policy.
IRCC will continue to verify qualifying job offers and take measures to identify and address potential fraud or misrepresentation. Limiting job offer points to high-wage occupations also supports verification, as many of these occupations require specialized skills, experience or qualifications that can be assessed as part of the application.
How job offers will be assessed
An IRCC officer must determine that a qualifying job offer is genuine, including whether
- the employer is actively engaged in the business for which the offer is being made
- the offer reflects the employer's reasonable employment needs
- the employer can reasonably meet the terms of the offer
- the candidate is qualified and able to perform the work and is likely to accept and carry out the employment
- the employer has complied with applicable federal and provincial employment and recruitment laws
A job offer that is revoked will no longer qualify.
