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Canada Introduces New Express Entry Points for High-Wage Occupations and Removes LMIA Requirement for Qualifying Job Off

🇨🇦 CanadaWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 16 Oct 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The Express Entry system will now introduce points for eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. For qualifying job offers used to establish programme eligibility and obtain Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements will be removed. Candidates may receive additional CRS points based on eligible Canadian work experience, with points varying by the wage level of the occupation (70 points for 2 times the median wage, 40 points for 1.5 times the median or above, 20 points for 1.3 times the median or above). These are in addition to existing points for the duration of Canadian work experience, up to a maximum of 80 points for 5 years, for a combined total of up to 150 points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation. For qualifying job offers in a high-wage occupation, points will be awarded as follows: 100 points for 2 times the median wage, 70 points for 1.5 times the median wage, and 50 points for 1.3 times the median wage. A qualifying job offer must generally be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after becoming a permanent resident. The LMIA will not be required for qualifying job offers to be eligible for these new Express Entry points. A temporary public policy will also exempt candidates invited to apply on or after 3 November 2026 from all LMIA and LMIA exemption requirements for qualifying job offers used to establish eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme and Federal Skilled Trades Programme, provided they meet the conditions of the public policy.

Overview

Effective from 3 November 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will implement changes to the Express Entry system. These updates will introduce new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. Simultaneously, the requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will be removed for qualifying job offers used to establish programme eligibility and obtain CRS points. This measure aims to better integrate skilled professionals into the Canadian labour market by prioritising high-wage occupations.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Express Entry candidates with at least 12 months of eligible Canadian work experience in an occupation on the high-wage list
  • Express Entry candidates with a qualifying job offer in an occupation on the high-wage list
  • Candidates relying on a qualifying job offer to establish eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Employers providing job offers that candidates intend to use for Express Entry points or programme eligibility
  • Candidates whose Express Entry profiles need to be checked or updated before 3 November 2026

What changed in the latest version

Before

Prior to 3 November 2026, the Express Entry system did not provide specific additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points solely based on eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers being in high-wage occupations. While Canadian work experience and job offers generally contributed to CRS scores, there was no distinct tiering of points based on the wage level of the occupation. Furthermore, job offers used to establish eligibility for Federal Skilled Worker Programme and Federal Skilled Trades Programme, or to gain CRS points, often required a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) unless an LMIA exemption applied. The process for assessing job offers also incorporated LMIA requirements.

After

The Express Entry system will now introduce points for eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. For qualifying job offers used to establish programme eligibility and obtain Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements will be removed. Candidates may receive additional CRS points based on eligible Canadian work experience, with points varying by the wage level of the occupation (70 points for 2 times the median wage, 40 points for 1.5 times the median or above, 20 points for 1.3 times the median or above). These are in addition to existing points for the duration of Canadian work experience, up to a maximum of 80 points for 5 years, for a combined total of up to 150 points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation. For qualifying job offers in a high-wage occupation, points will be awarded as follows: 100 points for 2 times the median wage, 70 points for 1.5 times the median wage, and 50 points for 1.3 times the median wage. A qualifying job offer must generally be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after becoming a permanent resident. The LMIA will not be required for qualifying job offers to be eligible for these new Express Entry points. A temporary public policy will also exempt candidates invited to apply on or after 3 November 2026 from all LMIA and LMIA exemption requirements for qualifying job offers used to establish eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme and Federal Skilled Trades Programme, provided they meet the conditions of the public policy.

For many people hoping to immigrate to Canada, a few extra Express Entry points can make a difference because candidates compete against one another in a ranking system. A person may meet the basic requirements for an immigration programme but still not receive an invitation if their CRS score is below the score reached in a particular round. The new measures may benefit some candidates who have Canadian work experience in occupations classified as high-wage or who have a qualifying job offer in one of those occupations. For example, a software professional who has gained eligible Canadian work experience could qualify for additional points if their occupation appears at a qualifying level on the official high-wage list. A candidate with a qualifying offer in an eligible occupation could also receive additional points, even if their own salary differs from the occupation's national median. The occupation's classification, rather than the individual's personal salary alone, determines its high-wage level. The change is particularly relevant because Canada removed CRS points for job offers on 25 March 2025. Under that previous change, having a job offer no longer earned the general 50 or 200 CRS points that had applied to different types of offers. Canada is now bringing job-offer points back in a narrower form, focused on qualifying high-wage occupations. The LMIA exemption could also reduce paperwork for some employers and applicants using qualifying job offers for Express Entry purposes. However, employers and applicants must still satisfy the relevant programme requirements. IRCC will continue checking that job offers are genuine and that the employer can provide the job described. The important date is 3 November 2026, not 16 October. The government published the announcement on 16 October, but the new scoring and LMIA arrangements are scheduled to start later. Until then, applicants should not assume that they can already claim the new points or rely on the future exemption.

Explained simply

Imagine Express Entry as a game where you get points to come and live in Canada permanently. If you have experience working in Canada in a job that pays well, or if you get a job offer for a job that pays well, you're about to get extra bonus points! Plus, for these good job offers, your future boss won't have to do extra paperwork that used to take a long time. It's like getting a shortcut for skilled people to move to Canada faster.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 3 Nov 2026PublishedHigh impact
    Canada Introduces New Express Entry Points for High-Wage Occupations and Removes LMIA Requirement for Qualifying Job Offers

    Effective from 3 November 2026, Canada's Express Entry system will introduce new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. Candidates with Canadian work experience in high-wage roles could gain up to 70 additional points, leading to a potential maximum of 150 points when combined with existing experience points. Those with qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations may receive 50, 70, or 100 points, depending on the wage level. Crucially, Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements will be removed for these qualifying job offers, and a temporary public policy will exempt Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programme candidates invited on or after 3 November 2026 from all LMIA-related requirements.

Timeline

  1. Takes effect

    3 Nov 2026

    The Express Entry system will now introduce points for eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. For qualifying job offers used to establish programme eligibility and obtain Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements will be removed. Candidates may receive additional CRS points based on eligible Canadian w

  2. Action deadline

    3 Nov 2026

    Review Express Entry profiles: Candidates who may qualify for new job offer points should review and update their Express Entry profiles before 3 November 2026 to ensure all required job offer information is included and accurate.

  3. Announced

    16 Oct 2026

    Effective from 3 November 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will implement changes to the Express Entry system. These updates will introduce new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. Simultaneously, the requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will be

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