Toronto 
Canada is changing how it ranks skilled workers seeking permanent residence, giving greater weight to Canadian work experience and job offers in higher-paying occupations.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the changes on October 16 in Kitchener, Ontario. The new Express Entry scoring rules will take effect on November 3, 2026, affecting both new applicants and those already in the candidate pool.
Under the revised Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), applicants can earn up to 150 points for eligible Canadian work experience or up to 100 points for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. Candidates who qualify under both options will receive whichever score is higher, rather than combining the two.
The changes cover a wide range of occupations, from physicians and engineers to electricians, teachers, software developers and skilled trades workers.
How the New Express Entry Points Work
Under the new rules, Express Entry candidates can earn points through Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.
If someone qualifies for both, only the option that gives them the most points will count. The two cannot be combined.
1. Points for Canadian Work Experience
Applicants can earn up to 80 points for five years of eligible Canadian work experience, plus additional points if they have worked for at least one year in a high-wage occupation.
| Occupation’s Wage Category | Extra CRS Points |
|---|---|
| At least twice the median wage | 70 |
| At least 1.5 times the median wage | 40 |
| At least 1.3 times the median wage | 20 |
For example, someone with five years of eligible Canadian work experience, including at least one year in the highest wage category, could receive 150 points (80 + 70).
People working in occupations that do not qualify for extra high-wage points can still earn regular points for their Canadian work experience.
2. Points for a High-Wage Job Offer
Applicants with a qualifying job offer in an eligible high-wage occupation can receive:
| Occupation’s Wage Category | CRS Points |
|---|---|
| At least twice the median wage | 100 |
| At least 1.5 times the median wage | 70 |
| At least 1.3 times the median wage | 50 |
The job offer must generally be for full-time, continuous employment in Canada for at least one year after the applicant becomes a permanent resident. Special requirements apply to certain skilled trades and physicians.
3. What Is the Maximum Score?
The maximum available under the new Labour Market Integration factor is:
- 150 points for applicants without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
- 140 points for applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
These points do not guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Applicants must still meet the eligibility requirements and CRS cutoff score for each Express Entry invitation round.
Which Jobs Qualify for Additional Points?
The federal government has published a detailed list of eligible occupations, divided into three wage categories.
Some examples include:
| 100-Point Job-Offer Category | 70-Point Job-Offer Category | 50-Point Job-Offer Category |
|---|---|---|
| Family physicians | Registered nurses | Financial auditors and accountants |
| Surgeons | Software engineers | Web developers and programmers |
| Nurse practitioners | Civil engineers | Social workers |
| Lawyers | Elementary school teachers | Industrial electricians |
| University professors | Secondary school teachers | Bricklayers |
| Engineering managers | Pharmacists | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| Veterinarians | Firefighters | Medical laboratory technologists |
| Financial managers | Data scientists | Architects |
A worker’s individual salary does not determine eligibility. Instead, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the median earnings of workers in the same National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Per the website, the government determines wage categories using Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census data from the previous three years.
The initial list uses data from 2023 to 2025, with occupations assigned the highest wage category they reached during that period.
What Happens if the Occupation List Changes?
IRCC says a candidate’s wage category will be determined based on the list in effect when they receive their Invitation to Apply.
If an occupation subsequently moves to another category, is removed or is added, the category used for an invitation already issued will remain unchanged.
Labour Market Impact Assessment Requirement Removed
Another significant change concerns Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs).
Beginning November 3, qualifying job offers will no longer require an LMIA to receive Express Entry points or meet applicable job-offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs.
Immigration officials will still verify that offers are genuine and meet program requirements.
“Canada is competing globally for people with the skills we need to build a prosperous economy and stronger public services,” Diab said, explaining the government’s objective.
What Existing Express Entry Applicants Should Know
Candidates already in the Express Entry pool will have their scores recalculated automatically beginning November 3.
IRCC says the recalculation could take up to two weeks, during which invitation rounds will be temporarily paused.
Applicants seeking job-offer points should review and update the relevant information in their profiles before November 3, 2026.
A qualifying job offer may still help an applicant meet immigration program eligibility requirements even if the occupation does not qualify for additional CRS points.
The government also cautions that additional points do not guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Applicants must still meet program requirements and the CRS cutoff for their invitation round.
Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations
