10/17/2026
🇨🇦 Express Entry changes on November 3 — job offer points are returning
IRCC has announced significant changes to Express Entry. Starting November 3, 2026, CRS points for Canadian work experience will change, and points for a job offer in a high-wage occupation will return.
💼 A qualifying job offer can provide:
🔹 50 CRS points — for occupations with a median wage at least 1.3 times the median wage of the Canadian workforce;
🔹 70 points — at least 1.5 times the median wage;
🔹 100 points — at least 2 times the median wage.
One of the most interesting changes is that applicants will no longer need an LMIA to receive these points.
📈 Canadian work experience will also carry more weight. Candidates may receive up to 80 CRS points based on the duration of their Canadian work experience. At least 12 months of experience in a designated high-wage occupation may add another 20, 40 or 70 points. Canadian work experience can provide up to 150 CRS points in total.
At the same time, a letter from an employer alone will not be enough. IRCC will verify the genuineness of the job offer, the employer’s business activities and genuine need for the worker, compliance with applicable laws, and the candidate’s qualifications. Measures to detect fraud are also expected.
The return of job offer points, especially the possibility of receiving them without an LMIA, is a positive change for some candidates. For those who were only a few dozen points short of a competitive CRS score, an additional 50, 70 or 100 points could significantly improve their position in the pool.
⚠️ However, this change alone will not solve the problem for candidates with very low CRS scores. Job offer points will also be available only for designated high-wage occupations.
⏸️ After November 3, IRCC will automatically recalculate the CRS scores of candidates already in the pool. This process may take up to two weeks, and Express Entry draws will be paused during this period.
Candidates who already have a qualifying job offer should review their Express Entry profile and provide the required information by November 3.