IRCC announced that, starting November 3, 2026, Express Entry candidates may receive additional points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. The department will also remove the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers to receive the new points and to meet job offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Announced on October 16, the reforms are scheduled to take effect on November 3, 2026. They will also change how qualifying job offers are assessed, including removing the Express Entry LMIA requirement in the circumstances described by IRCC.
For a consolidated explanation and list of high-wage occupations visit our Express Entry high-wage occupations guide.
How the New CRS Factor Will Work
A new Labour Market Integration factor will compare two scoring routes:
- Eligible Canadian work experience, combining work-length points with any qualifying high-wage experience points.
- A qualifying job offer in an eligible high-wage occupation.
Candidates qualifying under both routes will receive the higher score, not the combined total.
The maximum is 150 points without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, or 140 points with one. These totals include the Canadian work-length component; they are not entirely new bonus points added on top of existing Canadian experience points.
For the wider ranking framework, see our Express Entry CRS score guide.
What Counts as a High-Wage Occupation?
The classification depends on national earnings data for a National Occupational Classification (NOC) group, not an individual candidate’s salary.
IRCC identifies three occupational wage levels:
| Occupational wage level | Classification |
|---|---|
| At least twice the workforce median benchmark | Highest level |
| At least 1.5 times, but below twice the benchmark | Middle level |
| At least 1.3 times, but below 1.5 times the benchmark | Entry level |
The initial list uses data from 2023 to 2025. Each occupation receives the highest level it reached during the three-year assessment period.
The list includes occupations across management, health care, engineering, technology, education and skilled trades. Candidates must check their exact NOC rather than assume that every occupation within a sector qualifies.
See the complete high-wage occupations list and NOC guide for all listed codes and their respective levels.
Canadian Experience and Job Offer Points
The announced awards differ between the experience and offer routes:
| Occupational level | Extra points for qualifying Canadian high-wage experience | Qualifying offer points |
|---|---|---|
| At least twice the benchmark | 70 | 100 |
| At least 1.5 times | 40 if not eligible for 70 | 70 for the middle level |
| At least 1.3 times | 20 if not eligible for a higher award | 50 for the entry level |
The experience award requires at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work at the relevant threshold or above. Eligible periods can be combined, but concurrent hours are counted only up to the equivalent of 30 hours per week.
The three experience awards do not stack. Existing qualification rules still apply, and overseas work does not become Canadian experience simply because its NOC appears on the list.
Candidates should assess these ranking changes separately from Canadian Experience Class eligibility explain the thresholds.
LMIA Removal Does Not Eliminate Offer Verification
From November 3, qualifying offers will no longer need an LMIA for the relevant Express Entry scoring and federal program purposes. Officers will still assess employer legitimacy, employment needs, ability to honour the offer and the candidate’s suitability.
This announcement should not be interpreted as abolishing LMIA requirements across all temporary work permit applications.
A valid offer may also remain relevant to program eligibility even when it does not qualify for high-wage offer points. Review Express Entry eligibility requirements separately from the ranking calculation.
Profiles Will Be Recalculated, With a Temporary Draw Pause
Existing profiles will be recalculated when implementation begins. IRCC says this may take up to two weeks, during which invitation rounds will pause.
Candidates seeking offer points should ensure their profiles contain the required information before November 3. Automatic recalculation should not be treated as a substitute for supplying missing offer details. Our Express Entry draws guide explains how invitation rounds and cut-offs work.
What Candidates Should Review Now
Before estimating the reform’s effect, candidates should check their actual occupational duties, qualifying Canadian employment periods, offer evidence and profile information.
Additional points do not guarantee an invitation or permanent residence. Candidates must still meet applicable eligibility requirements and the conditions of the invitation round.
Refrence: Read the official announcement.