If you have an active Express Entry profile or you’re planning to submit one there are significant CRS changes on the horizon that could directly affect your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed that changes to Express Entry will take effect on November 3, 2026, introducing a new points structure built around Canadian labour market integration. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s Changing: A New “Labour Market Integration” Factor
The CRS changes are the introduction of a new Labour Market Integration factor under the CRS. Under this factor, candidates can earn points for either Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation whichever results in the higher score.
Key elements of the new CRS changes include:
- Only job offers in eligible high-wage occupations will earn CRS points. Job offers in non-high-wage occupations can still help a candidate qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, but they will not earn any CRS points.
- New points for Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations. These points are in addition to the existing points based on how long a candidate has Canadian work experience.
- The list of eligible high-wage occupations is determined by IRCC and published on its website.
The End of LMIA-Based Points
Perhaps the most dramatic CRS change involves the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Under the new rules, the LMIA will no longer be used to decide whether a job offer qualifies for program eligibility or CRS points in Express Entry. Job offers supported by an LMIA including permanent resident LMIAs will not receive any priority.
Additionally, LMIA-exemption rules are being removed. This means a qualifying job offer can be for a current or new position, with a current or new employer, for any candidate regardless of their work permit status or type.
This represents a fundamental rethinking of how arranged employment is treated in Express Entry, and it’s a change that employers and foreign workers alike should understand before making decisions based on the old framework.
Important Caveats regarding the CRS changes
Before assuming these changes will work in your favour, keep the following in mind:
- Not all job offers will qualify for additional CRS points. Updated instructions and eligibility requirements will be available on the Express Entry job offer page of Canada.ca after November 3, 2026.
- Additional CRS points do not guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Invitations depend on CRS cut-off scores, as well as the size and type of each round at the time it is held.
What Happens to Your Existing Profile?
If you already have an active Express Entry profile, IRCC will automatically recalculate your profile when the changes take effect. This process may take up to two weeks for all existing profiles, and invitation rounds will be paused during this period, resuming once the recalculation is complete.
What Should You Do Now?
IRCC’s advice is straightforward, and we recommend acting on it:
- Keep your profile accurate and up to date if your situation changes — for example, if you receive a new or updated job offer, or gain Canadian work experience.
- If you have a job offer, include the job offer details in your profile.
- Monitor the official list of eligible high-wage occupations on IRCC’s website, and review the detailed information available at Immigrate through Express Entry – Canada.ca.
How We Can Help
Transitions like this one often create both opportunities and pitfalls. Candidates with Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations may see their scores rise, while those relying hoping that the LMIA-supported job offers might be reinstated need to rethink their strategy entirely. If you have questions about how the November 3, 2026 changes will affect your Express Entry profile or whether your job offer will qualify under the new rules contact our office to speak with a licensed immigration professional.
The information in this post is based on IRCC’s announcement and is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules and eligibility requirements may change, and updated instructions are expected to be published on Canada.ca after November 3, 2026.