The Canadian government has announced a significant change to its Express Entry immigration system: candidates will no longer receive extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for having a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based job offer.
Previously, Express Entry candidates could gain an additional 50 or 200 CRS points for having a valid job offer, which often determined whether they received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. For many, these extra points were crucial for reaching the cut-off in draws.
The announcement was made by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Tuesday, December 17, during a televised interview. While the exact implementation date remains unclear, as of December 18, the government’s online CRS calculator still awards 50 points for a valid job offer.
What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?
The CRS is the scoring mechanism used by Canada’s federal government to rank Express Entry candidates. Scores are based on various factors, including age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.
Candidates can score up to 600 points for “core human capital” factors and an additional 600 points for other factors, such as:
- Having a sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident.
- French language proficiency.
- Post-secondary education in Canada.
- Provincial or territorial nominations.
- Arranged employment (soon to be excluded).
Until now, candidates could receive an additional 50 points for job offers in any NOC TEER occupation and 200 points for NOC TEER 0 positions, which include executive-level roles.
Why the Change?
Minister Miller explained that removing extra points for arranged employment aims to reduce fraud and enhance the system’s integrity. There have been concerns about candidates purchasing LMIAs to artificially boost their CRS scores.
“By eliminating this incentive, we’re ensuring fairness and strengthening the integrity of Express Entry,” said Miller.
Broader Implications for Express Entry and TFWP
This change aligns with other recent adjustments to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires employers to obtain a positive or neutral LMIA before hiring foreign workers.
In September, the government suspended processing LMIAs under the low-wage stream. In November, it increased pay requirements for the high-wage stream, mandating wages at least 20% above the median for the region and occupation.
The latest Immigration Levels Plan also introduced targets for temporary resident levels, including new work permits under the TFWP, with a target of 82,000 net new permits in 2025.
Impact on Candidates
This change could lead to higher CRS cut-off scores in general draws, making other factors such as provincial nominations or language skills more critical for candidates seeking permanent residency.
Express Entry candidates are encouraged to monitor updates closely and adjust their immigration strategies accordingly. More details about this policy change are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
