Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced upcoming changes to the Express Entry system, scheduled for implementation in spring 2025. These changes involve the removal of additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points awarded for valid job offers.
Currently, candidates with valid job offers can earn an extra 50 or 200 CRS points, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. The IRCC confirmed that this adjustment is a temporary measure, though no specific end date has been provided.
Who Will Be Affected?
The removal of CRS points for job offers will apply to all new and existing candidates in the Express Entry pool, including those currently working in Canada on temporary permits. Importantly, this change will be universal, affecting job offers across all sectors of the economy.
However, the following groups will not be impacted:
- Candidates who have already received an ITA based on a CRS score that included points for arranged employment.
- Applicants who have submitted their permanent residence (PR) applications and are in the processing stage.
IRCC emphasized the distinction between “candidates” and “applicants” in the Express Entry system. A “candidate” refers to an individual who has submitted a profile to the Express Entry pool. Once a candidate receives an ITA and submits their application, they become an “applicant.”
Initial Announcement
This change was first revealed on December 17 by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who confirmed that Express Entry candidates would no longer receive additional CRS points for LMIA-based job offers. While no specific details were shared at the time, the new timeline of spring 2025 has now been confirmed.
About Express Entry
The Express Entry system manages applications for three key immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Candidates in the Express Entry pool are scored out of 1200 points based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. Additional points up to 600 are awarded for criteria such as:
- Having a sibling in Canada;
- French language skills;
- Canadian education credentials;
- Arranged employment; and
- Provincial or territorial nomination.
Once the new policy takes effect, candidates will no longer earn points for arranged employment, reducing the weight of job offers in the selection process.
This change underscores IRCC’s evolving approach to Canada’s immigration system and the factors that influence Express Entry candidate rankings.
