Express Entry: from November 3, 2026, CRS points for high-wage occupations and job offers without an LMIA

On October 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced changes to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). They take effect on November 3, 2026.

What changes

• Canadian work experience: candidates keep their points for the duration of eligible Canadian work experience (up to 80 points for 5 years). With at least 12 months in high-wage occupations, they get 20, 40 or 70 additional points, depending on the occupation's wage level, for up to 150 points.
• Job offers: a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation gives 50, 70 or 100 points, depending on the occupation's wage level.
• Candidates who qualify for both get whichever gives more points; the two are not combined. The labour market integration factor is capped at 150 points (140 with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner).
• No LMIA: a qualifying job offer will no longer need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) to earn the new points or to meet the job offer requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC officers will still check that each offer is genuine.

What is a high-wage occupation

An occupation whose median wage is at least 1.3 times the median wage of the overall Canadian workforce, with levels at 1.3, 1.5 and 2 times. It depends on the occupation, not on the candidate's own salary. IRCC gives engineers and electricians as examples; eligible occupations include jobs in health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education. IRCC publishes the list of high-wage occupations.

Candidates already in the pool

Their scores will be recalculated automatically. Candidates who want job offer points must add the required job offer information to their Express Entry profile before November 3. The recalculation may take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds will be paused during that time. Additional points do not guarantee an invitation.

Read IRCC's news release and backgrounder. Our CRS page explains how the score works today.