Express Entry Gets New CRS Rules and an Invitation Pause

Canada has rolled out major changes to Express Entry. They took effect on November 3, 2026, after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced them on October 16. The update introduces a new Labour Market Integration factor in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

There is a short pause too. IRCC is automatically recalculating CRS scores for existing profiles. That may take up to two weeks. Invitation rounds are on hold until it finishes.

What Is the New Labour Market Integration Factor?

This factor rewards two things. One is eligible Canadian work experience, including experience in high wage occupations. The other is a qualifying job offer in a high wage occupation. Candidates get points under whichever option scores higher. The two cannot be combined.

Notice the message. Canada values people who have already worked here and contributed. Canadian work experience can now offer a bigger advantage than a job offer alone.

How Canadian Work Experience Earns Points

Points start with years of Canadian experience. A candidate without a spouse gets 40 points for one year and up to 80 for five or more. With a spouse, the range runs from 35 to 70. These reflect the existing scoring structure.

The new part is the high wage bonus. At least 12 months, or 1,560 hours, in an occupation with a median wage at least twice the national benchmark adds 70 points. At 1.5 times the benchmark it adds 40. At 1.3 times it adds 20.

Experience can come from more than one eligible job. It need not be continuous. Part time work can be combined, with simultaneous hours counted up to 30 per week. Experience generally must fall within the past 10 years in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations.

Job Offer Points Return

Job offer points are back, with a new design. A qualifying offer in an occupation at twice the national median wage earns 100 points. At 1.5 times it earns 70. At 1.3 times it earns 50. Below that threshold, there are no points.

Here is the key twist. Eligibility depends on the typical wage of the occupation, using its NOC code. It does not depend on the salary written in your offer letter. Confirm the right NOC code before you plan anything.

The offer must generally be full time and continuous for at least one year after the candidate becomes a permanent resident. Special conditions apply to some trades and certain physicians.

LMIA No Longer Needed for Express Entry Offers

IRCC has removed the LMIA and LMIA exemption requirement for job offers under Express Entry. Offers must still meet the criteria and be verified. This is a big relief for employers who no longer need an LMIA only to support a candidate’s CRS points.

But this is not the end of the LMIA. Employers hiring foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program may still need one for a work permit. Temporary and permanent pathways follow different rules.

Because the online profile is not fully updated yet, IRCC has issued temporary instructions. Candidates with a qualifying offer but no LMIA must select that a positive LMIA was issued and enter placeholder details provided by IRCC. These are official technical entries, not real LMIA data. Use them only where IRCC’s instructions apply.

What Happens Next for Profiles

Scores in the pool will be recalculated automatically. Candidates with qualifying Canadian experience need not create a new profile if their information is complete and accurate. Those with job offers not yet in their profile should update it.

Expect shifts. Some candidates will jump ahead. Others may drop in relative position even if their own score does not change. The effect on cut offs will depend on how many candidates qualify and which rounds IRCC runs, including category based draws.

This reform nudges Express Entry toward integration. Candidates who already work, pay taxes and build lives in Canada get a stronger voice. That is a pro Canada, pro community direction.

A quick illustration. A candidate with three years of Canadian experience in an occupation at twice the benchmark and no spouse scores 64 plus 70, which is 134 points under this factor. A candidate overseas with a qualifying job offer at the same wage level scores 100. Both gain, but experience wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

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