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Express Entry changes 2026: high-wage points and job offers
The Express Entry changes 2026 take effect on November 3, 2026. IRCC is adding points for Canadian work in high-wage occupations, bringing back job offer points for high-wage jobs, and dropping the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers.
Latest IRCC updates
- October 2026: IRCC published the backgrounder on high-wage occupations and the "2026 changes" page with the full points tables. The changes start November 3, 2026.
- March 25, 2025: job offer points were removed from the CRS. They stay at zero until November 2, 2026.
The labour market integration factor
From November 3, the core section of the CRS gets a new factor. It gives you points for one of two things, whichever is higher:
- Canadian work experience: the same work-length points as today, plus extra points if at least 12 months of that work was in a high-wage occupation.
- A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.
The two are never added together. The factor is capped at 150 points without a spouse and 140 with an accompanying spouse.
Work-length points (unchanged)
| Canadian work experience | With spouse | Without spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
High-wage experience points (new)
| At least 12 months of Canadian work in occupations at… | Points |
|---|---|
| 2 times the average median wage or more | 70 |
| 1.5 times or more (if not eligible for 70) | 40 |
| 1.3 times or more (if not eligible for 40) | 20 |
| Less than 12 months in high-wage occupations | 0 |
The 12 months (1,560 hours) can be continuous or not, full time or the same amount part time, and spread across more than one high-wage job. Hours from jobs held at the same time count only up to 30 hours a week.
Job offer points (back, for high-wage jobs only)
| Qualifying job offer in an occupation at… | Points |
|---|---|
| 2 times the average median wage or more | 100 |
| 1.5 to under 2 times | 70 |
| 1.3 to under 1.5 times | 50 |
| Not a high-wage occupation | 0 |
Skill transferability does not change. It still uses the length of your Canadian work experience, not the high-wage points.
High-wage occupations and the median wage
A job counts as high-wage when the median wage of everyone in Canada working in that NOC code is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the whole Canadian workforce. It is decided by the NOC code, not by what your own employer pays you. IRCC groups the eligible NOC codes into three levels (1.3, 1.5 and 2 times) and publishes the list on canada.ca. Check your NOC there before you count on these points.
Job offers without an LMIA
- No LMIA is needed for a job offer to count for program eligibility or for CRS points.
- Having an LMIA gives no extra points or priority.
- The offer can be for a new or existing position, with a new or existing employer.
- An officer checks that the offer is genuine when you apply for permanent residence, including whether the employer is active, can meet the terms and follows employment law.
- A qualifying offer generally has to be full time, continuous and for at least one year after you become a permanent resident.
For Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades eligibility, a job offer does not have to be high-wage. Any valid TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 offer can still help you qualify, even if it earns no CRS points. See the FSW 67-point grid.
How to update your profile
IRCC says its online profile will not reflect the change right away. If you have a job offer without an LMIA, it tells you to answer "Yes" to the LMIA question under Work history and enter LMIA number 00000, issuance date 2026-01-01 and expiry date 2029-01-01. Follow the exact wording on the canada.ca page linked below in case it changes.
Who gains and who doesn't
People with at least a year of Canadian work in a high-wage NOC gain 20 to 70 points. People with a high-wage job offer and little Canadian experience can gain up to 100. Everyone else keeps the same score they have today. Try both rule sets in the CRS calculator to see your own difference.
FAQ
When do the 2026 Express Entry changes start?
November 3, 2026. IRCC may pause draws for up to two weeks while it recalculates every profile.
Do I need an LMIA for job offer points after November 3?
No. A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation earns points without an LMIA, and having one gives no extra points.
Can I get points for both my Canadian experience and a job offer?
No. You get whichever of the two options is higher, up to 150 points, or 140 with an accompanying spouse.
What is a high-wage occupation?
A NOC code whose median wage across Canada is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the workforce. Your own salary does not decide it.