High-Wage Workers Can Reach 150 CRS Points From Nov. 3
Express Entry changes take effect on November 3, 2026, adding CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience and qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. If a job offer you may use isn’t in your Express Entry profile yet, update it before that date.
Quick answer
What Express Entry changes take effect on November 3, 2026?
Express Entry changes take effect on November 3, 2026, adding CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. The changes also remove the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers used to establish eligibility and obtain CRS points. If a job offer you may use isn’t in your Express Entry profile yet, update it before November 3, 2026.
- Points: Canadian work experience earns 70 points for at least 12 months in occupations paid at 2 times the median wage, or 40 points if you aren’t eligible for the 70-point tier and have at least 12 months at 1.5 times the median or higher.
- One route counts: If you qualify through both Canadian work experience and a job offer, you receive whichever gives more points, and the two aren’t added together.
- Occupation list: IRCC will publish a list of high-wage occupations on its website, based on wage data from the previous three years.
- Next step: Review your profile before November 3, 2026, so your job offer information is complete and accurate.
How will the new CRS points work?
The Canadian-work-experience add-on depends on how long you’ve worked in qualifying high-wage occupations and how those occupations’ wages compare with the median. The confirmed tiers include 70 points at 2 times the median and 40 points at 1.5 times the median, subject to the eligibility order.
| Points category | Requirement or limit | CRS points |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation | At least 12 months in one or more occupations at 2 times the median | 70 |
| Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation | At least 12 months combined in occupations at 1.5 times the median or above, if not eligible for 70 points | 40 |
| Labour market integration factor | Without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 150 |
| Labour market integration factor | With an accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 140 |
If you qualify through both eligible Canadian work experience and a high-wage job offer, you receive the option with more points; the two amounts don’t add together. A qualifying offer generally covers full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least 1 year after you become a permanent resident. The offer must still qualify, and officers will verify offers and address potential fraud or misrepresentation.
Which job offers qualify without an LMIA?
From November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer won’t need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) to earn the new Express Entry job-offer points. The offer must still be valid and meet the rules for the program where you’re using it.
A temporary public policy also exempts qualifying offers from LMIA and LMIA-exemption requirements when you use them to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program. It applies to candidates invited on or after November 3, 2026, who meet the policy conditions. Program conditions still apply.
Different rules apply to some occupations, including skilled trades and certain physicians.
IRCC officers must determine that a qualifying offer is genuine, including whether the employer is actively engaged in the business, the offer reflects its reasonable employment needs and the employer has complied with federal and provincial employment and recruitment laws.
What do high-wage thresholds mean?
High-wage status depends on the occupation’s median wage across Canada, not your personal salary. The threshold is 1.3 times the median wage of the overall Canadian workforce, applied to the typical earnings of the occupation.
| Wage ratio | Canadian work experience points | Job offer points | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| At least 1.3 times | 20 | 50 | Government of Canada (2026) |
| At least 1.5 times | 40 | 70 | Government of Canada (2026) |
| At least 2 times | 70 | 100 | Government of Canada (2026) |
Chart of the table above.
IRCC will maintain a list of high-wage occupations on its website. The list is based on wage data from the Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census of Population for the previous three years, and an occupation gets the highest high-wage level it met in any year of that period. Jobs named in the announcement, such as engineers and electricians, are examples, not a complete list.
What should candidates update before November 3?
Review your Express Entry profile before November 3, 2026. If you may qualify for job-offer points, check that all required job-offer information is included and accurate.
Add any qualifying job offer that’s missing. If you have a valid job offer without an LMIA and haven’t included it in your profile, update your profile before the changes take effect. An LMIA won’t be required for a qualifying offer to receive the new job-offer points, but officers will still verify offers and address possible fraud or misrepresentation.
Allow time for your score to be recalculated. Existing profiles will be recalculated automatically when the changes take effect, and the process may take up to 2 weeks. Invitation rounds will be paused during that process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my CRS score change automatically?
Yes, IRCC will automatically recalculate existing Express Entry profiles when the changes take effect on November 3, 2026. Eligible Canadian work experience can count in the new score.
Are invitation rounds paused while scores are recalculated?
Yes, invitation rounds pause while IRCC recalculates existing profiles. Recalculation may take up to 2 weeks.
Where can I find which occupations are high-wage?
IRCC will publish a list of high-wage occupations on its website, based on wage data from the previous three years. See the high-wage occupations page on Canada.ca.
What happens if my job offer is withdrawn after November 3?
A withdrawn or revoked job offer no longer qualifies for job-offer points. IRCC will continue to verify offers, and you should keep your profile information accurate if your offer changes.
Next step: Estimate your score with the CRS Score Calculator and follow new rounds on our Express Entry draws tracker.
Sources
- Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations (Government of Canada, 2026-10-16T11:02:13)
- Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent that drives economic growth (Government of Canada, October 16, 2026)
