On October 16, 2026, in Kitchener, Ontario, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced changes to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Starting November 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will award extra points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.
If you work in Canada or have a Canadian job offer, here is what IRCC has confirmed.
Key takeaways
- New CRS points from November 3, 2026, for Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.
- "High-wage" is based on your occupation, not your own salary.
- You get work-experience or job-offer points, whichever is higher, not both.
- No LMIA is needed for a qualifying job offer to get the new points.
- Want job-offer points? Update your profile before November 3.
- More points do not guarantee an invitation to apply (ITA).
What counts as a high-wage occupation?
A high-wage occupation is one where the median wage is at least 1.3 times the median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. It is measured across everyone in Canada working in the same National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, not by your position or pay.
There are three levels (2, 1.5 and 1.3 times the median). IRCC publishes the list, based on Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census data from the past three years.
IRCC says eligible occupations include jobs in health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education, naming engineers and electricians as examples. Check your exact five-digit NOC code: for example, the list includes industrial electricians (NOC 72201) and power system electricians (NOC 72202).
How the new points work
Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation
With at least 12 months of eligible Canadian experience in a high-wage occupation, you may receive:
| Occupation level | Additional CRS points |
|---|---|
| 2 times the median wage | 70 |
| 1.5 times the median wage | 40 |
| 1.3 times the median wage | 20 |
These are added to the regular points for the length of your Canadian experience (up to 80 for five years), for a combined maximum of 150. Eligible experience generally must be gained in Canada within the past 10 years in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation
| Occupation level | CRS points |
|---|---|
| 2 times the median wage | 100 |
| 1.5 times the median wage | 70 |
| 1.3 times the median wage | 50 |
A qualifying offer generally must be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after you become a permanent resident. Specific rules apply to some occupations, including skilled trades and physicians.
One or the other, not both
If you qualify under both, you receive whichever gives more points. The maximum for this part of the CRS is 150 points without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, or 140 with one.
For context, IRCC stopped awarding CRS points for job offers on March 25, 2025, as a temporary anti-fraud measure. The new system brings job-offer points back, but only for high-wage occupations.
No LMIA needed for qualifying job offers
From November 3, 2026, an LMIA will not be required for a qualifying job offer to receive the new points. A temporary public policy will also exempt candidates invited on or after November 3 from LMIA-related requirements for job offers used to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program, if they meet the policy's conditions.
IRCC officers will still confirm each offer is genuine, for example that the employer is active, has a reasonable need and follows employment and recruitment laws. A revoked offer no longer qualifies.
What should you do now?
- Find your NOC code and check IRCC's high-wage list.
- Have a qualifying job offer? Update your profile before November 3 with complete, accurate job-offer details.
- Review your work history. All scores will be recalculated automatically, so accurate dates and NOC codes matter.
- Expect a pause. Recalculation may take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds will be paused meanwhile.
- Be cautious of anyone selling job offers. IRCC verifies offers and acts on fraud.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to earn 1.3 times the median wage myself?
No. It depends on your occupation's typical earnings across Canada.
Can I get points for both Canadian experience and a job offer?
No. You receive whichever gives more points.
Do I still need an LMIA for job-offer points?
Not for the new points, from November 3, 2026. IRCC still assesses whether offers are genuine.
Will the extra points get me an invitation?
Not necessarily. IRCC says extra points do not guarantee an ITA; invitations depend on each round's requirements and cut-off.
Not sure how this affects your score?
If you would like help reviewing your NOC code, job offer or profile before November 3, the team at R-Way Immigration Services Inc. in Brampton is happy to talk it through.
Book a consultation: call 647-803-1004, email [email protected] or visit www.r-wayimmigration.ca.
Official sources
- IRCC news release, October 16, 2026: Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent that drives economic growth
- IRCC backgrounder: Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations
- IRCC: High-wage occupations and how we assess them
- IRCC: Ministerial Instructions amending the Express Entry Instructions, 2025-1 (effective March 25, 2025)
- IRCC, December 2024: Canada takes action to reduce fraud in Express Entry system