Canada Announces Express Entry Changes Starting November 3, 2026

Key Takeaways  

• Changes are coming to CRS calculations for high-wage earners waiting in Canada’s Express Entry system  pool.

• There will be a two week break in Express Entry invitations while Express Entry candidates’ CRS scores are recalculated. If you have a high-wage job offer, you will need to manually update your profile, while everyone else will have their CRS score automatically recalculated.
• The 2026 Consultations on Express Entry reforms – Final report was published yesterday. It shares information about the types of changes that are being considered.  This means we may see further announcements in the near future. (We would guess that we will see further changes shortly, but this isn’t confirmed).

• Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab shared a video on Instagram outlining how we are “aligning immigration with Canada’s economic needs” 

Timeline of Updates

On October 16, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab held a media briefing to announce reforms to Canada’s Express Entry system.

On October 15, IRCC published the Final Report on the 2026 consultations on Express Entry reforms.

On October 15, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab published a video to her social media channels sharing some information about Canada’s immigration priorities going forward. The timing of this was interesting, given today’s media briefing plus the looming Immigration Levels Plan.

Confirmed Changes Announced During the Immigration Media Briefing on October 16, 2026

Today’s announcement relates to high-wage earners in the Express Entry program. It notes:

“Starting November 3, 2026, IRCC will award additional points to candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, including jobs such as engineers and electricians.”

Given that there were significant issues with LMIA points in the past, we are not surprised to see that the high wage occupation change announced today does not require an LMIA. More details are likely to be forthcoming when it comes to how IRCC will assess high wage earners in the Express Entry pool.  

There will also be a two week pause on Express Entry draws. This means it’s unlikely we will see further Express Entry draws in October and there may be a delay in November if the recalculation process takes longer than anticipated.  

This is likely to have an impact on the scores for draws following this break. We would predict that the draw scores will be elevated following the draws for at least a short period of time.  

On that note, candidates in the pool already will automatically have their CRS scores recalculated using the new system. There is a  ‘to-do’ here for applicants who wish to have their high-wage job considered for Express Entry purposes that is outlined below.

What Counts as a High-Wage Occupation? 

According to IRCC, a job is considered “high-wage” if the median wage for that occupation is at least 1.3 times higher than the national median wage across occupations in Canada.
Note that this does not take your actual wages or salary for the position into account — only the median wage for your occupation matters. 

Candidates with a high-wage job in Canada or an eligible high-wage job offer from a Canadian employer will be eligible for between 50 and 100 additional CRS points. Candidates in occupations where the median wage is twice the median wage will be eligible for the most points. 

How Many Points Can You Get for a High-Wage Occupation? 

Candidates with a high-wage job in Canada or an eligible high-wage job offer from a Canadian employer will be eligible for between 50 and 100 additional CRS points. 

You may get points for having either: 

• Eligible Canadian work experience, with additional points if your experience is in a high-wage occupation, or 

• A valid job offer in a high-wage occupation 

You cannot get points under both these categories. Instead, you will automatically receive for points for whichever option gets you more points. 

CRS Points for Canadian Experience in a High-Wage Occupation 

If you have at least one year of Canadian experience in a high-wage occupation, you may be entitled to points under this option. 

Keep in mind that these points are in addition to CRS points you already get for eligible Canadian work experience (up to 80 points for 5 years of Canadian experience). Adding that in, candidates may now be eligible for up to 150 points for high-wage Canadian experience. 

CRS Points for a Job Offer in a High-Wage Occupation 

If you have a valid Canadian job offer in a high-wage occupation, you may be eligible for points under this option. 

To qualify, your job offer must be for full-time, continuous work in Canada, for at least one year after you become a permanent resident. 

Your job offer does not need to be LMIA-based. 

High-Wage Occupations List for Express Entry

What impact will this have on cut offs? 

As a result of these changes, some candidates in the Express Entry pool will be entitled to an additional 50 to 100 CRS points. This could increase the number of high-scoring candidates in the pool, especially those in the 501-600 points range. 

This would likely lead to an increase in cut-offs for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws. Some occupations in the high-wage list also relate to current priority categories, such as healthcare, physicians, and even trades. This means we could see cut-offs shift upward for some categories as well. 

However, cut-offs are based on two factors: scores of eligible candidates in the pool and the number of candidates IRCC wants to invite. So, an increase in cut-offs will not necessarily mean that fewer candidates will get invited. However, having a high-wage job or job offer will give candidates an edge. 

What Express Entry Applicants Should Do to Prepare for the Changes 

IRCC has indicated that draws will be paused for two weeks (until November 3, 2026) to give the department time to implement changes. 

If you’re working in Canada in a high-wage occupation, and have already listed that experience in your Express Entry profile, your CRS score will automatically be updated with the extra points. 

However, if you received a high-wage job offer and have not included it in your Express Entry profile, now is the time to add that in. You must update your profile before November 3 to receive the extra points. Your job offer will be eligible for extra points if the median wage for your occupation is at least 1.3 times the national average median wage. It does not need to be an LMIA-based job offer.  

In addition, whenever any changes are made to the IRCC platforms, applicants should be prepared for technical issues and processing delays.  

If you are in Canada and your status is expiring or you are relying on an invitation soon, consider how a gap of a few weeks without draws would affect your plans. Review your options for maintaining valid temporary resident status and, where eligible, your authorization to work. Preparing a backup plan now can help you manage any disruption to your immigration timeline.  

What’s Missing? 

Today’s announcement only covered a portion of the CRS changes that had originally been proposed. The consultation conducted earlier this year covered a broad range of proposed changes, including removing or revising spousal factor points and bonus points for French. More on this below.  

It is unclear why IRCC is making these CRS changes in phases or if there will be further pauses in draws later in the year. 

The changes to the three economic immigration programs delivered through the Express Entry system — Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) — were also not finalized today.  

Separate consultations were completed earlier this year regarding potentially replacing the three programs with a single Federal High Skilled Program. These changes will require regulatory changes and will likely only be finalized next year. 

This announcement also did not cover any proposed changes to Express Entry categories. Typically, categories for the year are announced in February, so we may have to wait a few months to get confirmation on whether there will be a dedicated category for H-1B visa holders in 2027. 

Today’s announcement only covered upcoming changes to CRS scores. The changes to the three economic immigration programs delivered through the Express Entry system — Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) — were not finalized today.  

Separate consultations were completed earlier this year regarding potentially replacing the three programs with a single Federal High Skilled Program. These changes will require regulatory changes and will likely only be finalized next year. 

This announcement also did not cover any proposed changes to Express Entry categories. Typically, categories for the year are announced in February, so we may have to wait a few months to get confirmation on whether there will be a dedicated category for H-1B visa holders in 2027. 

Background: the 2026 consultations on Express Entry reforms – Final report 

IRCC is thinking about combining Canada’s three federal Express Entry programs into one – not yet confirmed

IRCC is thinking about combining the existing Express Entry programs (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, and Federal Skilled Trades) into one program.  

This could make the system easier to understand, while also simplifying rules and documentation requirements.  

The proposed minimum requirements discussed included:  

• Reaching a CLB 6 for a Canadian official language (French or English)  

• At least a high school education.  

High income earners could get more CRS points – Now confirmed 

IRCC considered giving more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to people working in high-paying jobs. This change has now been confirmed following the October 16 media briefing and IRCC press releases outlined above. 

The changes give extra points to candidates working in high-wage occupations. IRCC notes that additional points are offered based on: 

• eligible Canadian work experience based on its duration, with additional points where the experience is in a high-wage occupation, or
• a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.

During the consultations, supporters noted these changes could help workers with valuable skills and strong earning potential. Others worried that the changes could make it harder for younger workers and people in lower-paying but important jobs to get permanent residence. 

Based on the changes outlined above, we are concerned that there may be opportunities for fraud given that the high-wage determination is based on occupation, not confirmed wages. However, we would guess that either details will be confirmed later or IRCC’s officers would flag applications where the wage does not match the NOC duties for procedural fairness letters at a minimum.

Older candidates could benefit from changes to age points – not yet confirmed

IRCC is considering changing this system so that people can keep their age points for longer. Currently, candidates start losing age points after turning 29. 

This could help experienced workers in their 30s and 40s compete for permanent residence. 

Some people who gave feedback argued that the current system puts older, highly skilled workers at a disadvantage. 

The report does not say what the new age limits could be or how many points candidates might receive. 

Canadian work experience could become more valuable – not yet confirmed

Many people supported giving more credit to candidates who have already worked, paid taxes and built their lives in Canada. Some also suggested that IRCC should count more types of Canadian work experience, including: 

• Work completed while studying in Canada. 

• Self-employment in Canada. 

This could be good news for international graduates, temporary foreign workers and other candidates with Canadian work experience – though, this is not yet confirmed, so don’t plan your life around this becoming a reality.  

IRCC has not confirmed whether it will increase CRS points for Canadian work experience or change which types of work count. 

Some international graduates could lose CRS points – not yet confirmed

IRCC is considering changing the extra CRS points awarded to people who complete their education in Canada. One proposal would limit these points to people who graduate with: 

• A bachelor’s degree. 

• A master’s degree. 

• A PhD. 

This means people who complete Canadian college diplomas or certificates might no longer receive extra points for studying in Canada. 

Some people supported this idea, saying that higher-level degrees should receive more recognition. 

Others argued that studying in Canada helps newcomers find jobs and settle into Canadian life. 

No final decision has been made. 

Skilled tradespeople and licensed professionals could see changes – not yet confirmed

IRCC is looking at changing how it awards CRS points for trade qualifications and professional licenses. The possible changes include: 

• Giving more recognition to apprenticeships. 

• Limiting Certificate of Qualification points to trades covered by Canada’s Red Seal program. 

This would not stop people working in other trades from applying through Express Entry. However, they might not qualify for extra points. 

IRCC is also considering giving points to people who hold Canadian professional licenses in jobs outside the skilled trades. This could help people who have met Canada’s requirements to work in regulated professions. 

However, some people warned that getting a Canadian license can be difficult for temporary residents. They want IRCC to make sure these workers still have a fair chance of getting permanent residence. 

CRS points for spouses and siblings could disappear – not yet confirmed

IRCC is considering removing two types of family-related CRS points. It notes that IRCC removing these points would mean candidates are assessed based on their own skills and experience. 

Spousal points: Candidates currently receive CRS points based on certain qualifications of their spouse or common-law partner. This would not stop candidates from including their spouse in a permanent residence application. 

Sibling points: Candidates can currently receive extra CRS points if they have an eligible sibling living in Canada. IRCC is considering removing these points too. 

Many people supported these changes because they believe Express Entry should focus more on a candidate’s skills, work experience and ability to contribute to Canada’s economy. 

Others pointed out that having family in Canada can make it easier for newcomers to settle. 

French-language points could face changes – not yet confirmed

French-language skills were another topic raised during the consultations. 

Some people argued that French-speaking candidates receive too many advantages through extra CRS points and French-language category-based draws. 

Others supported keeping these advantages because attracting French-speaking immigrants remains important to Canada. 

There was also some support for creating a separate immigration program for French-speaking candidates. 

IRCC has not announced plans to remove French-language points or stop French-language draws. These were ideas and opinions shared during the consultations, not confirmed changes.

Immigration Minister Metlege Diab’s Video on Express Entry Changes

While it didn’t confirm any changes, Lena covered the following talking points in a recent video she shared on social media:  

• Immigrants help Canada grow its economy 

• Canada needs more nurses and doctors, skilled tradespeople, and more innovators 

• She confirmed changes are coming to Express Entry to prioritize securing talent in critical sectors 

• She noted that the new system may help people who are already living and working in Canada, and paying taxes 
• She highlighted that the federal government is working with provinces and territories to match immigration with local needs.  

She also noted that the immigration levels are slowing to keep pace with infrastructure.  

It’s interesting that quite a few of these points align with the Express Entry final report, giving further clues about what changes may actually take place.  

You can watch the reel here.

What happens next? 

We are likely to see changes being announced very soon. The topic for today’s announcement at 11am EST has not yet been shared, but it is widely expected to be on CRS points.  

Keep your eyes peeled on our social media and email for confirmed changes after today’s media briefing.