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From 3 November 2026, Express Entry gives extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation. A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is no longer needed for a qualifying job offer to count for these points or for program eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs. Candidates get the higher of the two routes, not both.
What Counts as a High-Wage Occupation
An occupation is high-wage if its median wage is at least 1.3 times the median wage of the whole Canadian workforce. The test applies to the occupation, not to your own salary. Each occupation is placed in one of three tiers using its NOC code, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes the list of qualifying occupations.
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| Wage tier | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Top tier | Occupation median is at least 2 times the Canadian median |
| Middle tier | At least 1.5 times, but below 2 times |
| Lower tier | At least 1.3 times, but below 1.5 times |
Extra CRS Points by Tier
| Occupation wage tier | Extra points for Canadian work experience | Points for a qualifying job offer |
|---|---|---|
| At least 2 times the median | 70 | 100 |
| At least 1.5 times, below 2 times | 40 | 70 |
| At least 1.3 times, below 1.5 times | 20 | 50 |
| Not high-wage | 0 | 0 |
The work experience route needs at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of qualifying Canadian work experience in eligible high-wage occupations. The hours can be spread over several jobs and can be full-time or an equal amount of part-time work. The labour market integration factor is capped at 150 points without a spouse or partner and 140 with one.
Work Experience Points Compared With Job Offer Points
| Item | Canadian work experience route | Job offer route |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum points | 150 without a spouse, 140 with one | 100 |
| Base points for years worked | Yes, up to 80 without a spouse or 70 with one | No |
| High-wage points | Added on top of the base points | Replace the base points |
| Both routes together | No | No |
Years of Canadian Experience: Base Points
| Years of experience (TEER 0 to 3) | Without spouse | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 40 | 35 |
| 2 | 53 | 46 |
| 3 | 64 | 56 |
| 4 | 72 | 63 |
| 5 or more | 80 | 70 |
Hypothetical Worked Examples
| Hypothetical candidate | Work experience route | Job offer route | Points used |
|---|---|---|---|
| No spouse, 2 years of Canadian work in a lower-tier occupation | 53 + 20 = 73 | None (no offer) | 73 |
| No spouse, 2 years of Canadian work in a lower-tier occupation, plus an offer in a middle-tier occupation | 53 + 20 = 73 | 70 | 73 (the higher) |
| No spouse, no Canadian experience, offer in a top-tier occupation | 0 | 100 | 100 |
| With spouse, 5 years in a top-tier occupation | 70 + 70 = 140 | None | 140 |
These examples are hypothetical and show only the labour market integration part of the score. Your total CRS score also includes age, education, language and other factors. Extra points do not guarantee an invitation, because each draw sets its own cut-off.
What Changes for LMIA
- A qualifying job offer no longer needs an LMIA to earn CRS points.
- Having an LMIA gives no extra points or priority.
- The offer can be for a new or existing position and with a new or existing employer.
- An IRCC officer still checks that the offer is genuine, including whether the employer can meet its terms. A revoked offer no longer counts.
- A job offer does not give you work authorisation. Rules for temporary work permits are separate.
Steps for Candidates in the Express Entry Pool
- Find your NOC code from your real duties and check it against IRCC’s list of high-wage occupations.
- Work out which route gives more points: Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer.
- Update your existing Express Entry profile with accurate job offer details. Do not create a second profile.
- Follow IRCC’s current instructions for any LMIA fields on the online form, since the form may not yet match the new rules.
- Keep your offer letter and employment records ready in case an officer asks for them.
IRCC recalculates the scores of profiles already in the pool automatically. Invitation rounds are paused while this happens, which could take up to two weeks.
What This Means for Candidates From Nigeria and Other African Countries
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| You already work in Canada on a work permit | Whether your NOC code and months of work qualify for the work experience route |
| You are outside Canada with a job offer | Whether the offer is genuine, full-time and for at least one year after you become a permanent resident, and whether the occupation is on the high-wage list |
| You are outside Canada with no offer | The new points do not apply to you, so keep working on language scores, education credential assessment and other factors |
| A recruiter or agent asks you for money for an offer | Be careful. A genuine employer does not need payment from you, and officers check that offers are real. |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the changes start?
They take effect on 3 November 2026.
Can I get points from both work experience and a job offer?
No. You receive whichever route gives more points.
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Do I still need an LMIA?
Not for a qualifying job offer to count toward CRS points or eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs. LMIA rules for temporary work permits are separate.
Does the offer have to be in a high-wage occupation?
Only for the new CRS points. An eligible skilled job offer can still help you meet program eligibility without earning high-wage points.
Does my own salary decide the tier?
No. The tier depends on the median wage of the occupation under its NOC code, not on what you earn.
Do extra points guarantee an invitation?
No. Invitations depend on the rules and the CRS cut-off of each draw.
Where is the official information?
IRCC explains the changes on its page Changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offers in the Express Entry system.
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