Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to remove additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points awarded for job offers under the Express Entry system.
This change, set to take effect in spring 2025, aims to enhance fairness and integrity within the immigration process.
Marc Miller, Canada’s immigration minister, stated that the update would apply across all sectors of the economy. Currently, Express Entry candidates with valid job offers receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points, which often determine whether they receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
“We’re implementing further measures that will reinforce program integrity and reduce potential LMIA fraud, such as removing additional points that candidates receive under Express Entry for having a job offer,” Miller explained. “This measure is intended to remove the incentive for candidates to purchase an LMIA, resulting in increased fairness and integrity in the Express Entry system.”
The CRS scores, calculated out of 1,200 points, are based on factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) are issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to evaluate the impact of hiring foreign workers.
This change will apply to all new and existing candidates in the Express Entry pool, including those already working temporarily in Canada. However, it will not affect:
•Newcomers who have already been invited to apply for permanent residence with CRS scores that included job offer points.
•Applicants with permanent residence applications currently under processing.
The immigration department clarified that this is a temporary measure but did not specify when it might end.
Once implemented, candidates in the Express Entry pool will no longer receive CRS points for job offers, marking a significant shift in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). This move is expected to make the immigration system more equitable while preventing misuse of LMIAs.
 has announced plans to remove additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points awarded for job offers under the Express Entry system.){kind=link}