On December 23, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a temporary adjustment to the Express Entry system to combat fraud. This initiative aims to prevent individuals from unlawfully purchasing or selling Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) and job offers (arranged employment) to enhance their chances of obtaining permanent residency in Canada.
Starting March 25, 2025, IRCC will modify the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), affecting both current Express Entry candidates and future applicants.
The updated point system for job offers is as follows:
200 points for job offers in Major Group 00 occupations under the National Occupation Classification (e.g., senior management roles).
50 points for job offers in all other skilled occupations.
If your Express Entry profile currently includes a qualifying job offer, the additional CRS points for this factor will be removed. While the official implementation date is March 25, 2025, it may take a few days for these changes to reflect in your profile.
For those without a qualifying job offer, CRS points for this factor will no longer be available starting March 25, 2025. However, this update does not impact eligibility to remain in the pool, and no action is required.
Candidates with an active Invitation to Apply (ITA) that has not expired or been declined will not be affected and will remain eligible for their specific round of invitations.
IMPORTANT
Please note that the job offer factor will still be part of the following:
The selection grid for the Federal Skilled Worker Program;
Eligibility for the Federal Skilled Trades Program; and
The Provincial Nominee Program, where provinces or territories can consider a qualifying job offer for eligibility or selection criteria.
It is important to continue including the details of any job offers in your Express Entry profile to ensure you remain eligible for various programs.
Thank you for your interest in immigrating to Canada.
Sincerely,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada