Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced new Express Entry points for high-wage job applicants effective Nov. 3, 2026. The changes also remove the Labour Market Impact Assessment requirement for qualifying offers.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Diab announced on Friday that the Canadian government is introducing new Express Entry points for permanent residency applicants in "high-wage" jobs. The policy changes, which take effect on Nov. 3, 2026, aim to simplify the application process and attract skilled workers to high-paying fields.
The revised framework awards additional Comprehensive Ranking System points to candidates who have eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), occupations such as engineering and electrical trades are included in this category.
The government defines a high-wage job as one that pays at least 1.3 times the median wage. The Canada Job Bank currently lists the national median hourly wage at $55.03. IRCC states that the number of Express Entry points awarded is correlated to how the wage compares to this threshold.
While the government has confirmed that points will be added for Canadian work experience and high-wage job offers, IRCC has not indicated in the provided information how many specific points will be assigned to each factor.
A significant change involves the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). As of Nov. 3, 2026, an LMIA will no longer be required for a qualifying job offer to receive the new Express Entry points. Additionally, an LMIA will not be required for candidates to meet job offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
IRCC says this change is intended to reduce administrative burden for candidates and employers. However, the department will continue to assess whether job offers are genuine and satisfy applicable program requirements to protect program integrity.
Candidates already in the Express Entry pool will have their Comprehensive Ranking System scores automatically recalculated to reflect the new points for Canadian work experience and job offers. Those seeking points for a qualifying job offer must update their Express Entry profiles with the required information before Nov. 3, 2026.
The Immigration Department notes that the recalculation process may take up to two weeks. During this period, invitations to apply for permanent residency will be paused.
These changes represent a shift in Canada’s immigration strategy to prioritize economic outcomes. By removing the LMIA requirement for high-wage roles and adding points for Canadian work experience, the government aims to streamline the path to permanent residency for skilled workers already contributing to the economy. This follows recent measures in December 2025 and February 2026 that prioritized candidates in health care, skilled trades, research, transportation, and education.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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