Rule change · November 3, 2026
Current CRS rules vs the November 2026 rules
On November 3, 2026, IRCC changes how the Comprehensive Ranking System scores Canadian work experience and job offers. Everything else (age, education, language, your spouse, skill transferability and additional points) stays the same. Here is the before and after, from IRCC’s own pages.
By the Express Entry Draws team · Updated
| Factor | Current rules | From November 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian work experience | Core factor, up to 80 (70) | Moves into the Labour Market Integration factor; same years-of-work points, up to 80 (70) |
| High-wage occupation | No points | +70, +40 or +20 for 12 months (1,560 hours) in a level 1, 2 or 3 occupation |
| Job offer | No points (removed March 25, 2025) | 100, 70 or 50 for an offer in a level 1, 2 or 3 high-wage occupation; 0 otherwise |
| LMIA | Needed for a job offer to count toward eligibility | Not needed; having one gives no extra points |
| How they combine | — | The higher of (work points + high-wage points) or the job offer, never both |
| Skill transferability | Uses years of Canadian work | Unchanged: still years of Canadian work, not high-wage points |
The levels compare an occupation’s median wage with the national average: level 1 is 2× or more, level 2 is 1.5× to 2×, level 3 is 1.3× to 1.5×. IRCC’s list has 186 NOC codes (31 at level 1, 89 at level 2, 66 at level 3); see the high-wage occupations list.
Worked examples
| Profile | Current rules | November 2026 rules | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 29, bachelor’s, CLB 9, 1 year of Canadian work in a level 1 high-wage occupation | 432 | 502 | +70 |
| Single, 32, master’s, CLB 8, 3 years of foreign work, a job offer in a level 2 high-wage occupation, no Canadian work | 371 | 441 | +70 |
| Single, 27, two-year diploma, CLB 7, 2 years of Canadian work in an occupation not on the high-wage list | 367 | 367 | no change |
| Single, 35, bachelor’s, CLB 9, 3 years of Canadian work at level 3 and a level 1 job offer | 435 | 471 | +36 |
The last profile shows the “not both” rule: three years at level 3 is worth less than a level 1 job offer, so the offer counts and the work points don’t.
What happens to profiles already in the pool
IRCC recalculates every profile when the changes take effect. Its changes page says this could take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds pause in the meantime. If you have a job offer without an LMIA that isn’t in your profile, IRCC asks you to update your profile.
Who gains, who doesn’t
- Gains: Canadian workers in high-wage occupations, and anyone with a job offer in one (with or without Canadian work).
- No change: candidates with no Canadian work and no job offer, and Canadian workers in occupations not on the list.
- Relatively behind: with others gaining points, the same score may rank lower in the pool; watch the latest draws after the pause.
Express Entry Draws is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada, and this page is not immigration or legal advice. Your official score is the one in your Express Entry profile.
Questions people ask
+When do the new CRS rules start?
November 3, 2026. IRCC may take up to two weeks to rescore every profile, and pauses invitation rounds while it does.
+Do I need an LMIA for job offer points?
No. From November 3, 2026, an LMIA isn’t needed for points or eligibility, and having one doesn’t add points.
+Can I get both high-wage work points and job offer points?
No. You get whichever is higher: your Canadian work points (years plus high-wage) or the job offer points.
+Does my own salary decide the level?
No. The level comes from the median wage for your NOC code across Canada, not your pay.
Sources
- IRCC, Express Entry changes taking effect November 3, 2026, checked October 29, 2026
- IRCC, Comprehensive Ranking System criteria, checked October 29, 2026
- IRCC, High-wage occupations and how we assess them, checked October 25, 2026