Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to remove Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for job offers under Canada’s Express Entry system starting in spring 2025.
In a recent press release, IRCC confirmed this adjustment, which will impact how candidates are ranked in the Express Entry pool.
Current System and Planned Changes
At present, Express Entry candidates with a valid job offer can receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points. These points often determine whether a candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
IRCC clarified that eliminating these additional points is a "temporary measure." However, no timeline has been provided for when this policy might end.
Who Will Be Affected?
Once implemented, this change will affect both new and existing candidates in the Express Entry pool, including those who are already employed in Canada on a temporary basis.
The IRCC announcement indicated that the change applies universally across all job sectors. It will not impact individuals who:
- Have already been invited to apply for permanent residence with CRS points awarded for job offers under the “arranged employment” category.
- Have submitted their PR applications, which are currently under processing.
Key Distinction: Candidates are individuals who have submitted profiles to the Express Entry pool, while applicants are those who have received an ITA and submitted a PR application to IRCC.
Original Announcement Details
On December 17, Immigration Minister Marc Miller first revealed this policy update, stating that Express Entry candidates will no longer earn CRS points for having a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based job offer. At the time, further details and an implementation timeline were not provided.
Understanding Express Entry
Canada’s Express Entry system awards CRS points based on several factors, including:
- Age
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Work experience
