Express Entry candidates are no longer eligible for additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points based on a valid job offer, including those backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
This change was implemented through Ministerial Instructions, effective March 25, 2025.
Before this change, Express Entry candidates could receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points for arranged employment, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR).
With this update, the CRS scores of all affected candidates in the Express Entry pool will be adjusted to reflect the removal of these additional points. However, candidates who have already received ITAs or have ongoing PR applications will not be impacted.
In a press release on December 23, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) described this as a temporary measure but did not specify an end date.
The March 25, 2025, version of the Ministerial Instructions retains most of the provisions defining a qualifying job offer but removes the section that previously awarded CRS points for such offers.
IRCC’s CRS webpage notes that it may take a few days for updated scores to appear correctly and advises candidates to contact them only if discrepancies persist for over a week.
A valid job offer remains relevant for eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and certain Provincial Nominee Program streams.
Impact of CRS Point Removal for Arranged Employment on Express Entry Candidates
With this change now in effect, candidates who previously received additional CRS points for a valid job offer (50 or 200 points) will see their scores decrease accordingly.
As a result, these candidates will have a lower likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry.
Conversely, candidates without a valid job offer may see improved chances of receiving an ITA, as their scores remain unchanged while the overall scores of other candidates in the pool decrease.
Example Scenario
Consider two fictitious Express Entry candidates, Andrew and Anita, both eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pathway for permanent residence.
Before the change, their CRS scores were:
- Andrew: 540 (including 50 bonus points for a job offer)
- Anita: 500
Andrew had a significant advantage over Anita. However, with the removal of job offer points, his score dropped:
- Andrew: 490
- Anita: 500
If an upcoming CEC draw has a CRS cutoff of 495, Anita would receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), while Andrew would not.
Update on Qualifying Arranged Employment for Physicians
Under the revised Ministerial Instructions, IRCC has also eliminated a provision that broadened the criteria for qualifying arranged employment for physicians.
Previously, Section 29(4) permitted job offers of less than one year to qualify, as long as they were issued by a provincial government, government agency, government-appointed body, or healthcare provider. This exception has now been removed.
Understanding Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system used to evaluate and rank eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool.
It applies to candidates applying through:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Candidates receive a score out of 1200 based on key factors such as:
- Age
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Work experience
Additional points can be awarded for factors like:
- French language proficiency
- Post-secondary education in Canada
- Having a sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident
- Receiving a provincial or territorial nomination
The government conducts regular draws, inviting the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence.
Reasons Behind Canada’s Removal of LMIA-Based Job Offer CRS Points from Express Entry
Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller initially announced plans to modify CRS points on December 17, 2024.
Miller stated that the change aimed to eliminate incentives for candidates to “purchase an LMIA,” a practice that is illegal in Canada.
The federal government later emphasized that this measure would help prevent fraud and “strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.”
In recent months, the government has intensified efforts to combat immigration fraud.
Earlier this year, IRCC proposed several new regulations, including the creation of a compensation fund for victims of unethical immigration consultants.
