Job offers from Canadian employers no longer contribute additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in their application for permanent residency through the Express Entry system.
These extra points were previously added as a bonus for applicants with a valid job offer to increase their chances of being invited to apply.
Those supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) are also affected.
This new rule under the Express Entry system becomes effective from March 25, 2025
Prior to this policy shift, individuals with arranged employment were awarded 50 or 200 extra points, significantly boosting their likelihood of securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
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This change impacts all candidates within the Express Entry pool who previously benefited from such bonus points.
However, those who have already received ITAs or are in the process of applying for permanent residency will not be affected.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had previously stated in a press release issued on December 23, 2024 that the removal of these points is a temporary measure, although no end date has been announced.
The updated ministerial instructions now released on March 25, 2025, retains most provisions defining qualifying offers of arranged employment. However, the section awarding CRS points for such offers has been omitted.
IRCC has advised candidates via its CRS website recalculated scores may take several days to display correctly. Affected individuals are encouraged not to contact IRCC unless their scores remain incorrect for over a week.
While job offers no longer contribute additional CRS points, they remain relevant for meeting eligibility requirements under programmes such as the Federal Skilled Worker Programme, the Federal Skilled Trades Programme, and certain Provincial Nominee Programme streams.
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Impact on Express Entry candidates
The removal of CRS points for arranged employment will decrease the scores of candidates with valid job offers by 50 or 200 points, reducing their chances of receiving ITAs.
Conversely, candidates without job offers might see improved prospects, as their scores remain unchanged while competitors’ scores drop.
Consider this example: Two individuals may both be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pathway. The first person previously scored 540 points, inclusive of 50 points from a job offer, while the second person had 500.
With the new rules, the first person’s score falls to 490, leaving the second person with the advantage. In a draw requiring a minimum of 495 points, the second person would receive an ITA, and the first person would miss out.
