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Oct 16, 2026 5:29 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press
Canada has introduced changes to its Express Entry system for permanent residency (PR), giving additional points to candidates with Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage sectors such as engineering.
According to an announcement made by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab on Friday, candidates with Canadian work experience or qualifying high-wage job offers will receive additional points under the updated system.
The government will define a high-wage job as one that pays at least 1.3 times the national median wage. Candidates with higher-paying job offers will be eligible for more Express Entry points, with the number of points increasing according to the salary offered.
In another major change, starting November 3, 2026, employers will no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for job offers to qualify for the new Express Entry points or to meet job-offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs.
The government said this exemption for employers will initially be temporary. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will directly verify job offers under the revised system.
