The Express Entry changes have been in force since November 3, 2026. The CRS now awards additional points for Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation, and a job offer no longer requires an LMIA. As of November 10, rounds of invitations are still paused: the last one was held on October 28.

Rounds are still paused

IRCC says the system is recalculating existing profiles, that the process may take up to two weeks, and that there are no rounds during that time. Rounds resume when the process is complete. IRCC has not published a date.

As of November 10, one week after the changes took effect:

• The latest round published is the one held on October 28.
• The CRS score distribution IRCC shows for the pool is dated October 25, before the recalculation.

The system runs the recalculation on profiles already in the pool.

What changed on November 3

1. A new factor in the CRS. It is called Labour Market Integration and awards points through one of two routes, never both. The system calculates both and applies whichever is higher.

Points for years worked range from 40 for one year to 80 for five or more (35 to 70 with a spouse or partner). What is new is the high-wage bonus and the job offer points, which depend on the level of the occupation:

The test is the occupation’s NOC code, not each person’s pay. A high salary in an occupation that is not on the list earns neither the bonus nor job offer points. We explain the list, with examples, in our October 16 article.

2. A job offer no longer requires an LMIA. The change applies to job offers under Express Entry. Since November 3, according to IRCC:

• You do not need an LMIA for a job offer to count, either for program eligibility or for CRS points.
• Having an LMIA does not give more points or give the profile priority.
• The offer may be for an existing or a new position, and with an existing or a new employer.
• An officer assesses whether the offer is genuine.

A job offer can serve two different purposes. IRCC assesses them separately:

That is why, in those two programs, an offer outside the list earns no points but may be what lets you meet the requirement.

Some provincial nominee program streams also still require a job offer. There, the requirements for the offer are those of each provincial program.

The offer is assessed when you apply for permanent residence

Dropping the LMIA requirement does not remove the scrutiny: it moves it. Every job offer is assessed by an officer when you submit your application for permanent residence, and the officer must be satisfied that it is genuine. If not, the offer counts for neither eligibility nor points.

The officer looks at whether the employer:

• is active in the business,
• can fulfil the terms of the offer,
• made an offer that meets its needs,
• is following employment and recruitment laws.

And at whether you are qualified for the work and likely to accept the offer and do the job.

Why accurate declarations matter. Immigration law penalizes misrepresentation. Under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, misrepresenting or withholding material facts that induce or could induce an error in the administration of the Act is a ground of inadmissibility, and that inadmissibility continues for five years.

What to watch when rounds return

• The new cutoffs are not comparable with October’s. Profiles with experience in occupations on the list, or with an offer in one, now hold points that did not exist before. A higher cutoff in the first round does not by itself mean it is harder.
• The pool distribution. When IRCC updates it, it will show how the pool is spread after the recalculation. It is the figure that lets you read the cutoffs.
• Less federal space in 2027. The levels plan published on November 5 sets 2027 admissions for the federal programs managed through Express Entry at 100,000. The previous plan projected 111,000 for that year. The Provincial Nominee Program goes from 92,500 to 95,000.

More points do not guarantee an invitation: each round has its own requirements and its own cutoff score.

What to do now

• If you have a job offer that is not in your profile: IRCC says you should update it. Before you do, confirm whether your offer earns points, counts for eligibility, or both.
• If you have Canadian work experience: check that the NOC code for each job matches the duties you performed. The high-wage level is determined by that code.
• If your profile was already in the pool: check your score once IRCC finishes the recalculation and resumes rounds.