Canada’s immigration department plans to bring back points for job offers under the Express Entry system. Officials say this move forms part of a wider effort to improve how the country selects skilled workers.
Immigration officials want to award points to candidates who hold job offers in high-paying roles. They also plan to recognize applicants who already have Canadian work experience in such positions. In addition, the department will look at ways to reward people who hold certification in regulated professions.
These changes appeared in a recent department plan released on March 13, 2026. The document outlines priorities for the next three years but does not give a firm timeline for when the changes will take effect.
Many jobs in Canada require workers to hold licences or certifications before they can practise. These roles often include healthcare, skilled trades, and technical professions. The department now wants to give extra value to candidates who meet these requirements before applying.
Officials say this approach will help Canada attract highly skilled workers who can enter the workforce more quickly and meet labour shortages.
The plan does not clearly define what counts as a “high wage.” At present, the Express Entry system ranks jobs based on skill level using a national classification system. Higher-skilled roles usually offer better pay, but the system does not directly measure wages.
Other immigration programs already define high-wage jobs based on the average pay in each province or territory. In those cases, a job qualifies as high wage if it meets or exceeds the local median hourly rate. Officials may adopt a similar method for Express Entry.
This planned change marks a reversal from a decision made in 2025. At that time, the government removed extra points for job offers. The move aimed to address concerns about misuse of the system, including cases where applicants bought job offers to boost their scores.
Before that change, candidates could gain 50 to 200 extra points for valid job offers. Those points often made a major difference in receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
When the government removed the points, many candidates saw their scores drop sharply. This shift changed the rankings in the applicant pool and gave others a better chance to receive invitations.
Even without extra points, job offers still play an important role. They help candidates qualify under several immigration programs and remain valuable for provincial nominations.
The government now aims to reintroduce job offer points in a more careful way. Officials hope the new system will reward genuine employment while protecting fairness.
These updates support Canada’s larger goal to attract global talent. Leaders want to bring in workers who can contribute quickly to the economy and fill key gaps in the labour market.
More details about the changes are expected in the coming months.
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