Starting November 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will award new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to Express Entry candidates with Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a “high-wage occupation.” 

Eligibility is based on your NOC code, not your personal salary: an occupation qualifies if its national median wage is at least 1.3 times the Canadian workforce median. A qualifying job offer will earn 50, 70 or 100 points depending on the occupation’s wage level, while at least one year of Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation adds 20, 40 or 70 points on top of regular experience points. 

Candidates receive whichever option is worth more, as the two cannot be combined. Eligible occupations include software developers, engineers, registered nurses, pharmacists, teachers, accountants, physicians and several skilled trades, while roles such as construction electricians, plumbers, carpenters and cooks are not included. IRCC is also removing the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs, though officers will still verify every offer. Candidates already in the pool will have their scores recalculated automatically, but anyone claiming job offer points must update their profile before November 3.

Invitation rounds will pause for up to two weeks during the recalculation. These changes could significantly boost Canadian Experience Class candidates, whose recent draws have required scores around 519. 

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