The Canadian government has made a significant change to its Express Entry system, impacting thousands of immigration hopefuls. As of March 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has eliminated the additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points previously awarded for job offers. This decision affects all future and current candidates in the Express Entry pool.
Understanding the Express Entry System
The Express Entry system is Canada’s primary method for managing applications for three major economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Applicants are assigned CRS points based on factors like age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other elements that enhance their ability to integrate into the Canadian workforce. Previously, candidates could receive an extra 50 to 200 points if they had a valid job offer, but that is no longer the case.
What Changed in the CRS Points System?
Prior to this update, job offers played a crucial role in boosting a candidate’s CRS score. Under the old rules:
- A valid job offer in a senior management position (NOC Major Group 00) grants 200 CRS points.
- A job offer in other skilled occupations provided 50 CRS points.
With this policy shift, these additional points have been removed. While this is a temporary measure, IRCC has not provided a timeline for when, or if, the points will be reinstated.
Why Did Canada Remove CRS Points for Job Offers?
The decision likely aims to create a more balanced and fair immigration process. Removing job offer points ensures that candidates with strong core human capital factors—such as education, language skills, and work experience—are prioritized over those who relied on job offers to boost their scores.
Additionally, this change could encourage provinces to play a larger role in selecting skilled workers through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which still grant substantial CRS points.
How This Affects Express Entry Candidates
If you were relying on a job offer to increase your CRS score, you will need to reassess your immigration strategy. Here’s how this change may impact different applicants:
- High-scoring candidates: Those with strong human capital factors remain competitive and may still receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) without job offer points.
- Lower-scoring candidates: Those who previously relied on job offers might need to consider alternative pathways, such as provincial nominations or improving their CRS score through education, work experience, or language proficiency.
- Employers and LMIA-supported job offers: The removal of job offer points could shift hiring trends, making it harder for employers to use the Express Entry system to fill labor shortages.
Alternative Ways to Improve Your CRS Score
Without job offer points, candidates can boost their CRS score by:
- Improving language proficiency (higher Canadian Language Benchmark scores can add up to 160 points).
- Gaining more Canadian work experience (up to 80 points for one year of experience).
- Pursuing higher education (a master’s degree can add up to 150 points).
- Applying for a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which still grants 600 CRS points.
Canada’s removal of CRS points for job offers in Express Entry represents a major shift in immigration policy. While it may create challenges for some candidates, it also levels the playing field, emphasizing core qualifications over employment sponsorships. If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, now is the time to explore alternative ways to strengthen your Express Entry profile.
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