As of March 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a major change to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry candidates. Job offer points are no longer awarded to candidates in the Express Entry pool, affecting both current and future applicants.
What’s Changing?
Previously, Express Entry candidates could earn additional CRS points if they had a valid job offer in Canada. These points were as follows:
- 200 points for job offers in Major Group 00 of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) (senior management positions).
- 50 points for job offers in any other skilled occupation.
With this change, job offers will no longer contribute to CRS scores, meaning candidates must rely on other factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency to increase their ranking.
Why Is This Happening?
Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller first announced plans for this change on December 17, 2024. The reason behind this decision is to eliminate incentives for candidates to “purchase an LMIA,” a practice that is illegal in Canada.
Additionally, the federal government has stated that this measure will help prevent and reduce fraud and “strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.” Over the past few months, Canada has been cracking down on immigration fraud, with IRCC proposing new regulations, such as the creation of a compensation fund for victims of unethical immigration consultants.
How Will This Affect You?
- Current Express Entry Candidates: If you are in the pool and previously had points for a job offer, your CRS score will decrease. However, you may still receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) based on other factors.
- Future Express Entry Candidates: Job offers will no longer provide a points boost, meaning applicants will need to focus more on improving their CRS scores through education, work experience, and language proficiency.
- Employers Hiring Foreign Workers: Companies that relied on the CRS boost for skilled workers may need to explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) or employer-specific work permits like the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) route.
What Should You Do?
- Check your CRS score: If you previously had job offer points, your score will adjust in the coming days. IRCC advises waiting up to a week before contacting them if your score does not update correctly.
- Improve your profile: Consider increasing your language test scores, gaining more work experience, or pursuing additional education to boost your CRS ranking.
- Explore alternative pathways: If your CRS score is lower, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) may be a great alternative, as they offer additional points to selected candidates.
This policy change represents a significant shift in Canada’s immigration landscape. While it may seem challenging for those who relied on job offer points, it creates a more balanced selection system based on individual merit while also addressing fraud concerns. If you need personalized advice on how to adapt to these changes, contact Dodo Immigration for expert guidance!