KITCHENER, ONT. — Canada will change Express Entry scoring on November 3, with new points tied to Canadian work experience and job offers in occupations meeting federal high-wage thresholds.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the changes October 16. IRCC says existing candidates' scores will be recalculated automatically; invitation rounds will pause during that process, which could take up to two weeks.

People seeking job-offer points must ensure their profiles contain the required information before November 3, the department says.

Occupation earnings, not a personal salary test

The official occupation list groups jobs by their typical Canadian earnings relative to the national workforce median. An individual's salary alone does not determine the classification. The published list, effective November 3, uses data from 2023–2025.

IRCC's backgrounder sets additional Canadian-work-experience points at 20, 40 or 70 for qualifying experience in progressively higher-wage occupation groups. At least 12 months of eligible experience is required for those additions. Qualifying job offers can attract 50, 70 or 100 points, depending on the occupation group.

Candidates eligible through both work experience and a job offer receive the option worth more points, rather than adding the two together. The labour-market-integration factor is capped at 150 points without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, or 140 with one.

Job offers still face verification

From November 3, qualifying offers will no longer need a labour market impact assessment to obtain the new points. A related temporary policy changes offer requirements for certain Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants invited on or after that date, subject to its conditions.

This is not an end to job-offer scrutiny: IRCC says officers will still check that offers are genuine and satisfy program rules. Extra points do not guarantee an invitation.

The announcement concerns federal permanent-residence selection, not a finding that every Ontario worker or employer qualifies. Candidates should consult the government's requirements for their occupation and circumstances.

Sources: IRCC's October 16 announcement; scoring and assessment backgrounder; official high-wage occupation registry.

Lead image: AI-generated TNC archive illustration of a Canadian community. Not a photograph of the Kitchener announcement, actual applicants or a particular immigration outcome.