The CRS points system will change starting in November 2026. What does this mean for your immigration profile?

The Government of Canada announced significant changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry, which will take effect on November 3, 2026. 

Among the main changes is the awarding of additional points for certain high-paying occupations, taking into account work experience gained in Canada and job offers that meet the new criteria. 

In addition, adjustments are being made to the requirements for job offers and LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) applications, which could affect the standing of many candidates in the pool.

In this article, I'll explain how this update might affect your chances of settling in Canada and answer common questions about the new situation.

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New bonus points based on your profession and experience

With this change, extra points will be awarded based on your occupation, your experience in Canada, or your Canadian job offer. This does not apply to all candidates, but only to those in high-paying occupations that fall into these three broad categories:

• Highly Skilled Occupations: Those that pay twice the normal salary, which will receive 100 extra points.
• Second group: Occupations that earn 1.5 times the average wage, which will receive 70 points.
• Third group: Occupations with wages 1.3 times higher than the average wage, which will receive 50 points.

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Categories for Earning Extra Points

The changes to Express Entry fall into two main categories:

1. Canadian Job Offer: If you have a genuine job offer for one of these positions (such as managers, engineers, lawyers, among others), you may be eligible for extra points even if you are not yet working. 

Note: It is important to note that this job offer does not require a positive LMIA. 

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2. Canadian work experience: Individuals who can demonstrate that they have at least 12 months of work experience in one of these positions within the last 3 years (whether they are currently employed by the company or have worked there in the past) may also receive the corresponding bonus points (50, 70, or 100 points, depending on the group).

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What Hasn't Changed in the System

Candidates who are currently applying for permanent residence from within or outside Canada will continue through the same process. The points they received will remain the same, including points for education obtained in or outside Canada (verifiable through the ECA), their English proficiency, their French proficiency, their partner’s language proficiency, and their work experience both abroad and in Canada.

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Updating Profiles and Next Steps

If you have already created your Express Entry profile, you do not need to take any action; starting on the official effective date, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will automatically update profiles to reflect the new score. However, if you have a job offer that has not yet been reflected in your profile, you will need to manually update your profile so that the bonus is applied as of November 3, 2026. 

During the two weeks following this date, the system will undergo an update, and there will be no invitation rounds.

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Recommendations

Staying informed is the first step toward recognizing and taking advantage of the new opportunities created by immigration policies. Understanding the steps to take after each change is key to this process.

We know there are still questions about obtaining permanent residency in Canada through the fast-track process, so we’d like to reiterate the key answers:

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• What happens if you already have an active Express Entry profile?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will automatically update it as of the official effective date to reflect the new score based on your NOC/TEER code.

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• Is it mandatory to update your information?

You are not required to make any changes if your situation has not changed; your profile will be updated automatically.

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• How will these adjustments affect future draft lotteries?

These adjustments will introduce bonus points of 50, 70, or 100 for highly qualified candidates with job offers or Canadian work experience in high-paying professions. 

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• Will the system be more competitive?

That's right. The system will be much more selective and competitive, but in a very specific way.

It remains to be seen how these new categories will coexist with draws focused on other sectors or on proficiency in the French language. More details in the video: Could you increase your score for permanent residency in Canada?

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Do you have questions about your CRS score and how it affects your Express Entry profile? At Immiland Canada, we offer a free tool to help you find the NOC code for your profession and understand how it relates to your profile. Use the CRS Calculator.

Visit our Immigration Services section and select the assistance you need to obtain permanent residency.

I hope this information is helpful as you move forward with your process. See you in our next blog post, where we’ll continue to help you build your Canadian dream with dedication, empathy, and professionalism.

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With love,

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Immiland Canada