On December 17th, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced an important change for people looking to move to Canada. Express Entry candidates will no longer get extra points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for having a job offer based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This change could substantially impact many candidates’ chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency.
How Express Entry Will Change With No LMIA Points?
Currently, candidates in the Express Entry pool can receive bonus points for having a valid job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA):
- 50 points for most skilled occupations
- 200 points for executive leadership positions (NOC TEER 0, major group 00)
These bonus points have often been decisive in determining whether candidates receive invitations to apply for permanent residence, particularly in 2024 when many Express Entry draws had cut-off scores exceeding 500 points.
The Express Entry system will continue to use the Comprehensive Ranking System to evaluate candidates based on their:
- Age
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Work experience
Candidates can still earn up to 600 points for core human capital factors and up to 600 additional points through other means, such as:
- Having siblings in Canada
- French language skills
- Canadian post-secondary education
- Provincial/territorial nomination
Why the Change?
Minister Miller cited program integrity as the primary motivation for this policy shift. “We will be implementing further measures that reinforce the program and reduce the potential for LMIA fraud,” Miller stated during a televised interview. The measure aims to eliminate incentives for candidates to purchase LMIAs, promoting greater fairness in the Express Entry system.
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Timing and Implementation
While the change has been announced, the implementation date remains unclear. As of December 18, the government’s online points calculator continues to award 50 points for valid job offers. Prospective immigrants should monitor official channels for updates on when this change will take effect.
Recent Changes to Canada’s Immigration System
This announcement follows several recent changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), including:
- A suspension of LMIA processing for the low-wage stream (September 2024)
- Increased pay requirements for the high-wage stream (November 2024)
- Introduction of temporary resident targets in the Immigration Levels Plan, with a goal of 82,000 net new TFWP work permits for 2025
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These changes reflect Canada’s ongoing efforts to refine its immigration system, balancing labour market needs with program integrity. For candidates currently in the Express Entry pool or considering immigration to Canada, these changes underscore the importance of maintaining competitive scores through other qualifying factors beyond job offers.
Need guidance on these Express Entry changes? Contact our immigration experts for a personalized consultation. Our experienced team can help you assess your options and adapt your immigration strategy in light of these new developments.
