In a landmark update to Canada’s Express Entry system, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed plans to eliminate CRS points awarded for job offers beginning in early 2025. The move, described as a temporary adjustment, could significantly alter how candidates are ranked and selected for permanent residency.
Details of the Policy Shift
The announcement, made by then-Immigration Minister Marc Miller on December 17, 2024, signals the government’s intent to level the playing field for skilled workers by removing the additional 50 to 200 CRS points typically granted for arranged employment supported by a valid Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
While no specific implementation date has been provided, the change is expected to take effect in the upcoming months of 2025. It will apply to all candidates in the Express Entry pool, including both newly added and existing profiles, as well as those currently working in Canada.
Who Will Be Affected?
Under the current system, a valid job offer can significantly boost a candidate’s CRS score, often making the difference between receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or not. However, this update will remove that advantage across all sectors, with no industry-specific exceptions announced.
Importantly, IRCC has clarified that the change will not affect:
- Candidates who have already received an ITA with a job offer, points included.
- Individuals whose permanent residency applications are currently under review.
A Temporary Yet Strategic Move
While the IRCC has described this as a temporary measure, no timeline has been set for reinstating CRS job offer points. The policy shift is believed to align with Canada’s evolving focus on occupation-based draws, regional labor market needs, and reducing overdependence on employer-backed LMIA streams.
What This Means for Candidates
Applicants planning to enter the Express Entry pool in 2025 should note that job offers will no longer guarantee a CRS advantage. Instead, focus is expected to shift toward in-demand skills, language proficiency, work experience, and category-specific draws, especially in sectors like healthcare, construction, and technology.
This change marks a recalibration of the Express Entry framework, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to skill-driven immigration selection while maintaining fairness and flexibility within the system.
