Newcomer Digest – Monday's Edition

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Express Entry Scoring Changes on November 3

Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation will earn more CRS points, and a job offer will no longer need an LMIA to count.

On Friday, October 16, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced changes to how Express Entry scores candidates.

Here is what changes on November 3, 2026:

• Candidates can earn extra CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience, or a qualifying job offer, in a high-wage occupation. IRCC gives engineers and electricians as examples.
• A labour market impact assessment (LMIA) is no longer required for a qualifying job offer to earn the new points.
• Scores of candidates already in the pool are recalculated automatically.
• Invitation rounds are paused during the recalculation. IRCC says it may take up to two weeks.

Read the full guide on our website

What This Means for You

More points are possible. An invitation is not.

• Who may gain: candidates with Canadian work experience or a job offer in an occupation that meets IRCC's wage thresholds.
• Job offer points (up to 100): 100 points at 2 times the median wage or more, 70 points at 1.5 times, 50 points at 1.3 times.
• Work experience points (up to 70): with 12 months or more, 70 points at 2 times the median wage, 40 at 1.5 times, 20 at 1.3 times.
• No stacking: if you qualify for both, you get whichever is higher.
• Not a guarantee: IRCC says points do not guarantee an invitation. Each round has its own requirements and cut-off score.
• Not stated: IRCC's release does not give a new cut-off score, and does not say whether other CRS factors change.

Where candidates commonly go wrong:

• Waiting until after November 3. To receive job offer points, you must update your profile before then.
• Assuming any job offer counts. The occupation must be high-wage, and an IRCC officer must find the offer genuine.
• Assuming no LMIA means no checks. IRCC says it will still verify job offers and has anti-fraud measures.
• Assuming more points means an invitation. It does not.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Review IRCC's official requirements before you make a decision.

What You Can Do Now

Four steps before November 3

1. Check your occupation. IRCC says a high-wage occupation has a median wage of at least 1.3 times the Canadian median, and it will publish and update the list.
2. Review your profile. Sign in to your IRCC account and confirm your job offer information is complete and accurate before November 3.
3. Check your offer details. IRCC generally looks for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after you become a permanent resident.
4. Do not expect a draw this week. Rounds are paused during recalculation, and IRCC gives no fixed end date.

IRCC news release: Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent
IRCC backgrounder: Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations

Source

Official sources

Everything in this edition comes from IRCC's own pages, published October 16, 2026.

• News release: Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent
• Backgrounder: Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations

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