
Canada has long been recognised as one of the most welcoming countries for skilled immigrants, with the Express Entry system serving as a key gateway to permanent residency. However, in a surprising turn of events, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant policy change that will alter the dynamics of Express Entry.
Effective March 25, 2025 candidates will no longer receive bonus Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for arranged employment. This decision has sparked widespread discussion among immigration experts, employers, and hopeful immigrants who were relying on job offers to boost their chances of securing permanent residency (PR).
This article explores the details of this major policy change, why IRCC decided to implement it, who will be most affected, and what steps Express Entry candidates can take to remain competitive in the immigration system.
Prior to this policy shift, Express Entry candidates with a valid job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) , could gain additional CRS points, which significantly improved their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), for permanent residency. The previous point allocation was as follows:
These bonus points often served as a game-changer, enabling candidates with moderate CRS scores to leap ahead in the rankings and secure ITAs, even if other factors in their profiles were not as competitive.
However, as of March 25, 2025, this advantage has been completely removed. Job offers will no longer provide any additional CRS points, regardless of occupation or industry. The only exception is for candidates who have already received an ITA or have submitted their PR applications—their points will remain unchanged.
Despite the removal of bonus CRS points, job offers still play an essential role in certain Express Entry pathways and other immigration programs. It is important for candidates to understand that:
Although the removal of CRS points is a significant change, IRCC has encouraged candidates to continue including job offer details in their Express Entry profiles to ensure eligibility for these programs.
While IRCC has officially stated that this is a "temporary measure," no clear timeline has been provided regarding whether or when job offer points will be reinstated. There are several possible reasons behind this decision:
The Express Entry CRS system was designed to rank candidates based on human capital factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. However, candidates with job offers received a significant boost, even if their other credentials were not as strong. By removing job offer points, IRCC may be aiming to ensure that candidates are selected based on their overall skill set and potential contribution rather than their employer connections.
There have been multiple reports of fraudulent job offers and misuse of LMIAs to obtain Express Entry points unfairly. Some candidates allegedly paid employers to issue fake job offers, undermining the integrity of the system. Eliminating job offer points reduces the incentive for such fraudulent activities.
The Canadian labor market is constantly evolving, with certain industries facing skill shortages while others experience workforce saturation. By removing job offer points, IRCC may be restructuring Express Entry to better align with Canada’s long-term workforce demands
This policy change will affect different groups of candidates in various ways:
To understand how this change impacts Express Entry scores, consider the following scenario:
Before March 25, 2025:
After March 25, 2025:
This pattern is even more drastic for senior management roles, where candidates previously received 200 additional points.
If you are an Express Entry candidate affected by this policy, there are still ways to boost your CRS score:
The removal of job offer points may reduce the attractiveness of Express Entry for international workers, potentially impacting industries that rely on foreign talent. Employers may now have to explore alternative programs such as:
Canada’s decision to eliminate job offer points from Express Entry is a game-changing policy shift that will reshape immigration pathways. While this may create challenges for some candidates, there are still multiple ways to enhance CRS scores and improve eligibility for PR.
For now, Express Entry hopefuls must adapt to these changes and explore new strategies to remain competitive in Canada’s evolving immigration system.
Ans: Although job offers no longer provide additional CRS points, they still play a crucial role in certain immigration programs. For example, a valid job offer remains a requirement for eligibility under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and is still beneficial for some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Candidates should continue including job offer details in their Express Entry profiles to maintain eligibility for these pathways.
Ans: Candidates who previously relied on 50 or 200 bonus points for arranged employment will see their CRS scores drop. This may result in fewer invitations to apply (ITAs) for those who depended on these extra points to remain competitive in the Express Entry pool.
Ans: Candidates can improve their CRS scores by:
Ans: The removal of job offer points may cause a temporary decrease in Express Entry draw cut-off scores, as fewer candidates will have high CRS scores. However, the long-term impact will depend on the overall applicant pool, the number of ITAs issued, and how IRCC adjusts its selection criteria over time.
Ans: IRCC has labeled this change as a "temporary measure," but no specific timeline has been provided for its reversal. While there is a possibility that job offer points could return, there is no guarantee. Candidates should focus on improving their CRS scores through other means rather than waiting for a potential policy reversal.
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