Developing story. We update this page as IRCC publishes new information. Every update carries a date.
Update log
- October 26, 2026: IRCC held Express Entry round 451 (Provincial Nominee Program) with 792 invitations and a lowest CRS score of 761, before the November 3 changes take effect. See the round details.
- October 26, 2026: Page created. IRCC announced the changes on October 16, and they take effect on November 3. No invitation round has been announced for after the pause.
Want to know how the new points apply to your profile?
What is confirmed
- The changes take effect on November 3, 2026, announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab on October 16.
- Qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations earn 50, 70 or 100 CRS points. Canadian work experience in those occupations earns 20, 40 or 70. A candidate who qualifies for both gets the higher figure, not the total.
- A qualifying job offer no longer needs an LMIA for these points, or to meet the job offer requirement of the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs.
- Scores in the pool are recalculated automatically. Job offer points require a profile update before November 3.
- From November 3, IRCC says invitation rounds will be paused while it recalculates scores, which may take up to two weeks.
Key dates
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | IRCC publishes its final report on the spring 2026 Express Entry consultations | Done. No decisions announced |
| October 16, 2026 | Minister announces the points changes | Done |
| November 3, 2026 | Changes take effect and recalculation begins | Scheduled |
| Up to two weeks after | Invitation rounds paused during recalculation | Expected |
| After the pause | First Express Entry round under the new points | Not yet announced |
Rounds since November 3
No Express Entry round has been held since the changes took effect on November 3. This table fills in automatically when IRCC publishes the first one.
What is still open
- The first round after the pause. Its cutoff will show how the new points move scores. We will add it here once IRCC publishes it.
- The wider reforms. IRCC’s final consultation report describes ideas it is “considering”, including merging the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades programs and removing the spousal points grid. It says any proposed regulatory changes will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Nothing in the report is a decision.
- The high-wage list. IRCC will maintain it using Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census data from the previous three years, so occupations can move between levels. See the official list.
The points at a glance
| Occupation wage level | Canadian work experience (12+ months) | Qualifying job offer |
|---|---|---|
| At least 2 times the median wage | 70 | 100 |
| At least 1.5 times the median wage | 40 | 70 |
| At least 1.3 times the median wage | 20 | 50 |
The labour market integration factor is capped at 150 points for a candidate without a spouse or common-law partner, and 140 with one.
Sources
- IRCC news release, October 16, 2026
- IRCC backgrounder: Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations
- IRCC: 2026 changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offers
- IRCC: 2026 consultations on Express Entry reforms, final report
This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so confirm details with IRCC before acting. See our disclaimer.
Published October 26, 2026. Last updated October 26, 2026.
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