The revised rules do not make Canadian work experience compulsory for permanent residency
With effect from November 3, Canada is set to implement a new set of rules governing its Express Entry system that is aimed at attracting talented manpower to the country, that remains one of the most open to immigrants from around the world, including from India and the Indian diaspora already has a sizeable presence in Canada.
However, the rules will give skilled Indian professionals with qualifying Canadian work experience or high-wage job offers a potential advantage in the race for permanent residency, while applicants seeking to move directly from India may find it harder to compete on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.
Announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on October 16, the changes will take effect on November 3, introducing a new Labour Market Integration factor into the CRS. Candidates will be able to earn additional points based on the duration of their eligible Canadian work experience and the wage level of their occupation, or through a qualifying job offer in an eligible high-wage occupation.
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The changes could affect Indian software professionals, engineers, healthcare workers and other skilled employees already working in Canada, depending on their occupations and eligibility. Applicants in India with overseas qualifications and work experience but no qualifying Canadian employment may have to rely more heavily on their existing CRS scores, education, language proficiency and other eligible factors.
The revised rules do not make Canadian work experience compulsory for permanent residency. However, they introduce a more direct advantage for candidates whose employment aligns with Canada’s high-wage occupational criteria.
Announcing the changes, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the changes would help Canada attract and retain skilled workers who complement its workforce and contribute to economic growth.
Under the revised system, candidates without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner can receive up to 150 points through the new Labour Market Integration factor. Those applying with an accompanying spouse or partner can receive up to 140 points.
The points for Canadian work experience will depend on its duration, with additional points for eligible high-wage occupations. Candidates with at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in an occupation meeting the highest wage threshold can receive 70 additional points. Those meeting lower thresholds can receive 40 or 20 additional points.
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For qualifying job offers, the new system will award 100 points where the occupation’s median wage is at least twice the overall workforce median, 70 points at 1.5 times or more, and 50 points at 1.3 times or more. Offers below the threshold will not qualify for these additional points.
The distinction is important for Indian professionals who have already moved to Canada on temporary work permits. An eligible software engineer, doctor or other skilled worker with the required Canadian employment history could receive a higher CRS score than a similarly qualified applicant without Canadian work experience.
However, eligibility will depend on the occupation’s classification and wage threshold, not simply on the individual’s salary. IRCC will determine qualifying occupations using data from the Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census of Population covering the previous three years.
Technology, healthcare and engineering in focus
Technology, healthcare, engineering, education and skilled trades are among the fields identified by IRCC as potentially eligible for the high-wage criteria. The benefit will not extend automatically to everyone employed in these sectors, only occupations appearing on the department’s eligible list will qualify.
For Indian professionals, the changes could influence decisions about whether to pursue employment in Canada before applying for permanent residency. Candidates already employed in eligible occupations may have a stronger route through the points system, while those working in occupations that do not meet the wage thresholds may receive points only for the duration of their qualifying Canadian work experience.
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Applicants based in India are not excluded from Express Entry. They can still qualify through existing routes, including the Federal Skilled Worker Programme, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. However, without Canadian work experience or a qualifying high-wage job offer, they will not receive points under the new Labour Market Integration factor.
This could make securing a suitable Canadian job offer more consequential for prospective applicants. A qualifying offer must be genuine, meet programme requirements and generally provide full-time, continuous employment for at least one year after the candidate becomes a permanent resident.
Another change will affect employers and prospective immigrants. From November 3, a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will no longer be required for a qualifying job offer to receive the new CRS points or to meet relevant job-offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programmes.
The LMIA is a document used to assess whether an employer needs to hire a foreign worker. Its removal from these requirements could reduce administrative steps for employers and candidates, but it will not eliminate scrutiny of job offers.
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IRCC will continue to verify that employers are operating legitimate businesses, can meet the terms of an offer and comply with employment laws. Officers will also assess whether candidates have the qualifications to perform the work and are likely to accept the employment. An LMIA will no longer provide additional CRS points or priority.
The changes will apply to candidates already in the Express Entry pool, whose CRS scores will be recalculated when the new system takes effect. IRCC has said the process could take up to two weeks, during which invitation rounds will be paused.
