Maple News reports Ottawa’s proposed overhaul of Canada’s Express Entry system would shift permanent-residency selection to heavily weigh higher earnings and job offers, with Canadian work experience playing a less central role. The reform aims to simplify and unify the process across programs while recalibrating how applicants are scored.
Under the plan, the three current Express Entry streams could be merged into a single entry with unified eligibility rules. The changes also contemplate removing or altering several existing Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) factors, including points for having a sibling in Canada, having studied in Canada, and French-language proficiency.
A new mechanism would reintroduce job-offer points as a “High Wage Occupation” CRS factor. The system would also allow one year of cumulative work experience (Canadian or foreign) in the last three years and standardize language requirements to CLB 6 for all applicants. Additionally, the proposal would eliminate the 67-point grid currently used by the Federal Skilled Worker Program and remove job offers as a minimum eligibility requirement.
IRCC disclosed these details in a slide deck shared with immigration lawyers during recent consultations, which has since been made public. The proposals align with IRCC’s Forward Regulatory Plan for 2026–2028, which signals an intention to retire the existing Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program as part of a broader replacement.
The reforms are not finalized. IRCC plans to hold public consultations in Spring 2026 before deciding on next steps.
New eligibility requirements for the merged program would apply across all applicants. Education would require at least a high school diploma or equivalent, verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Currently, education is a minimum requirement only for the Federal Skilled Worker Program; under the proposal, an ECA would be required for all candidates.