Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed a significant change coming to the Express Entry system in spring 2025: candidates will no longer receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for holding a valid job offer.
Under the current Express Entry rules, candidates can boost their CRS scores by 50 or 200 points depending on the type of job offer, often enough to secure an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. This point bonus has been a key advantage for many applicants, especially those working in Canada on temporary permits.
However, in a recent announcement, IRCC stated that this bonus will be removed as a “temporary measure,” though no end date was provided. The changes will apply to both new and existing candidates in the Express Entry pool at the time the policy takes effect. Importantly, this includes individuals already working in Canada on a temporary basis.
The department also clarified that the rule change will be applied uniformly, regardless of the sector or type of job involved. As such, job offers across all industries will no longer boost candidates’ CRS scores under the usual “arranged employment” category.
Candidates who already received an ITA or have submitted their application for permanent residence and included job offer points will not be affected. These individuals will proceed under the rules that were in place at the time they applied.
This shift is expected to recalibrate how candidates compete for permanent residence under Express Entry. By removing job offer points, the focus is likely to tilt more towards human capital factors such as language ability, education, and work experience.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller first hinted at this policy change in December 2024, specifically stating that LMIA-based job offers—those requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment—would no longer earn extra CRS points moving forward.
This move aligns with IRCC’s broader efforts to modernize immigration selection priorities and reduce dependence on employer-backed job offers. It may also place increased importance on other pathways, such as category-based draws, which focus on specific occupations or French-language ability.
With this change on the horizon, Maple News encourages Express Entry candidates to revisit their immigration strategies and consult professionals to remain competitive in the evolving system.