Quick answer: Starting November 3, 2026, Canada will change Express Entry scoring for eligible Canadian work experience and qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. IRCC will compare the work-experience score with the job-offer score and use the higher one. A qualifying offer will no longer need an LMIA for Express Entry purposes, but it must still be genuine and meet the relevant program rules. Separate work permit and provincial requirements can still apply.
Updated October 18, 2026. The changes below are scheduled to take effect November 3.
For workers and employers in Edmonton and across Alberta, the announcement creates a reason to check job duties, National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes and Express Entry profiles now. It does not mean every job offer will earn points or that every worker can begin work without authorization.
What changes on November 3?
IRCC announced a new Labour Market Integration factor on October 16. It combines the existing points for the length of qualifying Canadian work experience with new points for eligible high-wage Canadian experience, or uses points for a qualifying high-wage job offer. IRCC uses whichever option gives the higher score; it does not add the two options together. Existing profiles will be recalculated automatically. IRCC says this can take up to two weeks, during which invitation rounds will pause.
See IRCC’s detailed explanation of the 2026 changes and its official backgrounder.
What counts as a high-wage occupation?
IRCC classifies occupations using the national median wage for the NOC, compared with the average median wage for the Canadian workforce. The threshold begins at 1.3 times that benchmark. This is based on the occupation, not the salary paid to one individual. A high salary alone does not put an unlisted occupation on the eligible list.
Check the duties as well as the title when choosing a NOC. Then check the exact code against IRCC’s high-wage occupation list. A job title alone does not establish eligibility.
How many points can a qualifying job offer receive?
- 100 points: the eligible occupation’s median wage is at least twice the benchmark.
- 70 points: at least 1.5 times, but less than twice the benchmark.
- 50 points: at least 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times the benchmark.
- 0 job-offer points: the occupation is not on the eligible high-wage list.
A qualifying offer generally must be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after permanent residence. Specific rules apply to some occupations, including skilled trades and certain physicians. A work permit alone is not a job offer. Review the IRCC job-offer requirements for your program.
How does Canadian work experience score?
Eligible Canadian work experience continues to earn points for its duration. For one year, for example, the duration score is 35 points with an accompanying spouse or partner, or 40 without one. The existing eligibility rules for that experience remain in place.
At least 12 months or 1,560 hours of qualifying Canadian experience in listed high-wage occupations can add:
- 70 points for at least 12 months at the 2-times level;
- 40 points if the 70-point threshold is not met, for at least 12 months combined at 1.5 times or higher; or
- 20 points if neither higher threshold is met, for at least 12 months combined at 1.3 times or higher.
Eligible experience can be continuous or non-continuous and can combine qualifying jobs; hours in simultaneous jobs count only up to 30 hours per week. If your experience is not in a listed high-wage occupation, eligible Canadian work can still earn duration points. IRCC sets the factor maximum at 140 points with an accompanying spouse or partner and 150 without one.
A practical example
A candidate without an accompanying spouse has one year of eligible Canadian experience in a 1.3-times occupation. The experience option is 40 duration points plus 20 high-wage experience points, or 60. If the same candidate also has a qualifying 1.5-times job offer worth 70 points, IRCC uses 70 for this factor—not 130. This illustration assumes all requirements are met; it is not a complete CRS calculation.
Does this mean LMIAs are no longer needed?
No. From November 3, an LMIA will not be required for a qualifying offer for Express Entry points. IRCC also describes a temporary public policy for eligible Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades candidates invited on or after that date. A valid offer may help meet program eligibility even if it is not in a high-wage occupation, but that does not make it eligible for the new job-offer points.
These changes concern assessment of offers for Express Entry. They do not remove separate LMIA or exemption requirements for a work permit, nor do they automatically change AAIP stream rules. Employers should confirm the worker’s authorization and the correct temporary hiring process before employment starts or changes. See Global Hire’s work permit services and provincial nominee guidance.
IRCC will assess whether the offer is genuine, including whether the employer is active, can meet its terms, follows applicable laws, and needs the position, and whether the candidate is qualified and likely to perform the work. A revoked offer no longer qualifies.
What Edmonton and Alberta candidates should do now
- Review your profile before November 3. IRCC asks candidates with an unlisted valid offer to add it and check the details. Follow the current instructions in your IRCC account; the government has published specific interim instructions for offers without an LMIA. Do not invent information.
- Check the NOC and evidence. Compare actual duties with the NOC description and the official high-wage list. Keep employment letters, dates, hours, pay records and relevant credentials.
- Review the offer. Confirm its terms, employer details and program-specific requirements. Ask the employer to correct errors before relying on it.
- Keep your status valid. A PR profile or job offer does not itself authorize work. Check permit conditions and expiry dates separately.
- Consider all eligible routes. AAIP has its own selection and eligibility criteria. Its worker expression-of-interest score is different from the federal CRS score; an invitation or nomination is not guaranteed. Check Alberta’s current processing and draw information.
- Recheck your score after the recalculation. Changes in your own points and in the pool may affect rankings. A past cut-off is not a prediction of the next draw.
Frequently asked questions
Will my Express Entry score rise by 50, 70 or 100 points?
Not necessarily. Those are job-offer option scores, not automatic additions to your existing total. IRCC compares the offer option with your eligible Canadian experience option and uses the higher score. Your full result depends on your profile and the final calculation.
Can an Alberta job offer qualify without an LMIA?
Beginning November 3, an LMIA is not required for the Express Entry offer assessment described above. The offer must still be genuine and meet applicable rules. A separate work permit or AAIP application may have different requirements.
Will IRCC automatically update my profile?
IRCC says existing scores will be recalculated, potentially over two weeks while rounds are paused. Candidates should ensure their profile information is accurate and add any relevant offer before November 3. Recheck the result once the process is complete.
Does a high-wage occupation guarantee permanent residence?
No. You must meet a program’s eligibility rules, receive an invitation in a relevant round and submit a complete application. IRCC assesses the facts and makes the final decision.
Get help with your next step
Global Hire helps workers and employers review Express Entry, work permits and Alberta pathways. Contact our team to discuss your circumstances and documents.
This article provides general information, not legal advice or a guarantee of an invitation, work permit or permanent residence. Rules and processing information can change. Check current government instructions and obtain advice for your circumstances before acting.
