Canada Stops Awarding Extra CRS Points for Arranged Employment in Express Entry

Effective Date: March 25, 2025
The Government of Canada has removed additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Express Entry candidates with a valid job offer. This includes positions supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or other qualifying offers.

Key Takeaways

• No More Extra Points for Job Offers
  Candidates will no longer receive 50 or 200 bonus points for having a valid job offer, regardless of the position or support documents.
• Scores May Decrease
  Anyone in the Express Entry pool who counted on those extra points will see their CRS score drop. IRCC mentions it could take a few days for scores to adjust.
• Who Is Not Affected
• Candidates who already received an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
• Candidates who already submitted their Permanent Residence (PR) applications
  Their status remains unchanged.
• Temporary Measure
  According to a press release dated December 23, 2024, the removal of extra job-offer points is temporary, though no end date was provided.

Example: Andrew vs. Anita

• Before:
• Andrew: 540 points (includes 50 points for his job offer)
• Anita: 500 points

Andrew had an advantage over Anita by 40 points.

• After:
• Andrew: 490 (loses the extra 50)
• Anita: 500

If a future Express Entry draw sets the cutoff at 495, Anita would receive an ITA while Andrew would not.

Physicians Also Affected

A special section (29(4)) allowed some physicians to count job offers of under one year if they were employed by a Canadian government or healthcare agency. This provision has been removed under the new Ministerial Instructions, meaning physicians will no longer receive extra points for short-term job offers.

Why Remove Job-Offer Points?

Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller first mentioned this change on December 17, 2024, aiming to reduce fraud and stop people from “purchasing” an LMIA—an illegal practice. The government has been actively working to strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration system, introducing new regulations and crackdowns on unethical practices.

Impact on Express Entry Candidates

• Lower Scores for Some: Candidates who relied on job-offer points will likely see a drop in their CRS score, reducing their chance of getting an ITA.
• Better Chances for Others: Applicants without a job offer may find themselves more competitive, as the gap in points between them and those with job offers shrinks.

How the CRS Works

The Comprehensive Ranking System scores Express Entry candidates up to 1,200 points based on:

• Age
• Education
• Language ability
• Work experience
• Additional points for factors like French proficiency, Canadian schooling, having a sibling in Canada, or a provincial nomination

Previously, having a valid job offer granted an extra 50 or 200 points, which often made a significant difference in receiving an ITA.

Next Steps

• Check Your Score: IRCC suggests waiting a few days for your profile to reflect the removal of job-offer points. If your score remains incorrect for over a week, reach out to IRCC’s support.
• Eligibility Still Counts: A valid job offer may still help meet requirements for specific immigration programs (like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or some Provincial Nominee Program streams).
• Stay Updated: This measure is said to be temporary. Keep an eye on IRCC news releases and official announcements for any changes or reinstatements of extra points.