Canada Adds Express Entry Points for High-Wage Job Applicants

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced on October 16, 2026, that the Canadian government will award additional Express Entry points to permanent residency applicants in high-wage occupations. Effective November 3, the policy targets candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or job offers in fields such as medicine, engineering, law, transportation, research, and the skilled trades.

The government defines a high-wage job as one paying at least 1.3 times the national median hourly wage. To increase efficiency and reduce bureaucracy, the government is temporarily removing the requirement for employers to provide a Labour Market Impact Assessment or prove they cannot find a qualified Canadian citizen for these roles under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will continue to verify the authenticity of job offers to prevent fraud.

Candidates currently in the Express Entry pool will have their scores automatically recalculated, though those seeking points for job offers must update their profiles by November 3. This recalculation process is expected to take up to two weeks, during which time invitations to apply for permanent residency will be paused.