Chandigarh: In a significant development for skilled professionals aspiring to obtain Canadian permanent residency, the Government of Canada has announced major reforms to its Express Entry immigration system, effective November 3, 2026. Immigration industry veteran & expert Lt Col B S Sandhu who is the Chairman and Managing Director of front running immigration consultancy group – WWICS (Worldwide Immigration & Consultancy Services) has given his views on the development.
Lt Col Sandhu informed that the changes introduce a revised Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) framework that places greater emphasis on Canadian work experience and qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations. He said that the government has also announced the removal of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements for qualifying job offers under Express Entry, subject to applicable program conditions.
Lt Col Sandhu said, “These reforms mark an important shift in Canada’s approach towards selecting skilled immigrants, with greater emphasis on Canadian work experience and occupations aligned with the country’s labour market requirements. The changes effective November 3, 2026, could improve permanent residency prospects for eligible skilled professionals.”
“The changes could create meaningful opportunities for eligible professionals, particularly those already contributing to the Canadian economy. However, candidates must carefully assess their eligibility, as the revised points system will not benefit every occupation or job offer equally,” added Lt Col Sandhu.
Lt Col Sandhu further advised the existing and prospective Express Entry candidates to review their occupational classification, Canadian work experience, job offer documentation and CRS eligibility under the revised criteria. “Candidates should also understand that an increase in CRS points does not guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residency,” he added.
He revealed that under the new Labour Market Integration factor, candidates may receive up to 150 CRS points without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, or 140 points with an accompanying spouse or partner, based on eligible Canadian work experience.
Lt Col Sandhu noted that the revised framework also introduces job offer points for qualifying high-wage occupations. For example, 100 CRS points for eligible occupations with a national median wage at least twice the overall Canadian median wage. 70 CRS points for eligible occupations meeting the 1.5-times wage threshold and 50 CRS points for eligible occupations meeting the 1.3-times wage threshold.
He informed that , candidates with at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in eligible high-wage occupations may receive 20, 40 or 70 points, depending on the occupational wage category, in addition to the points awarded for the duration of their eligible Canadian work experience.
Lt Col Sandhu said that one of the most significant changes is the removal of the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers used to obtain Express Entry CRS points. He said that the revised framework is expected to benefit eligible professionals working in high-wage occupations across sectors such as engineering, information technology, healthcare, education and skilled trades.
According to Lt Col Sandhu, existing Express Entry candidates will have their CRS scores automatically recalculated when the new framework takes effect. However, candidates seeking points for qualifying job offers must ensure that the required job offer information is accurately reflected in their profiles before November 3, 2026.
