Canada to alter Express Entry points system for high-wage skilled trades

KITCHENER, Ontario — Canada will revise its Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System on Nov. 3, 2026, to award extra points to candidates in high-wage occupations, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced in Kitchener on Oct. 16, 2026.

The regulatory adjustments will grant higher point scores to applicants with eligible Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in targeted sectors. Specified priority roles include engineers, electricians, and skilled trade professionals.

Starting Nov. 3, 2026, the government will remove Labour Market Impact Assessment requirements for qualifying job offers under both the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC will still assess job offers to confirm they are legitimate and meet program standards, maintaining measures to guard against fraudulent submissions.

“Canada is competing globally for people with the skills we need to build a prosperous economy and stronger public services,” Metlege Diab said in a news release. “These changes will help us identify, attract and retain the skilled newcomers who are best positioned to succeed in Canada, while making the Express Entry system more targeted and responsive to our labour market needs.”

Profile updates and process timeline

For candidates already listed in the Express Entry pool, IRCC will automatically recalculate Comprehensive Ranking System scores to reflect eligible Canadian work experience under the updated system.

Applicants who want to claim points for a qualifying job offer must update their Express Entry profiles with the required details before the Nov. 3, 2026, deadline. The automated recalculation process may take up to two weeks to complete, and IRCC will pause rounds of invitations while the updates are processed.

The changes follow earlier adjustments made to Canada's economic immigration system. The federal government created a dedicated Express Entry stream for medical doctors with Canadian work experience in December 2025. In February 2026, Canada introduced and renewed Express Entry categories designed to prioritize applicants with experience in health care, skilled trades, research, transportation, and education.