Reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (licensed by the CICC)Last updated:
Short answer
Since November 3, 2026, Express Entry gives up to 150 CRS points (140 with a spouse) through a new Labour Market Integration factor. You receive the higher of two options: your Canadian work experience points plus 20, 40 or 70 extra points for at least 12 months in a high-wage occupation, or 50, 70 or 100 points for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. An LMIA is no longer required for a qualifying job offer.
What is the Labour Market Integration factor?
It is a new part of the core CRS score that replaces the old Canadian work experience line. It rewards candidates who already work in Canada, or who have a job offer, in occupations whose median wage is well above the Canadian median.
Occupations are grouped into three levels based on their median wage compared with the national median: at least 1.3 times, at least 1.5 times, or at least 2 times. The level depends on the occupation (NOC code) on IRCC’s high-wage occupation list, not on your personal salary.
How the points work
The experience route adds the extra points to your existing points for length of Canadian work experience (up to 80, or 70 with a spouse). The job offer route gives a fixed number of points. You get whichever route is higher, never both, up to 150 points (140 with a spouse).
| Occupation level | Extra points for 12+ months of Canadian experience | Points for a qualifying job offer |
|---|---|---|
| 2x the median wage or more | 70 | 100 |
| 1.5x to under 2x | 40 | 70 |
| 1.3x to under 1.5x | 20 | 50 |
| Not a high-wage occupation | 0 | 0 |
Examples
- Single candidate, 3 years of Canadian experience (64 points), 12+ months in a 1.5x occupation (+40): 104 points under the factor.
- Candidate abroad with no Canadian experience and a job offer in a 2x occupation: 100 points.
- Candidate with a spouse, 4 years of Canadian experience (63) and 12 months at 1.5x (+40) = 103, plus a 2x job offer (100): the experience route is higher, so 103.
What else changed
- A qualifying job offer no longer needs an LMIA to count for CRS points.
- A temporary public policy also removes the LMIA requirement for job offers used for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades eligibility, under conditions.
- Qualifying job offers must generally be full-time (30+ hours a week) and continuous for at least one year after you become a permanent resident.
- The maximum CRS score is now 1,270 points.
What you should do now
- Recalculate your score with our CRS calculator using the new rules.
- Check whether your occupation (NOC) is on IRCC’s high-wage list and at which level.
- Update your Express Entry profile so your work history and NOC codes are accurate.
- If you have a job offer, make sure it meets the new requirements before you claim points.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an LMIA for job offer points now?
No. Since November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation earns points without an LMIA.
Is the high-wage level based on my salary?
No. It is based on the median wage of your occupation (NOC), using IRCC’s list of high-wage occupations.
Can I get points for both experience and a job offer?
No. IRCC compares both options and gives you the higher one.
Information on this site is general and is not legal advice. We never guarantee approvals. Only Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes decisions on applications.