IRCC to eliminate CRS points for job offers in Express Entry by spring 2025

The Canadian government has announced a significant shift in its Express Entry system that will impact many hopeful immigrants. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revealed plans to remove the points awarded for job offers in the Express Entry pool starting in the spring of 2025. This change could reshape the immigration process for many candidates looking to make Canada their permanent home.

Currently, candidates in the Express Entry system can receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if they have a valid job offer. These points, which can be 50 or 200, often make the crucial difference between receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence or being left out of the process. But this system is set to change in 2025.

Once the change is implemented, the removal of CRS points for job offers will apply to everyone in the Express Entry pool—both new candidates and those already in the system. This includes people already working in Canada temporarily, who may have been relying on job offer points to improve their chances of securing permanent residency.

Interestingly, IRCC made it clear that the change will apply to job offers across all sectors. This means that it doesn't matter if the job is in healthcare, tech, construction, or any other field—no one will receive these extra points starting in 2025.

However, if you have already received an ITA or submitted a permanent residence application before the change takes effect, you will not be impacted. Those who are already in the process of applying will not have their CRS points affected, as the new rules will apply only to future candidates entering the Express Entry pool after the spring of 2025.

While IRCC has not yet provided specific reasons for this change, the government has clarified that it is a temporary measure. This could mean that, in the future, job offer points could be reinstated or modified, but for now, the plan is to move forward without them.

The IRCC’s decision comes after the initial announcement made on December 17 by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who stated that Express Entry candidates with a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based job offer would no longer receive the additional CRS points. At the time, no date was given, leaving many to speculate about the timing and impact of this change.

The Express Entry system is the backbone of Canada's immigration process for skilled workers. Candidates can apply through one of three major immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Once candidates enter the system, their profiles are ranked according to a number of factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. They can also earn points for things like having a sibling in Canada, knowing French, having Canadian education, or, currently, having a valid job offer. The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence, with job offer points often boosting a candidate’s ranking significantly.

For now, Express Entry candidates will need to adjust their strategies. Starting in 2025, job offer points will no longer play a part in their CRS score, meaning candidates will need to focus on other factors to increase their ranking. This change could affect the competitiveness of the system, especially for those who were relying on job offers to secure an ITA.