Work experience: All candidates must have at least one year of cumulative work experience in any TEER 0 to 3 occupation, and this must be within the last three years. Foreign work experiences also count towards work experience. Also, since it’s cumulative, it means candidates can combine shorter periods of work to meet the requirements.
Job offer: A job offer is no longer a minimum requirement. Under the current system, all FSTP candidates can either have a certificate of qualification or a valid job offer.
67-point FSW grid: This was the selection grid used, but this would be entirely eliminated under the current system.
The IRCC announces that the category-based selection will still push through or continue to maintain flexibility for French-language draws, eventually targeting occupational shortages.
How the CRS Will Change
The shared slide deck also includes the proposed modifications to how the candidates are ranked in the Express Entry pool:
Work experience in Canada: Currently, this category is worth up to 80 points. However, this would be restructured to match the new High Wage Occupation factor.
High Wage Occupation factor: Do you have Canadian work experience or a job offer with higher wages? You will receive extra CRS points for that.
Here are the three tiers:
- 1.3 times (e.g., financial analysts)
- 1.5 times (e.g., teachers and engineers)
- 2 times (e.g., professors and physicians)
Check out the list of qualifying occupations, which will be regularly updated.
Skills transferability: This factor is currently worth up to 100 points. However, expect to see an enhanced recognition for the trade qualifications. Note that non-Canadian work experience points are retained.
Job offer points: This was removed in March 2025. However, it would return but would be applicable only for candidates with high-wage occupations. Also, the points are based on the salary for a given occupation and not on the candidate’s earnings.
Enhanced Canadian licensure recognition: Do you hold a Certification of qualification in a Red Seal trade? Expect to get better recognition.
Factors That May be Removed or Changed
The IRCC may consider removing these as they’re weak predictors of an applicant’s success:
- French proficiency bonus: 25 to 50 points currently
- Studies in Canada: 15 to 30 points
- Sibling in Canada: 15 points
- Spousal points: 40 points
Provincial/territorial nominations, which are worth 600 points, may also be removed by the IRCC. It may be because they also have immigration draws choosing candidates who declared provincial nomination, so keeping this would be redundant already.
When will these changes likely take effect?
These are still in early stages. No timeline has been set yet, but consultations will be in the spring.
Also, IRCC has followed through on its plan to update fee regulations and citizenship fee increases. The scope of the Express Entry modifications is larger than fee updates, though. Merging multiple programs and overhauling the CRS requires regulatory amendments. However, the fact that IRCC shared those slides with the lawyers indicates they’re serious about pushing forward with the changes, but implementation will take time.
