In a significant policy change, the Canadian immigration department IRCC(Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada) has stated that from March 25, 2025, the express entry program will no longer grant extra CRS points to candidates with employment arrangements, such as those with a labour market impact assessment support.

IRCC eliminates the previous allocation of 50 or 200 bonus points for job offers through this significant update. 

This update will significantly influence the selection of Canada PR visa applications. In this article, we will provide complete details about this recent update. But, before moving ahead, let us understand the Express Entry system and the CRS points. 

Understanding the express entry system and CRS points 

Express Entry is the backbone system used by Canada in processing permanent resident applications under the three principal economic streams of immigration:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)​
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)​
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)​

Applicants in the Express Entry pool are assigned CRS scores according to age, education, language ability, and work experience. A genuine job offer greatly enhances an applicant's CRS score—50 points for most skilled work and 200 points for senior managerial positions—strongly improving their prospects of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Complete details of the recent policy change 

As of March 25, 2025, the IRCC has stopped issuing these extra points for arranged employment. The decision targets all candidates in the Express Entry pool who used to depend on job offers to boost their CRS scores. 

Important to Note: Candidates who received ITAs or applied for permanent residence before this date are exempted from this change.

Reason behind these changes 

The most significant reason behind this policy adjustment appears to be the integrity issue in the immigration process. Instances have been observed where the process has been abused with phony job proposals, which have undermined the efficacy and equity of the Express Entry process.

By eliminating the bonus points for the employment scenario, IRCC hopes to position applicants on the list according to their human capital attributes. These are education, language proficiency, and experience, which better measure an applicant's ability to settle and contribute to the Canadian economy.

Implications for principal express entry candidates 

The removal of the comprehensive ranking system score for work arrangements will have the following effects on future Express Entry applicants.

• Impact on CRS Scores: Candidates awarded 50 or 200 points will experience a corresponding decrease in their CRS scores, which may affect their position in the pool and their chances of receiving an ITA.
• Increased Competition: Cutting these bonus points puts all the applicants on the key human capital indicators on a more level playing field. The change could enhance the competition among the applicants, especially those who had earlier relied on arranged employment to boost their scores.
• Strategic Shifts: Upcoming immigrants could be forced to redefine their immigration plans. Stronger language ability, advanced degree credentials, or increased work history may be needed to improve CRS scores.

How long can the transition period and the system update take? 

The Canadian immigration department, IRCC, has indicated that this new update will be effective within a few days. It also takes a few days for the candidates' new CRS scores to be appropriately updated in the database. Candidates are advised to check their profiles and avoid contacting IRCC unless discrepancies remain after one week.

Which immigration programs are still relevant to job offers?  

While job offers no longer provide additional CRS points, they remain eligible for use in some immigration streams:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): A legitimate job offer can still be used to help with eligibility.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): An employer job offer is needed for consideration in the program.
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Provincial streams still favor candidates with job offers in the province.

A genuine job offer can still be helpful but no longer affects CRS scores.

Conclusion

Canceling bonus CRS points for work arrangements substantially changes Canada's Express Entry process. It moves away from relying on additional work arrangements and emphasizes candidates' essential human capital. Future immigrants will need to invest a lot to develop their academic credentials, proficiency in languages, and professions to improve their CRS scores and have a chance of acquiring permanent resident status in Canada.

For complete details about this recent update in the Express Entry system, reach out to Province Immigration Consultant via +91 98961 96762 or [email protected].