Express Entry Is Changing on November 3, 2026: More Points for High-Wage Jobs, No LMIA Needed

The short answer: From November 3, 2026, Canada will give more Express Entry points to people who work in, or have a job offer in, a high-wage occupation. Your employer will not need an LMIA for the job offer to count. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced this on October 16, 2026.

More points can help you get invited to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Canada.

Key facts at a glance:

First, some words you need to know

• Express Entry: Canada’s main online system for skilled workers who want permanent residence.
• CRS score: Your points in Express Entry. CRS means Comprehensive Ranking System. More points give you a better chance.
• ITA: An Invitation to Apply. Canada sends it to people with the highest scores. You need an ITA to apply for PR.
• LMIA: A Labour Market Impact Assessment. It is a government approval some employers had to get before hiring a foreign worker. It takes time and money.
• NOC code: A number that describes your type of job. Canada uses it to sort all jobs.
• Median wage: The middle salary. Half of people earn more, and half earn less.

Changes Coming November 3, 2026

There are two big changes:

1. You can get extra points for a job offer in a high-wage occupation. Up to 100 points.
2. Your employer does not need an LMIA for that job offer to count.

You can also get extra points if you have already worked in Canada in a high-wage occupation.

What is a high-wage occupation?

It is a type of job where people in Canada usually earn much more than the average worker. Canada checks the median wage for each NOC code. If it is at least 1.3 times the national average, the job counts as high-wage.

Important: This is based on your type of job, not on your own salary. If your job type is on the list, it counts, even if your personal pay is lower. If your job type is not on the list, it does not count, even if you earn a lot.

You can find the list on IRCC’s high-wage occupations page. If the list changes after you get your ITA, the level on the day of your invitation still applies.

How many points can I get for a job offer?

The job offer must be full-time. It must last at least one year after you become a permanent resident. There are special rules for skilled trades and for doctors.

How many extra points can I get for work in Canada?

You need at least 1 year (12 months) of work in Canada in a high-wage job. The work must be in the last 10 years. It must be a skilled job (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3).

These points are added to the normal points you already get for Canadian work experience (up to 80 points for 5 years).

Can I get both?

No. If you have both a job offer and Canadian work experience, you get the one that gives you more points. The most you can get is 150 points. If your spouse or partner is coming with you, the most is 140 points.

No more LMIA: what does this mean?

Before, many employers had to get an LMIA. This was slow and expensive, and many employers did not want to do it. From November 3, 2026, they do not need one for a job offer in a high-wage occupation.

There is also a temporary public policy. If you are invited on or after November 3, 2026, you do not need an LMIA (or an LMIA exemption) for a job offer you use to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, if you meet the policy’s conditions.

Canada will still check that the job offer is real. An officer will check that:

• the business is real and active;
• the business really needs this worker;
• the employer can pay the salary and keep the promises in the offer;
• you have the skills to do the job, and you plan to take it; and
• the employer follows Canada’s work laws.

If the employer cancels the job offer, it no longer counts.

Who will this help?

• People already working in Canada (for example, on a work permit or a PGWP) in high-wage jobs like tech, engineering, finance or healthcare.
• People with a real job offer from a Canadian employer who did not want to do an LMIA.
• Employers who want to help a good worker stay in Canada.

What should I do now?

• Check your NOC code. Make sure it matches the job you really do.
• Check the high-wage list. See if your job type is on it, and at which level.
• Update your Express Entry profile before November 3. Make sure your job offer details are complete and correct.
• Keep your documents ready. For example, your job offer letter, pay stubs and reference letters.
• Ask a lawyer if you are not sure. Claiming points you cannot prove can lead to a refusal, or a 5-year ban for misrepresentation.

Remember: More points do not guarantee an invitation. Canada invites people based on the scores in each draw.

How Unified Immigration Lawyers Can Help

At Unified Immigration Lawyers, we have helped people immigrate to Canada and the U.S. for nearly 15 years. Our founder, Sonia Akilov, is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Citizenship and Immigration Law. Our Express Entry specialists can check your job type, count your new points, review your job offer, and help you apply for permanent residence.

Book a consultation with our team to find out how these changes can help you.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information, not legal advice. Source: IRCC, “Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations,” October 16, 2026.