Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, starting March 25, 2025, Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for having a job offer.
Previously, applicants could earn up to 200 points for senior management positions and 50 points for other skilled roles, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
However, under the new policy, while job offers will still be relevant for certain immigration programs, they will no longer provide extra CRS points.
IRCC has described this change as a “temporary measure,” but it remains unclear if or when the points might be reinstated.
The decision may be influenced by several factors, including a shift toward prioritizing education, language proficiency, and work experience over employer-based connections, as well as concerns about the authenticity of job offers and evolving labor market demands.
Express Entry candidates who depended on job offer points will experience an immediate impact on their CRS scores.
Moving forward, prospective applicants must focus on strengthening other aspects of their profiles, such as improving language test scores, gaining Canadian work experience, securing a provincial nomination, or leveraging a spouse’s qualifications.
Candidates who have already received ITAs will not be affected by this change.