Express Entry Reform in Canada: New Rules for Permanent Residence Selection

Details have emerged about the largest Canadian immigration reform in the past eleven years. Points that many people were counting on may be reset to zero. But a new factor is appearing that could change everything. In this article, we'll break down who will win, who will lose — and what to do about it.

Ivanna Pavlenko, a licensed Canadian immigration consultant, discusses the major changes that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is preparing.

The immigration department has sent a presentation with specific proposals to immigration lawyers. These aren't final rules yet — this is what's being discussed right now. But the scale of changes is impressive: for some people this is great news, while for others it's a reason to urgently change their strategy. There's a strong likelihood the rules will be adopted in the form they're currently proposed.

How the selection process works now

Before we look at what's changing, let's briefly review how everything works now.

Express Entry is an online platform through which Canada selects skilled workers for permanent residence. A candidate fills out a profile, the system calculates points, and every few weeks they invite candidates with the highest scores in various categories.

Points are awarded for age, education, work experience, knowledge of English or French, and other factors. The more points you have, the higher your chance of receiving an invitation for permanent residence. After getting permanent resident status, a person has almost the same opportunities as Canadian citizens. You can apply for citizenship after living in Canada for just 3 years.

Currently, to get into the Express Entry system, you need to meet the requirements of one of three immigration programs. The first is for specialists from abroad, which has separate points calculated by its own rules, completely different from Express Entry. The second is for those who have already worked in Canada. The third is for skilled trades, and it's used least often. Each program has its own language, education, and experience requirements.

And now the ministry is proposing to close all three programs and replace them with one. Why? According to the ministry's own data, about half of all candidates already qualify for multiple programs at once. So three separate entrances lead to the same room — unnecessary bureaucracy that complicates life for both candidates and officials.

Free conference about life and work in Northe...

Canadian visa centers in Russia have stopped ...

The number of people wanting to join the Cana...

China offers Canada joint production of elect...

Trump stripped Canada of its seat on the pres...

Canadians rallied around Prime Minister Carne...

Arctic cold has covered Canada with temperatu...

Trump lashed out at Carney after his speech i...

Canadian companies plan to raise salaries by ...

Gold breaks records and continues to rise des...

Prime Minister Carney concludes a nine-day wo...

Cenovus Energy is preparing to sell assets in...

But it's not just about simplification. The points system itself is changing radically. Some factors are being strengthened, others are being removed.

New rules for entering the system

Let's start with knowledge of English or French. Currently, requirements for candidates vary — some programs require a higher level, others lower. The proposal is to establish a single standard — a minimum level of CLB 6.

A candidate must have work experience: one year within the last three years. It doesn't matter where they worked — in Canada or abroad. Important point: experience is counted cumulatively, it doesn't have to be continuous. This means you can add up several short work periods. This opens the door for those who changed jobs or worked on contracts.

A job offer in Canada will no longer be a mandatory requirement to enter the system. Previously, you couldn't apply under one of the programs without it. Now you can.

The special 67-point selection grid that candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Program had to meet is also being eliminated.

So entry is becoming easier and there are fewer barriers. But the main changes concern how points are calculated after getting into the system.

New factor: high-wage occupation

The reform introduces a completely new factor. The ministry has called it "high-wage occupation."

Canada takes the median wage across the country and compares it with the typical wage in the candidate's occupation. Not their personal salary, but what people in that profession typically earn in Canada. If the occupation pays significantly more than the median — the candidate gets additional points. The higher the occupation's wage, the more points.

Three levels are proposed. The lower level — occupations where the wage is about 1.3 times higher than the median (that is, 30% higher). The middle level — about 1.5 times. The upper level — 2 times or more.

Examples from the upper level: doctors, university professors. From the middle: engineers, teachers, transportation managers. From the lower: financial analysts, bricklayers, heavy equipment operators.

Why this approach? The ministry analyzed data from several years and found that candidates who worked in high-wage occupations before moving show better economic outcomes after getting permanent residence. They earn more, pay more taxes, and integrate faster. That's why the system will give preference to these specialists.

The list of occupations by level is planned to be updated annually, so it's important to follow current Canadian immigration news.

Return of points for job offers

Express Entry plans to bring back points for job offers. In March 2025, this bonus was removed due to widespread fraud. That hit many candidates hard: some lost more than fifty points in one day and dropped out of the competitive range.

Points are being restored, but not for everyone. Only if the candidate's occupation falls into the high-wage category — the one mentioned above. If you're offered a job as a doctor or engineer — you'll get the bonus. If you're offered a job in the service sector — no bonus.

Important detail: points will be calculated based on the typical wage for that occupation overall, not on the salary in the specific offer. People used to buy fake offers with inflated salaries. Now that makes no sense because the system looks at the occupation, not the number on the document.

What points they want to remove

Now for the unpleasant part. The ministry has called several factors "weak indicators of economic success" and is proposing to remove them or significantly reduce them.

French language bonus

Currently, good French skills earn you 25 to 50 additional points. Because of this, many people started learning French. But now they're proposing to remove points for French. The ministry's logic: separate draws are already held for French-speaking candidates, so an additional point bonus isn't needed.

Points for studying in Canada

Currently, Canadian education earns you 15 to 30 points. They're proposing to remove this bonus for college and bachelor's degree graduates. They plan to keep points only for those who completed a master's or doctoral program in Canada. On one hand, this is disappointing. On the other hand — by studying in Canada, a person will improve their language skills, be able to find work, and adapt better to the country.

Points for relatives in Canada

Currently, having a brother or sister in Canada gives you 15 points. They're proposing to remove this completely.

Points for Spouse

Currently, the system considers a spouse's language skills and education. If a spouse is "strong," the candidate gets up to 40 additional points. But if a spouse is "weak," the overall score drops. Because of this, many families deliberately applied separately so a weak spouse wouldn't drag down the points. Families split up for the sake of points, then had to go through sponsorship, which only complicated the process. The ministry wants to eliminate this situation entirely.

Provincial Nomination

The 600 points for a provincial nomination — the ones that currently almost guarantee an invitation — are also being considered for revision. The ministry's logic: there are already separate draws for nominated candidates. Giving them an additional 600 points is double-counting.

Who Will Benefit from the Reform

The Canadian immigration reform benefits professionals in high-paying occupations: doctors, engineers, IT specialists, finance professionals, and teachers. The new salary factor could give them a significant advantage they didn't have before.

People without Canadian work experience will benefit. They won't need to accumulate additional points on the 67-point grid to register in Express Entry.

Red Seal certified tradespeople will benefit — this is a Canadian quality standard for skilled trades: welders, electricians, plumbers. For them, credential recognition is being strengthened.

Those who worked on contracts and couldn't accumulate a year of continuous experience will also benefit. Now you can combine several periods.

Who Will Lose Out

The reform disadvantages those with a strong spouse. If a husband or wife contributed 30–40 points for language and education — this cushion may disappear.

French-speaking candidates will be partially disadvantaged. French language category draws will continue — you can still get an invitation as a French-speaking candidate. You just won't get the extra 25–50 bonus points on top.

Canadian college graduates and bachelor's degree holders will lose out. If a candidate was counting on points for a Canadian diploma — those may be removed. The bonus will only remain for master's and doctoral degrees. That said, Canadian education itself provides other advantages: language improvement, adaptation, and entry into the job market.

Those with relatives in Canada will also be affected. 15 points for a sibling isn't much, but for some people, that was the difference between an invitation and waiting.

What to Do Right Now

These changes haven't been adopted yet. Public consultations are ahead. The full process could take 12 to 18 months. But individual elements, like the high-wage occupation factor, could be implemented sooner — through ministerial instructions, without waiting for complete rule changes. So don't count on having a full year and a half.

Calculate your points for Express Entry and the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Our website has free points calculators.

If you're currently in the system and your score is competitive — apply under the current rules. Don't wait for the new ones. Every month of waiting is a risk.

It's important to remember that besides Express Entry, Canada accepts immigration applications through other methods — the country has over 120 immigration programs and streams. Perhaps under the new rules, a different pathway will suit you better.

If you need an individual assessment of your chances and development of a detailed immigration plan — book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant.