Major Changes to Canada’s Express Entry System: No More 200 or 50 Arranged Employment Extra Points

On December 23, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a significant update to the Express Entry system, aimed at enhancing integrity and reducing fraudulent practices. Effective March 25, 2025, IRCC will implement changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that could impact both current candidates in the Express Entry pool and prospective applicants. Below, we outline the key details of this temporary measure and what it means for skilled workers.

Background: Addressing Fraud in Express Entry

The Express Entry system is Canada’s flagship online platform for managing immigration applications from skilled workers under programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. To maintain the system’s fairness, IRCC has introduced this measure to curb the illegal buying and selling of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and job offers—practices that some individuals have exploited to artificially boost their CRS scores and improve their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

Changes to CRS Points for Job Offers

Starting March 25, 2025, IRCC will adjust how points are awarded for qualifying job offers within the CRS framework. The revised point allocations are as follows:

• 200 points: Awarded for job offers in senior management occupations classified under Major Group 00 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) matrix.
• 50 points: Awarded for job offers in any other skilled occupation.

In a previous blog found here, we argued against the removal of the 200 extra points, calling it a misguided policy decision.

Moving forward, a critical shift accompanies this update: candidates with existing qualifying job offers in their Express Entry profiles will see the additional CRS points previously associated with these offers removed as of the effective date. For those without a current qualifying job offer, the opportunity to earn extra CRS points for this factor will no longer be available after March 25, 2025.

What This Means for Current and Future Applicants

If you are already in the Express Entry pool with a qualifying job offer, expect your CRS score to be recalculated shortly after March 25, 2025, reflecting the removal of these additional points. IRCC has noted that it may take a few days for profiles to fully update. For prospective applicants, this change eliminates the ability to gain a competitive edge through job offer points that usually compensated for older age applicants.

Importantly, this adjustment does not affect your eligibility to remain in the Express Entry pool, and no immediate action is required on your part. Additionally, if you hold an active ITA that has not expired or been declined, your eligibility for that specific invitation round remains intact.

If all 50 and 200 points are removed, we expect the minimum CRS score in a draw to also fall by a large amount, since the minimum score is determined relative to the scores of the applicants within the pool. For example, if the minimum score is currently 520, then it might fall into the low 400s or less. In theory, this means the relative chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply remains the same for most. That said, individuals who are older and have zero points for age might still find that it is now harder to score enough CRS points to receive an Invitation to Apply. For them, provincial programs or the Start Up Visa program might be the only way forward.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration policies are subject to change, and individual circumstances vary. For personalized advice, please consult a qualified immigration lawyer.