Express Entry: Important Changes Effective March 25, 2025 - Sehli Global Visa Consultant
The Express Entry system, Canada’s online immigration management platform for skilled workers, is undergoing a significant change aimed at reducing fraudulent activities related to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) and job offers.
On December 23, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a temporary measure to eliminate the incentive for candidates to illegally buy or sell LMIAs and job offers to improve their ranking for permanent residency selection.
Key Changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Effective March 25, 2025, IRCC will implement adjustments to the CRS for all candidates in the Express Entry pool, both current and future applicants. These changes specifically affect how points are awarded for job offers:
- 200 points: Awarded for job offers in occupations classified under Major Group 00 of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) matrix (e.g., senior management positions).
- 50 points: Awarded for job offers in all other skilled occupations.
Impact on Candidates
If your Express Entry profile currently includes a qualifying job offer, the additional CRS points associated with this factor will be removed. Although the change officially takes effect on March 25, 2025, updates to CRS points in profiles may take a few days to reflect.
If you do not currently have a qualifying job offer, you will no longer be able to gain additional CRS points for this factor starting March 25, 2025. However, this change does not impact your eligibility to remain in the Express Entry pool, and no action is required on your part.
Exceptions and Considerations
Candidates with an active Invitation to Apply (ITA) that has not expired or been declined are not affected by this change and will remain eligible under their specific round of invitation.
The job offer factor will still be considered for:
- The selection grid for the Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Eligibility under the Federal Skilled Trades Program
- The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), where provinces and territories may still use qualifying job offers as part of their selection criteria.
What Candidates Should Do
It is crucial for all applicants to continue including job offer details in their Express Entry profiles to maintain eligibility for various immigration programs. Keeping your profile up to date ensures you do not miss opportunities that may still be available under different programs.
For such latest updates from IRCC visit our website at- www.sehliglobal.ca or consult with our expert immigration professional to understand how this affects your application.
