The Government of Canada has announced a significant change to its Express Entry immigration system in an effort to strengthen integrity and reduce fraud. The Minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, confirmed that Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional points for having a job offer, effective spring 2025.
This temporary measure aims to eliminate the incentive for fraudulent activities, such as the illegal buying and selling of labour market impact assessments (LMIAs) to enhance a candidate’s chances of selection for permanent residency. By removing job offer points from the scoring system, the government hopes to create a more secure and transparent pathway for skilled workers seeking to build a future in Canada.
The upcoming changes will impact individuals applying through the Express Entry system, including those who are currently working in Canada temporarily. However, candidates who have already received an invitation to apply or have an application in progress will not be affected. Once implemented, the policy will apply universally to both existing candidates in the Express Entry pool with job offers and new applicants entering the system.
Minister Miller emphasized that immigration remains critical to Canada’s economic growth, and this measure reflects the government’s commitment to maintaining a fair and well-managed system. “We are taking important steps to reduce fraud while continuing to attract the skilled talent our economy needs,” he said. “Immigration has always been a cornerstone of Canada’s success, and we remain committed to welcoming the best and brightest to Canada so that everyone has access to the quality jobs, homes and supports they need to thrive.”
The Express Entry system serves as Canada’s flagship application management tool for those seeking permanent residency through programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and parts of the Provincial Nominee Program.
The government has underscored that this change aligns with broader efforts to modernize immigration policies and ensure fairness. Recent amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022 allowed for targeted selections based on attributes like work experience and language skills to better support Canada’s economic priorities.
As Canada continues to rely on immigration to fill labor gaps and drive economic growth, these updates to the Express Entry system reflect a proactive approach to preserving its integrity while attracting top talent from around the world.
