Canada to Add Express Entry Points for Immigrants in High-Wage Jobs

Canada will award additional Express Entry points to some permanent-residency candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced. The changes take effect November 3, 2026. A high-wage occupation is defined by its median wage—at least 1.3 times the national median—not an applicant’s personal salary. Employers will no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment for qualifying offers to receive the new points. Existing candidates’ scores will be recalculated, temporarily pausing invitation rounds for up to two weeks.