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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for the Express Entry immigration system.
These changes are significant and will have a major effect on candidates for immigration to Canada through the three federal programs managed through Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class.
The most significant changes included the points awarded for job offers and points awarded for Canadian study experience.
Find out more on Express Entry selection system or use our new calculator to Calculate your Express Entry CRS score to see what your chances would be to get an ITA.
LMIA and LMIA-Exempt Jobs
Previously, job offers supported by a positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) gave a candidate 600 points under CRS. As of November 19, 2016, candidates will be awarded 200 or 50 points, depending on the job position.
Points will also now be awarded to candidates who have a job offer that is LMIA-exempt, such as those granted under international agreements such as NAFTA.
In order to qualify for additional CRS points, the candidate must:
have at least 1 year of work experience from the same employer who is providing their job offer
the job offer must be for at least 1 year.
be working under the North America Free Trade Agreement
be working under a federal-provincial agreement
be working under Mobilité Francophone or
be an intra-company transferee
International Students now get addition points
The points that are to be assigned for a Canadian educational credential are the following:
0 points, if the foreign national has a secondary school educational credential
15 points, if the foreign national has an eligible credential from a one-year or two-year post-secondary program
30 points, if the foreign national has either:
an eligible credential from a post-secondary program of three years or more
an eligible credential from a university-level program at the master’s level or at the level of an entry-to-practice professional degree for an occupation listed in the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required
an eligible credential from a university-level program at the doctoral level.
Points are only assigned for Canadian study experience if, for the purpose of obtaining the credential, the foreign national:
studied in Canada at a Canadian educational institution
was enrolled in full-time study or training for at least eight months
was physically present in Canada for at least eight months
Find out more on Express Entry selection system or use our new calculator to Calculate your Express Entry CRS score to see what your chances would be to get an ITA.
