Canada 🇨🇦 has made a major change to its immigration system that will affect thousands of people hoping to become permanent residents. Starting March 25, 2025, the government stopped giving Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for arranged employment—meaning job offers—under the Express Entry system. This update changes how candidates are ranked and who gets invited to apply for permanent residency. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s changed, who is affected, what actions you should take, and what this means for people with pending or future applications.
What Changed: Removal of CRS Points for Arranged Employment
Before March 25, 2025, having a valid job offer could add up to 200 CRS points to a candidate’s Express Entry profile. These points often made the difference between getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency and being left out. Now, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) no longer awards CRS points for job offers, whether they are supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or are LMIA-exempt work permits.
Effective Date:
– The change took effect on March 25, 2025. Any Express Entry profiles created or updated after this date will not receive CRS points for arranged employment.
Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 announced
Removal of CRS points for arranged employment takes effect
Permanent resident admissions target set to 395,000
PNP allocations cut by 50%
New EOI systems introduced by some provinces
Who Is Affected by This Change?
This policy shift impacts several groups of people:
- Workers with employer-specific work permits under the International Mobility Program, especially those who have worked for their employer for at least one year.
- Workers on LMIA-based work permits who planned to use their job offer to boost their CRS points.
- Applicants outside Canada 🇨🇦 who received LMIA-supported job offers and hoped these would help them qualify for permanent residency.
If you are in any of these groups, your Express Entry profile may now have a much lower CRS score than before, making it harder to get an ITA.
Why Did Canada 🇨🇦 Make This Change?
The government’s main goal is to make the immigration process fairer and more focused on individual skills. The new rules put more weight on:
- Education
- Language proficiency (especially French)
- Canadian work experience
By removing CRS points for arranged employment, Canada 🇨🇦 wants to select immigrants based on their ability to succeed and contribute to the economy, not just because they have a job offer. This also helps address concerns that some job offers were being used mainly to boost CRS scores, rather than fill real labor shortages.
Broader Immigration Policy Changes in 2025
This change is part of a larger shift in Canada’s 🇨🇦 immigration policy for 2025 and beyond. Here are some related updates:
1. Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027
– Announced in October 2024, this plan reduces permanent resident admissions targets to 395,000 in 2025—down by 105,000 from earlier projections.
– For the first time, Canada 🇨🇦 set targets for temporary residents, including workers and students.
– The plan focuses on admitting more people who are already in Canada 🇨🇦 as workers or students. In 2025, over 40% of new permanent residents will come from this group.
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Changes
– The federal government cut PNP allocations by 50% in 2025.
– Provinces are now narrowing eligibility and focusing on sectors like healthcare and construction.
– Some provinces introduced Expression of Interest (EOI) systems, replacing direct applications for job-offer streams.
3. Language Proficiency Emphasis
– Bilingual applicants, especially those who speak French, can now receive up to 50 additional CRS points.
– This supports Canada’s 🇨🇦 goal to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
4. Spousal Work Permit Restrictions
– Spouses of international students can now get open work permits only if the student is in a Master’s, PhD, or certain professional programs.
– This limits work opportunities for many families.
Immediate Actions for Candidates
If you are applying or planning to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry, here’s what you should do:
1. Review Your CRS Score
– Log in to your Express Entry profile and check your updated CRS points.
– If you were relying on a job offer, your score may have dropped by up to 200 points.
2. Focus on Other CRS Factors
– Education: Consider upgrading your education or getting your credentials assessed if you haven’t already.
– Language Skills: Take language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF for French) and aim for higher scores. French speakers can now get more points.
– Canadian Work Experience: If you’re already in Canada 🇨🇦, gaining more work experience can help increase your score.
3. Explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
– Some PNPs may still consider job offers in their criteria, even though Express Entry does not.
– Check each province’s official immigration website for up-to-date eligibility and application details.
4. Consider Other Pathways
– If your CRS score is now too low for Express Entry, look into other immigration streams, such as family sponsorship or pilot programs for specific sectors.
Implications for Pending Applications
If you submitted your Express Entry profile before March 25, 2025, and received an ITA based on your previous CRS score (including job offer points), your application will be processed under the old rules. However, if you did not receive an ITA before the change, your profile will be recalculated without job offer points.
For those with pending profiles:
- No ITA Yet: Your CRS score will drop, and you may need to improve other areas to stay competitive.
- ITA Already Received: You are safe; your application will be processed based on the CRS score at the time of invitation.
What Employers Need to Know
Employers who used to rely on job offers to help foreign workers get permanent residency must now adjust their approach:
- Focus on Strong Candidates: Look for workers with high education, strong language skills, and Canadian work experience.
- Use PNPs: Some provinces still value job offers in their nominee programs. Employers can support workers through these streams.
- Stay Informed: Immigration rules can change quickly. Regularly check the IRCC website and provincial immigration pages for updates.
How the Express Entry System Works Now
Express Entry is Canada’s 🇨🇦 main system for managing applications for three economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
Candidates create an online profile and are given a CRS score based on factors like age, education, language ability, and work experience. The highest-scoring candidates receive ITAs during regular draws.
Key Changes:
- No CRS points for arranged employment (job offers) after March 25, 2025.
- More points for French language skills—up to 50 extra points.
- Greater focus on Canadian work experience and education.
For more details on how Express Entry works and to check your CRS score, visit the official IRCC Express Entry page.
Expert Analysis: What Does This Mean for the Future?
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this change marks a move toward a more merit-based immigration system. Canada 🇨🇦 wants to attract people who have the skills, education, and language ability to succeed, rather than just those who have a job offer. This could help fill gaps in key sectors and support the country’s economic goals.
However, some experts warn that the change may make it harder for foreign workers already in Canada 🇨🇦 on employer-specific permits. Many of these workers relied on job offers to boost their CRS scores and secure permanent residency. Without those points, they may struggle to compete with other candidates.
Broader Trends in Canadian Immigration
This update fits into a larger pattern of changes in Canadian immigration policy:
- Sustainable Population Growth: Canada 🇨🇦 is trying to balance the need for new workers with the ability to integrate them into society.
- Integration of Temporary Residents: The government is focusing on people already in Canada 🇨🇦 as students or workers, making it easier for them to become permanent residents.
- Support for Francophone Communities: By giving more points for French, Canada 🇨🇦 hopes to boost the number of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec.
Provincial Nominee Programs: A Growing Alternative
With Express Entry no longer giving points for job offers, PNPs may become more important for some candidates. Provinces can set their own criteria and may still value job offers, especially in sectors facing labor shortages.
Recent PNP Changes:
- Reduced Allocations: The federal government cut the number of spots for PNPs by 50% in 2025.
- Narrower Eligibility: Provinces are focusing on in-demand jobs like healthcare and construction.
- New EOI Systems: Some provinces now require candidates to submit an Expression of Interest, rather than applying directly with a job offer.
If you are interested in a PNP, check the official website of the province you want to move to for the latest information.
Language Skills: The New Key to Success
With job offers no longer boosting CRS points, language skills—especially French—are more important than ever. Bilingual candidates can now get up to 50 extra points, making them much more competitive in Express Entry draws.
Tips for Improving Language Scores:
- Take official language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF).
- Consider language classes to improve your scores.
- If you speak French, make sure to claim your points and provide proof.
Spousal Work Permit Changes
Another important update affects spouses of international students. Now, only spouses of students in Master’s, PhD, or certain professional programs can get open work permits. This means fewer families will have both partners able to work while studying in Canada 🇨🇦.
What Should You Do Now?
- Check your eligibility: Review your CRS score and see if you still have a chance to get an ITA.
- Improve your profile: Focus on education, language, and Canadian work experience.
- Explore PNPs: Some provinces may still value job offers.
- Stay informed: Immigration rules can change quickly. Always check the IRCC website for the latest updates.
For Employers:
- Support workers through PNPs: If you have foreign workers, help them apply through provincial programs.
- Focus on retention: With fewer pathways to permanent residency, keeping good workers may become harder.
- Stay updated: Policy changes can affect your hiring plans.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Canadian Immigration?
The removal of CRS points for arranged employment is just one part of a bigger shift in how Canada 🇨🇦 manages immigration. The government is likely to keep adjusting the system to meet economic needs, support population growth, and help newcomers settle successfully.
Possible Future Developments:
- More changes to Express Entry: The government may keep tweaking the system to focus on key skills and sectors.
- Greater role for provinces: As PNPs become more important, provinces may get more say in who comes to Canada 🇨🇦.
- Rising importance of French: Canada 🇨🇦 aims to have 10% of new immigrants be Francophone by 2027.
Summary of Key Points
- CRS points for arranged employment (job offers) removed as of March 25, 2025.
- Candidates must now focus on education, language skills, and Canadian work experience.
- Employers should explore PNPs and focus on strong individual profiles.
- Pending applications are affected based on whether an ITA was received before the change.
- Language skills, especially French, are now more valuable in Express Entry.
- Stay informed and consider all available immigration pathways.
For official information and updates, visit the Government of Canada’s Express Entry page.
This change marks a new era for Canada’s 🇨🇦 immigration system, putting individual merit at the center and reshaping how candidates and employers approach permanent residency. By understanding these updates and taking the right steps, you can improve your chances of success in the new Express Entry landscape.
Learn Today
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) → A points-based system ranking Express Entry candidates by age, education, language, and work experience.
Express Entry → Canada’s online immigration system managing applications for skilled workers seeking permanent residency.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) → A document assessing job offer effects on Canadian labour market, required for some work permits.
Invitation to Apply (ITA) → An official invitation for candidates to apply for permanent residency based on CRS scores.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) → A program allowing provinces to nominate immigrants based on local labor market needs.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada eliminated CRS points for job offers in Express Entry from March 25, 2025, shifting focus to skills. Language proficiency, education, and Canadian work experience now drive permanent residency success, reshaping immigration pathways for workers, employers, and pending applicants alike.
— By VisaVerge.com
