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Canada Proposes Sweeping Express Entry Overhaul: Three Programs to Merge, High-Wage Occupations to Drive Selection
Published Date: April 11, 2026

Background and Source of the Proposals

The reform details emerged from a slide deck that IRCC shared with immigration lawyers during recent stakeholder consultations. The presentation has since been made public. These proposals build on signals IRCC sent on April 1, 2026, through its Forward Regulatory Plan: 2026-2028, which first revealed the department's intention to retire the three existing Express Entry programs.

It is important to note that none of these proposals have been finalized. IRCC has stated it will hold public consultations in Spring 2026 before determining next steps.

Merging Three Programs into One: Unified Eligibility

Under the current Express Entry system, each of the three federal programs maintains its own eligibility criteria, requiring candidates to navigate distinct requirements. The proposed reform would replace these with a single set of standards:

  • Education: All candidates would need at least a high school diploma or equivalent, verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Currently, only the FSWP imposes education as a minimum eligibility requirement.
  • Language: A uniform CLB 6 standard (or NCLC 6 for French) across all four language abilities would apply to all candidates regardless of occupation type. This contrasts sharply with current requirements, which range from CLB 4-5 for the FSTP, CLB 5-7 for the CEC (depending on primary occupation), and CLB 7 for the FSWP.
  • Work experience: Candidates would need one year of cumulative work experience in a TEER 0 through 3 occupation, earned within the past three years. Both Canadian and foreign experience would qualify. The shift from "continuous" to "cumulative" is notable, as it would allow candidates to combine shorter periods of employment to meet the threshold.
  • Job offers: A valid job offer would no longer be a minimum eligibility requirement. Under current rules, FSTP candidates must hold either a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification.
  • 67-point grid: The selection grid currently used to screen FSWP candidates would be eliminated entirely.

IRCC has confirmed that category-based selection would continue, maintaining the flexibility to conduct targeted draws for French-language proficiency and occupational shortages.

CRS Restructuring: High-Wage Occupations Take Center Stage

The proposed changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System represent the most significant dimension of the reform.

Introducing the "High Wage Occupation Factor"

This is the most important addition to the scoring framework. Candidates with Canadian work experience or a job offer in occupations earning above the national median wage would receive additional CRS points. IRCC has proposed three tiers based on how far an occupation's earnings exceed the median:

  • 1.3 times the median wage (e.g., financial analysts)
  • 1.5 times the median wage (e.g., engineers and teachers)
  • 2 times the median wage (e.g., physicians and professors)

The list of qualifying occupations would be updated regularly. Crucially, IRCC has specified that points would be based on occupational earnings — the typical salary for a given occupation — rather than a candidate's individual salary, an approach designed to reduce integrity risks.

Reinstating Job Offer Points

In March 2025, IRCC removed job offer points from the CRS amid widespread concerns about Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fraud. The reform proposal would bring these points back, but only for job offers in high-wage occupations as defined above.

Strengthening Skills Transferability and Professional Recognition

The skills transferability factor, currently worth up to 100 points, would see enhanced recognition for trade qualifications. Holders of a Certificate of Qualification in a Red Seal-designated trade would receive improved recognition. IRCC is also exploring recognition for other regulated professions and considering points for trade apprenticeship work experience. Foreign work experience points would be retained.

Factors Proposed for Removal or Modification

IRCC has identified several current CRS scoring factors as "weaker predictors of an applicant's economic outcomes" and is considering their removal or modification:

  • French proficiency bonus: Currently 25 to 50 points
  • Studies in Canada: Currently 15 to 30 points
  • Sibling in Canada: Currently 15 points
  • Spousal points: Currently up to 40 points

Provincial and territorial nomination points, currently worth 600 points, are also under review for potential modification or removal. While provincial nominations are considered strong predictors of economic success, IRCC views the current arrangement as redundant — the federal government already conducts dedicated draws targeting candidates with provincial nominations, making the additional 600-point bonus an effective double-counting in the selection process.

Prospects for Implementation

These proposals remain at an early stage. IRCC first signaled the changes in its Forward Regulatory Plan on April 1, 2026, and consultations with stakeholders and the public are planned for Spring 2026. No implementation timeline has been announced.

IRCC has demonstrated follow-through on other items in the regulatory plan: proposed fee updates have already materialized, with citizenship fee increases taking effect on March 31, 2026, and permanent residence fee increases set to take effect on April 30, 2026.

However, the scope of the Express Entry reforms far exceeds fee adjustments. Merging three programs and overhauling the CRS would require substantial regulatory amendments. The fact that IRCC is sharing detailed proposals with immigration lawyers and actively seeking stakeholder input signals the department's seriousness about moving forward — but the sheer scale of the reform suggests that the path from proposal to implementation could take considerable time.

Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
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