Canada’s immigration department has announced plans to reintroduce Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for job offers under the Express Entry system.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will award points to candidates with job offers and Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations under the Express Entry system. Additionally, IRCC will consider rewarding those certified to work in regulated occupations.

The above changes are part of a broader suite of reforms to the Express Entry system, as outlined in IRCC’s latest departmental plan published on March 13, 2026.

IRCC has not provided a clear timeline for the implementation of these changes and broader reforms. The document details priorities, plans, and associated costs for the upcoming three fiscal years.

These measures align with Canada’s Talent Attraction Strategy, aimed at attracting top global talent, as part of immigration reforms promised by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Which occupations are classified as “high wage”?

IRCC’s departmental plan does not specifically define “high wage” in the context of the proposed Express Entry reform. The Express Entry system currently assesses skilled work experience based on the Training Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) classification under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.

Wages are not directly assessed under this system. However, other parts of Canada’s immigration system have an operational definition for “high wage.” For example, in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), a position is classified as “high-wage” if the offered hourly wage meets or exceeds the median wage for the province or territory.