News
Removal of CRS points for Job Offer effective March 25, 2025.
Effective March 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be implementing temporary changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for both the current candidates in the Express Entry pool and future applicants.
This applies to all candidates who have job offers and can be awarded points as follows:
- 200 points: for job offers in occupations classified under Major Group "OO" of the National Occupation Classification matrix (e.g., senior management positions), or
- 50 points: for job offers in any other skilled occupations.
If your Express Entry profile currently includes a qualifying job offer, the additional CRS points associated with this factor will be removed. Although this change will officially take effect on March 25, 2025, it may take a few days for your CRS points to be updated accordingly in your profile. If you do not currently have a qualifying job offer, please be aware that you will no longer be able to gain additional CRS points for this factor after March 25, 2025.
This change will not affect your eligibility to remain in the pool, and no action is required on your part.
If you have an active Invitation To Apply (ITA), that has not expired or been declined, you are not affected by this change and will remain eligible for that specific round of invitation.
IMPORTANT
Please note that the job offer factor will still be part of the following:
- The selection grid for the Federal Skilled Worker Program;
- Eligibility for the Federal Skilled Trades Program; and
- The Provincial Nominee Program, where provinces or territories can consider a qualifying job offer for eligibility or selection criteria.
It is important to continue including the details of any job offers in your Express Entry profile to ensure you remain eligible for various programs.
IRCC News Release: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/12/canada-takes-action-to-reduce-fraud-in-express-entry-system.html
Open Work Permit Eligibility to Family Members Limited
Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be eligible to apply for a family open work permit (OWP).
As part of the broader measures announced by IRCC in September 2024, this change is in response to an evolving shift in Canada's economy, including a softening of the labour market.
Family OWPs will now be limited to spouses of international students who are enroled in
- master's program that are 16 months in duration or longer
- doctoral programs or
- select professional and eligible programs
Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in
- TEER 0 or 1 occupations or
- select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities - full list will be available on January 21, 2025
Additionally, the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months validity remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for their OWP. Dependent children will no longer be eligible for an OWP.
Spouses of foreign workers covered by a free-trade agreement and those transitioning to permanent residence will not be impacted by these changes.
IRCC News Release: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/changes-open-work-permits-family-members-temporary-residents.html
Who cannot apply at a port of entry (POE) - aka Flagpoling
Further to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship's announcement of June 21, 2024 limiting "flagpoling" applications for work permits, additional instructions and restrictions on who can apply at a port of entry has been provided.
"The following persons cannot apply on entry to Canada [R198(2)]:
- all persons applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
- all persons who require a TRV
- all persons who require an immigration medical examination (IME), whether TRV-required or visa-exempt, unless valid IME results are available at the time of entry
- international youth exchange program participants other than U.S. citizens or permanent residents (exemption code C21) (consult International Experience Canada)
- seasonal agricultural workers
- foreign nationals from electronic travel authorization (eTA) expansion countries, as they are not TRV-exempt as per section R190
"Persons who hold a valid work permit or who wish to change their conditions or renew their work permit should apply in Canada, pursuant to section R199."
The full Program Instructions can be found here:
