In a bid to curb fraud, Canada is likely to stop awarding points for job-offers under Express Entry Route – Times of India

In the coming year, Canada’s point-based immigration system is likely to undergo a significant change as the federal government aims to tighten rules to curb fraudulent practices tied to job offers.
Those applying for permanent residency through the Express Entry system will no longer receive additional points for job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), according to a recent statement made by Marc Miller, immigration minister.
“We are implementing further measures that will reinforce program integrity and reduce potential LMIA fraud, such as removing additional points that candidates receive under Express Entry for having a job offer,” Miller stated during a recent television appearance. The exact date of implementation has not been announced, nor is there any official statement from Canada’s immigration agency.
A senior manager’s role covered by the National Occupational Code fetches 200 points, all others with a LMIA-backed job offer get 50 points. The LMIA process requires Canadian employers to demonstrate that no suitable Canadian workers are available for a position before hiring a foreign worker. Recently Canadian media has highlighted cases where unscrupulous middlemen sold LMIA backed job offers at exorbitant prices. Miller’s proposed move is expected to nip this in the bud.
Under Express Entry’s point-based system, candidates complete an online profile and are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, the maximum is 1,200. The CRS score is divided into two portions. The ‘core’ score can reach a maximum of 600 points and is based on the candidate’s age, education, official language proficiency, work experience etc.
Second, a maximum of 600 points are awarded to the candidates if they meet policy or other objectives such as: having a provincial nomination, a qualifying job offer, Canadian education, French-language proficiency or a sibling in Canada.
Post getting a score, candidates are placed in the Express Entry pool and ranked relative to each other. Periodical draws are held and those attaining the cut-off CRS score get an invite to apply for permanent residency.
India has continued to be the top source country for those getting invitations to apply for permanent residency under the Express Entry route. In 2023, nearly 52,100 Indians were invited to be permanent residents (bagging 47% of the total invites). The change, when introduced, could impact many Indians who were aspiring to become permanent residents in Canada.
Several immigration experts and aspiring migrants view that this proposed measure is not the right step. “It is akin to throwing the baby out with the bath water”, says a software professional who with an LMIA backed job was hoping to be a permanent resident in the coming months.
TOI spoke to a few immigration experts. They point out that under the CRS mechanism age also plays a differential factor. Those in the peak of their youth get the maximum points. To illustrate, an individual in the age group of 20-29, who is aspiring to be a permanent resident gets points of 110 if the application is without an accompanying spouse.
An application with a spouse fetches 100 points. Those who are 40 years old get 50 and 45 points respectively. Once an individual is 45, nil points are awarded. ”Thus, the 50-200 points awarded for an LMIA-backed job offer is crucial to many experienced professionals, especially those in the 40 plus bracket,” explains an immigration consultant.
Even genuine candidates who hoped to rely on LMIA-backed points will now find it challenging to meet CRS cut-off scores and obtain permanent residency. Canada has significantly dropped its permanent residency targets as compared to earlier years. It has cut it down to 11.4 lakh permanent residents for the three-year period 2025-2027.
Further, Canada’s 2025-2027 levels plan aims to focus on converting temporary residents (TRs) in key sectors to permanent residents to avoid new arrivals and increased pressure on housing and the economy.
Over 40% of new permanent residents will be erstwhile temporary residents thus lessening new arrivals. Thus, there are likely to be more Candian Experience Class draws and more program-specific draws such as Trades, Healthcare and for those proficient in French.
A target level of 55,000 has been set for each of the three years starting 2025 for the Provincial Nominee Program. With 600 points awarded outright under the PNP draws this could be an alternate option for aspirants, view immigrant experts. The last PNP draw was held on Dec 16.
It had a CRS cut-off of 727 and Canada issued 1,085 invites for permanent residency.
Top 3 source countries to whom invites for PR were issued