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Express Entry 2026 Reform ② - Existing Canadian Work Experience Points Maintained, Up to 70 Additional Points for High-Wage Experience
One of the most important aspects of the 2026 Express Entry changes for people working in Canada is how Canadian work experience will be assessed. Previously, points were based on the length of eligible Canadian work experience. Starting November 3, 2026, the occupation in which that experience was gained will also matter. To reflect this change, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is introducing a new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) factor called Labour Market Integration (LMI).
■ Existing Canadian Work Experience Points Remain Unchanged
Eligible Canadian work experience in TEER 0–3 occupations will continue to receive the same work-length points. The eligibility rules for Canadian work experience are not changing, and experience in occupations outside the High-Wage list will continue to count toward these points.
| Canadian Work Experience | Without a Spouse or Partner | With a Spouse or Partner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 40 points | 35 points |
| 2 years | 53 points | 46 points |
| 3 years | 64 points | 56 points |
| 4 years | 72 points | 63 points |
| 5 years or more | 80 points | 70 points |
IRCC defines Canadian work experience as work performed in Canada for a Canadian employer. Remote work counts only when the worker was physically present in Canada.
■ New High-Wage Occupation Experience Bonus
Applicants with at least one year (12 months or 1,560 hours) of eligible Canadian work experience in qualifying High-Wage occupations may receive additional points on top of their work-length points.
① Level 1 occupations (at least twice the overall median wage) for 12 months or more: 70 points
② If not eligible for Level 1 points, at least 12 months combined in Level 2 or higher occupations (at least 1.5 times): 40 points
③ If not eligible for the higher bonuses, at least 12 months combined in Level 3 or higher occupations (at least 1.3 times): 20 points
The experience does not need to be continuous. Equivalent part-time work may count, and eligible experience can be combined across different High-Wage occupations. However, concurrent employment is counted only up to the equivalent of 30 hours per week.
■ Canadian Work Experience and Job Offer Points Are Not Added Together
A key distinction from Part 1 concerns the relationship between Canadian work experience and job offer points. Under LMI, IRCC compares the Canadian work experience score (work-length points plus any High-Wage bonus) with the qualifying job offer score and awards only the higher amount. The maximum LMI score is 150 points without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner and 140 points with one.
| Example | Canadian Experience Score | Job Offer Score | LMI Points Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| No spouse; 3 years in Canada, including at least 1 year in Level 1 | 64 + 70 = 134 | 100 (Level 1) | 134 |
| No spouse; 1 year in Canada, no High-Wage experience | 40 | 100 (Level 1) | 100 |
| With spouse; 2 years in Canada, including at least 1 year in Level 2 | 46 + 40 = 86 | 100 (Level 1) | 100 |
| No spouse; 5 years in Canada, including at least 1 year in Level 1 | 80 + 70 = 150 | None | 150 |
Note: Examples showing a 100-point job offer assume a separate qualifying Level 1 offer. The occupation level of past Canadian experience does not have to match the occupation level of the job offer.
In the first example, the 134 Canadian experience points and 100 job offer points are not combined into 234 points. Only the higher score of 134 points is awarded.
■ Examples of Total CRS Scores Before and After the Changes
The following hypothetical examples illustrate how the LMI factor could affect an applicant’s CRS total. Under IRCC’s announced framework, the existing work-length points move into the new LMI factor, alongside any applicable High-Wage experience bonus or qualifying job offer points.
Example A - Three Years of Level 2 Canadian Work Experience
An applicant without an accompanying spouse, aged 32, with a bachelor’s degree, CLB 9 in all four English abilities, three years of foreign work experience, and three years in Canada as a software engineer (NOC 21231, Software engineers and designers, Level 2).
| Factor | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Age (32) | 94 | 94 |
| Education (bachelor’s) | 120 | 120 |
| English (CLB 9 × 4 abilities) | 124 | 124 |
| Canadian work experience (3 years) | 64 | Moved to LMI |
| LMI (64 work-length + 40 Level 2 bonus) | Not applicable | 104 |
| Skill Transferability (education and foreign experience combinations) | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 502 | 542 |
Example B - A Level 1 Job Offer Without High-Wage Canadian Experience
The applicant has the same age, education, language results and foreign work experience as Example A, but only one year of eligible Canadian experience in an occupation outside the High-Wage list, plus a qualifying Level 1 job offer.
| Factor | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Age, education and English | 338 | 338 |
| Canadian work experience (1 year) | 40 | Moved to LMI |
| LMI (higher of 40 experience points or 100 job offer points) | Not applicable | 100 |
| Skill Transferability | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 478 | 538 |
In Example A, the score increases by 40 points through the High-Wage experience bonus. In Example B, the 100-point job offer score replaces the 40 Canadian experience points, resulting in a 60-point increase. Skill Transferability is unchanged in both examples because it continues to use the existing work-length rules.
Note: In Example B, the combination of education, language ability, foreign work experience and one year of Canadian work experience results in the maximum 100 Skill Transferability points. These are simplified examples with no other additional points assumed; applicants should confirm their scores using IRCC’s official CRS calculator when the changes take effect.
■ What Is Not Changing
Canadian work experience will still count under Skill Transferability, which assesses its combination with education and foreign work experience. These factors continue to use the length of Canadian work experience without additional High-Wage points. A spouse’s Canadian work experience points (up to 10) also remain separate from the principal applicant’s LMI factor.
■ From the Length of Experience to the Type of Experience
The reform signals a greater emphasis on applicants whose Canadian work experience is in higher-wage occupations. This does not mean that everyone should switch to a High-Wage occupation. Language proficiency, education, existing work-length points and Skill Transferability still play significant roles in CRS scoring.
Applicants currently working in Canada should first determine which portions of their work history fall within the official High-Wage occupation list and whether the duties performed match the relevant NOC description.
In Part 3, we will explain the important differences between the High-Wage criteria used for LMIAs and those used under Express Entry.
※ This column provides general information based on IRCC’s official announcement of October 16, 2026, and is not a substitute for immigration advice tailored to individual circumstances.
Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
