The short version
- Before November 3, 2026: an LMIA-backed job offer was worth 200 CRS points (TEER 0) or 50 points (TEER 1–3). Canadian work experience earned work-length points only.
- From November 3, 2026: arranged-employment points are gone. Job offers earn 100/70/50 points through the new Labour Market Integration (LMI) factor, based on the occupation’s wage group. Canadian experience can add up to 70 high-wage points on top of existing work-length points.
- Offer and experience never stack — IRCC awards the higher. The whole LMI factor caps at 150 (no spouse) or 140 (with spouse).
Job offer points: before vs after
| Situation | Until Nov 2, 2026 | From Nov 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA-backed offer, TEER 0 | +200 | Removed |
| LMIA-backed offer, TEER 1–3 | +50 | Removed |
| Offer in a 2.0×+ wage occupation | — | +100 |
| Offer in a 1.5–2.0× wage occupation | — | +70 |
| Offer in a 1.3–1.5× wage occupation | — | +50 |
| Offer in a job that isn’t high-wage | +50 (with LMIA) | 0 (still helps program eligibility) |
One important carry-over: for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades eligibility, an offer in any TEER 0–3 occupation still counts — even if it isn’t high-wage. Eligibility and points are assessed separately.
Canadian work experience points: before vs after
Work-length points keep their existing values. What’s new is the high-wage add-on for 12+ months of experience in an eligible occupation:
| Years of Canadian experience | Work-length (single) | Work-length (spouse) | High-wage add-on (all groups) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 40 | 35 | +70 / +40 / +20 by group |
| 2 years | 53 | 46 | +70 / +40 / +20 by group |
| 3 years | 64 | 56 | +70 / +40 / +20 by group |
| 4 years | 72 | 63 | +70 / +40 / +20 by group |
| 5+ years | 80 | 70 | +70 / +40 / +20 by group |
The add-on is +70 in a 2.0×+ occupation, +40 in 1.5–2.0×, and +20 in 1.3–1.5×. Experience must total at least 12 months (1,560 hours), can be combined across jobs, and concurrent hours cap at 30 hours/week.
Three worked examples
Example 1 — the offer loses
Single applicant, 3 years of Canadian experience as a software engineer (1.5–2.0× group), plus a qualifying job offer in the same field. Experience: 64 + 40 = 104 points. The offer: 70 points. IRCC awards the higher — 104. The offer adds nothing.
Example 2 — the offer wins
Applicant with a spouse, under 1 year of Canadian experience, but a qualifying offer in a 2.0×+ occupation. Experience: 0. The offer: 100 points. Since 100 beats 0, the offer is what counts.
Example 3 — the cap bites
Single applicant, 5+ years of experience in a 2.0×+ occupation: 80 + 70 = 150 — exactly the cap. Nothing is trimmed, but there’s no room for anything more from this factor.
Which occupations qualify?
IRCC’s list has 186 NOC codes: 31 at 2.0×+, 89 at 1.5–2.0×, and 66 at 1.3–1.5× the national median. Browse the full list with median wages and points, or read how the LMI factor works.