Do I Still Need an LMIA for an Express Entry Job Offer?
Not for Express Entry, from November 3, 2026. A job offer no longer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to count toward your CRS score or to meet the job-offer requirement of the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs. But only offers in high-wage occupations earn points (50 to 100), and IRCC will still check that the offer is genuine. An LMIA may still be needed for other things, such as most employer-specific work permits.
What changes on November 3?
Until now, a job offer usually needed to be supported by an LMIA to count in Express Entry. From November 3, 2026, IRCC is removing that requirement:
- CRS points: a qualifying job offer earns points without an LMIA.
- Program eligibility: an LMIA is no longer needed to meet the job-offer requirement under the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs.
- No advantage for having one: an LMIA won't earn extra points or priority.
- Any employer: the offer can be for an existing or new position, with a current or new employer.
This is part of the wider November 3 Express Entry changes, which also add new points for Canadian work experience.
How many points can a job offer earn now?
| Job offer in an occupation paying at least… | CRS points |
|---|---|
| 2 times the national median wage | 100 |
| 1.5 times (but less than 2 times) | 70 |
| 1.3 times (but less than 1.5 times) | 50 |
| Below 1.3 times | 0 |
The level depends on your occupation's NOC code, not the salary in your offer. Check yours on our guide to the high-wage occupations list.
You get either job offer points or Canadian work experience points under the new Labour Market Integration factor, whichever is higher. They don't stack.
Program eligibility and points follow different rules
This catches many people out. A job offer can help you in two separate ways:
- To qualify for a program: for the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs, a qualifying offer can be in any eligible TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
- To earn CRS points: the offer must be in a high-wage occupation.
So an offer might help you qualify for a program without earning any points, or the other way around.
What IRCC will still check
Removing the LMIA doesn't mean any offer will do. When you apply for permanent residence, an officer assesses whether the offer is genuine. They look at:
- Whether the employer is actively running a real business.
- Whether the employer can afford to pay you and fulfil the offer.
- Whether the employer complies with employment laws.
- Whether you're qualified for the job and likely to accept and do it.
A weak or "paper" offer can lead to refusal, and a false one can be treated as misrepresentation, which carries a 5-year ban.
When is an LMIA still needed?
The change applies to Express Entry permanent residence. It doesn't remove LMIAs everywhere:
- Temporary work permits: most employer-specific work permits still require an LMIA unless an exemption applies.
- Provincial programs: provinces set their own job-offer rules for their streams.
If an employer is hiring you from abroad to start work before you get permanent residence, the work permit question is separate from Express Entry.
How to add a job offer to your profile before November 3
IRCC's online system won't reflect the change straight away, so IRCC has asked candidates who may qualify for job-offer points to update their profile now:
- Under Work history, enter the job offer.
- Answer Yes to whether a positive LMIA was issued (even though none is needed).
- Use IRCC's placeholder details: LMIA number 00000, issue date 2026-01-01, expiry date 2029-01-01.
Only do this for a real offer you can document. If you've already received an ITA, the new rules won't apply to it; see what to do after an ITA.
Common mistakes we expect to see
- Assuming any offer earns points. Only high-wage occupations do.
- Matching the NOC to the job title. The duties in the offer must match the NOC's lead statement and main duties.
- Relying on an offer from a business that can't back it up. Officers check the employer's activity, finances and compliance.
- Thinking the change covers work permits. It's about Express Entry; most employer-specific work permits still need an LMIA.
Every situation is different. Book a consultation with Osaro Ezomo, RCIC, for a review of yours.
Book a consultation
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an LMIA for an Express Entry job offer after November 3, 2026?
No. From November 3, 2026, an LMIA isn't required for a job offer to count for CRS points or to meet the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades job-offer requirement.
How many CRS points is a job offer worth now?
50, 70 or 100 points, depending on whether your occupation's national median wage is at least 1.3, 1.5 or 2 times the Canadian median. Offers in other occupations earn no points.
Does having an LMIA give me more points?
No. Having an LMIA doesn't earn extra points or give you priority.
Can I get points for both a job offer and Canadian work experience?
No. You get whichever is higher under the Labour Market Integration factor, up to 150 points.
Does my employer still need an LMIA to hire me on a work permit?
Often, yes. The November 3 change applies to Express Entry. Most employer-specific work permits still need an LMIA unless an exemption applies.
Fact-checked: Based on IRCC's 2026 changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offers in the Express Entry system and High-wage occupations and how we assess them. Verified October 29, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules change often. For advice on your situation, speak with a licensed immigration professional.
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), licence #R711785. Osaro is the principal consultant at GLC Immigration Consulting in Calgary, Alberta, helping clients with Express Entry, provincial nomination, work and study permits and family sponsorship.
Book a consultation